Teach Soap

So alot of you are mentioning heat guns, for doing the shrink wrap thing-does it not melt/warp the soap at all? I know I have read it is good to fix some candle boo boos because it very quickly can melt your mess up back down to dry back solid. My question is, what exactly kind of heat gun are you using? I have been looking and it seems there are a few different kinds. Some are labeled "butane torch" like on cajun's candle site. But is this something I can just get at a hardware store, or is that the wrong kind-too hot/too heavy duty? My craft store didn't have anything like that so I will have to buy it online and I just want to buy the right thing. Also, if I decide to shrink wrap soap with the heat gun, is that the same kind I will already have for candle stuff?
Thanks!

You need to keep the heat gun moving so you don't melt the soap. You can get a heat gun at pleaces like Lowe's or Home Dept. Maybe the hardware store too.

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

so it doesn't matter what kind of "heat gun"? I thought maybe the ones at home depot type stores might be too hot/too heavy duty. Is there a particular one you can reccommend as I am kind of intimidated by them.

I have 2. One is so old I can't read who made it. The other is a Chicago brand 1500 Watt heat gun. It has 2 settings: 630F and 1000F. The lower setting is enough to do the job.

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

Hi, beautyinabasket,

I have a Chicago electric heat gun, too. Mine has a low setting of 572 degrees F, high setting of 1112 degrees F. I got mine at Cajun's Candles: http://www.cajuncandles.com/shrink-wrap-systems.html.

Definitely use the lowest setting and do keep the gun moving in quick, sweeping motions or else you'll melt the soap or rip the plastic.

Have fun!

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- Jenny -
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I also have a Chicago heat gun with 2 settings. I always use the low setting. I got mine at Harbor Freight.

Your soap will be much more sturdy than candle wax and you will burn a hole in your shrink wrap before you melt your soap. But yes... you need to keep the gun moving.

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- Mickey!

For my shrink wrapping l use a embossing gun that is used for scrap booking.It works fine for me and is safe and easy to use.The low setting is perfect for the shrinkwrap and the high setting melts the tops of candles
On the label it says
"Crafters Tool"
230V/50Hz 300W
Not sure what that all means ,Hope this helps

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Pauline
http://www.facebook.com/SudsandKissesSoaps
Founding member & admin of Melt & Pour Soap Crafters.

My heat gun is a paint stripper from Home Depot. The settings allow you to adjust the heat and air flow to whatever you require. Another tip is to fold up a small towel and as you work roll the wrapped soap on it to squash any sharp edges.

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Jackie


Beautifully Handcrafted Soap

I got my heat gun at a auto parts store (O'Reilly 's to be exact). I looked at both the local Home Depot and Lowe's and several other hardware stores. Finally, someone suggested the auto parts store because Heat Guns are used to take old stickers off paint or bumpers.

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

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Soaper from Melbourne Australia
Founding member of Melt & Pour Soap Crafters ... find us on Facebook - we'd love to see you!