Teach Soap

I have a guide box that fits my loaf pretty perfectly and a cutter of course, but I'll be danged if I can truly get the slices to be the same size. I understand that wire cutters aren't great for it either because the glycerin is hard. So how are the pros doing it? I thought about a wire cutter and just doing the loaves sooner- tiny bit warm. It's hard though to always catch them in that state. The wire cutters are so expensive though if they really aren't going to cut.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

I will second this question! I have purchased a couple of cutting boxes and have the best luck with the mitre box for $5 I found at Home Depot. The loaf of MP still moves as I cut it so I've now begun putting the end of the loaf against a wall on the counter. I wish I could find a great way to cut the MP, too!
As straight as I cut down for a slice, it still moves to get an uneven cut of a bar.

From this forum I did find an online wire cutter for MP but at over $250, I just can't make the decision to purchase this one.

Wire cutters are not made for MP soap. The wire will try to stretch and the wire can break. MP has a heavier density then cold process soap.

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

Yeah, wire cutters appear to be a bust. Well actually there was a $2000 machine that involved an air compressor that said it could. Way out of my budget. I keep thinking though that there are loaves being cut and sold in stores. Maybe they are all using the $2000 machine, but something is being used commercially.

They do sell mitre boxes or soap cutting boxes for MP soap. All you have to do it push the soap to the edge and cut down the line with a knife or scraper tool. I got mine from Rustic Escentuals but I know practically every sight has their own version. It hasn't failed me yet!

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I'm not very good with those boxes. I've cut a lot of uneven bars.

The miter boxes help a little but they arent that great. Just takes a steady hand. I find the Teflon coated knives work best. The thinner the knife, the better.

Instead of a Teflon coated knife, why not use a spackle knife? You can buy one at your local hardware store.

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

Well actually I'm wondering if the problem is my box. I have a metal one. Is there less shifting if you use a wood one and the sides are thicker? Also looked at a wood one that had slots for the entire loaf. So maybe the loaf is steadier if you leave the whole thing in there while you cut? How much are people's slices varying?

What about LCP melt &pour? Would you be able to use a wire cutter with those since they have less glycerin?

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Amber D that'd be me!

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

I have found the double handled 15" knife that I bought on Ebay that is actually a cheese slicer knife has worked wonderful for me when cutting my loaves.

I have a metal mitre box that was made for soap and a plastic one from Lowes. When using a straight cutter I think I do better with the plastic one because it seems to have better grip. I have found that the crinkle cutter with the metal box does well, something about the crinkle shape holds onto the loaf so it doesn't move around when cut. With both I try to hold the back end of the loaf steady while cutting, sometimes I think I need 1 or 2 more hands. I don't do MP much anymore but I remember the frustration well.

I bought a soap cutter from www.soaphutch.com and it is the best!!!