Teach Soap

Molds, I know they are probably user specific but what are the advantages and disadvantages of each: Wood, silicone and heavy duty?

Starting out with very small trial batches what would you recommend? I was thinking start out with Silicone? Then when I get a good hand on it upgrade to wood for larger batches?

What are your thoughts??

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Stephanie

Silicone is easy to use and doesn't need lining. If you don't mind lining a wooden mold, they are good too. For small trial batches, get one of those silicone baking molds at your local store.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Here's what I use for small trials: http://www.brambleberry.com/12-Bar-Squa ... P4908.aspx
Each square hods 4 oz. so you can make individual test bars if you wanted. It is very flexible, so I always set it on a tray of some kind while using it.
I also use Sodium Lactate in my recipe with this mold because the corners are sharp and the SL helps keep the soap corners from breaking off when unmolding.
Silicone molds are more difficult to control heat in if you are gelling, because they cool fairly fast. I usually do CPOP with this mold because I like to gel my soaps.

Thank you... I'll do that. You guys have been crazy helpfull...

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Stephanie

I use plastic storage boxes with lids and handles. I line them with plastic bags. They make 33 -36 bars each, depending on how they are cut. I use a piece of cardboard at each end under the plastic that sticks up so that the soap doesn't expand into the edge. I do not cover my soap with saran wrap. I simply rest the plastic lid on the cardboard pieces.

I can't get CP soap out of little molds no matter what kind or what I've tried. My next attempt will be to somehow "grease" the mold. (I have no problems getting MP out of those soap molds though. So it's weird.)

Anyway, I use 122 ounces of oils for each batch (plus water and lye), so I really do make good sized batches.

Got some free Milky Way molds from a lady who told me that she had ordered 4-- I got 3. She said she had beat the 4th one to smithereens through various means, trying to get the soap out... So I read everything I could find about this situation before I tried to use them. Simplest thing seemed to be to tuck them in the freezer for a bit. Shortly I was down to 2 molds... Since I've had people ask for "themed" soaps, I NEED to learn the trick to using them. More research... Next, I ordered some silicone spray. One more mold is semi- destroyed... I decided to put them in the freezer to see if that, combined with the silicone, might work. I gave the stupid mold a little flex as I was walking back to the table in the soap room and all 4 bars of soap flew in the air and clattered onto the carpet! The bird was on my shoulder and he started hollering "What 'cho doing? What 'cho DOING?" I'm thinkin' I might be onto something here with those pesky plastic molds and may be able to use them now, but I'll wait till I get to the soap table to unmold the little devils! I love my silicone molds but only have small ones-- hearts, leaves, pumpkins and the like. Hubby made me a lot of slab molds and log molds out of discarded pallets. I line them with butcher paper and find that I like the lining process. Gives me time to settle myself before I start the soapmaking Settling is a good thing. Thinking about making some coconut scented soap, white with a bright yellow swirl, and naming it after the bird. Then when he goes to outdoor markets with me, he can sell his own soap!

CockatooShampoo, you're going to have a hard time making pure white soap with coconut fragrance. Most of them discolor from tan to brown.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Well, my boy is usually as dirty as the little kids he hangs out with, so I guess off-white would be his color of soap!