Teach Soap

Is there a special type of shrink wrap you use for soap? A few months ago, I decided to shrink wrap my soap, instead of using my gusset cellophane bags. I bought some shrink wrap at a craft store that is normally used to put around gift baskets. My first attempt was a disaster. It just made hard clumps of plastic, and not neat at all. Where did I go wrong? I want to try it again.

What did you use to shrink wrap with? A heat gun?

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

I used a heat gun that most scrap booking crafters use. Is there a special type of shrink wrap for soap. This seemed too thick.

Sounds like it wasn't shrink wrap. I know you can order some online. In which state are you located?

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

I'm pretty sure Anne Marie mentioned just regular plastic wrap you use for food when she shrink wrapped her soaps. And she used a craft heat gun but make sure you keep it far enough away and always keep it moving. I've used the Stretch-Tite plastic wrap, it's a bit thicker than the normal food wrap. Doesn't seem to stick to itself as much. And it worked pretty well for me, as long as I was using pretty basic soap shapes. I tried wrapping an odd-shaped soap and the plastic kept getting a hold in it. It was a bear. I followed the directions in Ann Marie's video in the Soap Queen series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD4bJgtaHMg

The type I used, did say shrink wrap on the tube, or container. I live in Kentucky. The soaps I want to shrink wrap are all molded designs, such as horses, rabbits, etc. I have another way to package my rectangle bars. The type I used, just seemed too thick. I didn't know you could use the kind for food. I will try that too. Thanks

I use polyolefin shrink wrap from National Shrinkwrap. I think it is easier to work with than PVC shrink plus it lets the soap breathe a bit. I use 100 gauge thickness but it does come thinner if you prefer.

It does take some getting used to. I use the low setting on my heat gun and make sure to keep it moving so I don't burn a hole in it. You also need to be sure the shrink wrap is sealed somehow so that it has some resistance and can actually pull down around your soap as opposed to just pulling up into a ball. If you don't have a sealer you might try a piece of scotch tape to hold the ends together under the soap. you may even be able to remove the tape afterward.

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- Mickey!

Thanks very much for your help. This might be a crazy question but, are you talking about a sealer, like seal a meal?

There are a few different types of sealers... here are the most common types.

I aspire to have one of the wand based systems but they are still a little out of my price range.

In fact I do use a food sealer... an old one that has a wire that heats up and not only seals the plastic but cuts it too. It's not the most efficient way but it works and the price was right. But sooner or later it's going to break and I'll need to get one of the wand or I-bar systems. The I-bar sealers can be found many places including Amazon.com, HarborFreight.com, and some soap suppliers. I'm not sure how they compare to National Shirnkwrap prices but if you do buy from them I can tell you they are a great company to deal with. I buy my shrink film from them.

ETA:
Sorry... I was confusing the I-Bar sealer with impulse sealers.
Here is an example of one of those.

I have not used these but I believe some other soapers do and this may be the type I buy next unless I hit Powerball.

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- Mickey!

Don't have any advice, but curious whether we are talking CP or MP soap. I have read somewhere that wrapping soaps in any type of plastic can cause the soap to "go bad" (ie mildew, mold, etc)... anyone else found this to be true? I read it in a book about CP soap, though can't remember the title of the book- it's an older one though.

I make only CP soap. I had wondered about it going rancid too, since it can't breathe. I see lots of it on the market. I can't wait to get my shrink wrap bags that I have ordered. I'm having a new label designed to place on the back of the soap.

If your CP soap is thoroughly cured ( like 6 weeks), it should be fine in a shrink wrap. I started with shrink wrap for my CP soaps and have since switched to boxes since it's faster.

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

That's another question I have. Where can you get the kraft colored boxes at a reasonable price? The ones I have seen are around 1.00 per box, and I can't afford to pay that much. I asked a lady at a craft show one time where she bought her patchouli oil, and where she got her boxes, and she would not tell me. I don't live anywhere close to her, and would not be in competition with her. I like to share with others if I can. I think if you do good, it comes back to you. Thanks for your comments.

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

Irena, do you just put your soap in the box, or do you wrap it in something first?

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Diana
Butter Babies Soap
bbsoap.com