I am just beginning to make homemade soap. My first soaps are crumbling around the edges as I cut them. My husband thinks that I should look into finding some soap molds. I did find some on Lehman's website for their catalog but think they are very pricey!!! What are the rest of you doing? Thanks in advance for any information that you can give. Jean

-- (kjean@i-rule.net), June 05, 2001

Answers

Whatever you think makes a nice shape that you can "pop" the soap out of. I've seen some done in the plastic trays cookies come in. A friend of mine had some plastic mickey mouse molds that came with a "microwave muffins" kit her kids had.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), June 05, 2001.

Little sized Rubbermaid storage containers are the best, they are flexible and the soap pops right out, and very cheap! Mine are oval shaped and make a perfect sized bar of 4 ounce soap, and I have re- used them hundreds of times so far. I paid about 1.50 to 1.75 a piece for them.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), June 05, 2001.

Jean you may want to check the recipe you're using, it sounds like you may need to add a little more water. How long are you letting the soap cure before you cut it? Letting it get too dry before cutting can make the edges crumbly, as well as trying to cut it with a dull knife. You might want to cut it with a piece of wire or some dental floss.

I'm getting out of the soapmaking business, so I do have some molds and other supplies that I'm looking to sell cheap. You can email me privately if you're interested.

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), June 05, 2001.

We use paper milk jugs, which can be torn off after the soap is cool. The soap cuts better if you spray the inside of the jug lightly with non-stick spray. They make quaint little wide soaps.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), June 05, 2001.

I have a wooden box my Mom made and it has a wooden cover too. Got the deminitions from soap book i have. When the soap has set for 24 hours I cut it while it is still in the box. Then take outthe pieces and set them on their sides to dry. Never have trouble wiht the edges crumbling. Good luck

-- michelle (tsjheath@nci2.net), June 06, 2001.

I use soy milk or paper milk cartons for molds, and have made a wooden mold to put them in so the sides don't bow out. If you are making soap for your own use, it wouldn't matter, but I sell it and want the bars to be uniform so I can use pre-printed labels. I put a piece of plywood between each carton and make sure they are nice and snug. I then cut the soap in a mold I made. It has a heavy plywood bottom, and the dimensions equal the carton size. I have a slit on one end on both sides that is the height I want the soap to be; I just cut it and they are all uniform! After 65 batches of unequal bars, this is a treat. I hope this makes sense!

-- Linda Kingsley (lkingsle@rochester.rr.com), October 23, 2001.

I have had very good luck using vinyl downspouts and 3 inch PVC pipe. Be sure to buy the end caps. You still need to use saran wrap and duct tape to keep it from leaking. Spray the inside of the mold with Pam, let it set up a couple of days then put the mold in the freezer for about 2 hours before unmolding. The first time you use a mold you need to find something to place in the mold to push against the soap without damaging it, I used a scrap piece of wood flush against the soap and pressed down on a piece of 1x1 longer than the mold. I saved a large end piece of the soap to use in the mold for pushing next time.

Cindy

-- Cindy (daxxbird@cox.net), February 08, 2002.

I don't think the molds is your problem, I had this a few years ago when I used a lot of palm in the receipe. Now I use 1/2 olive and the other half mixed between say coconut/palm/cocoa butter/castor, also make sure you are using enough water. It takes longer to cure with added water but sure easier out of the mold. If your using meat fat, remember that is a hard oil so add olive or a soft oil with it.

-- debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), February 10, 2002.