Teach Soap

I have been making so much soap that I ordered a 2lb wooden loaf mold in addition to the 1lb wooden loaf mold, and 2 silicone loaf molds that I already own. The company I ordered from accidentally sent me a wooden slab mold instead.

How are slab molds used? Do I need an insert of some type to divide the soap into bar sizes? If so, is the insert put in after the soap is already poured into the slab mold, or before the pour? Are slab molds used instead of loaf molds for any particular reason? Is it because they make a different shape of bar or is it for doing swirled soap or something?

Thanks,
Linda

Hello Midnightstorm. Where ya been the past couple of days?

A slab mold is the only thing I use. Just a preference....nothing more. Yes, assemble the sides & bottom together. Before you do, place a sheet of saran wrap on the bottom so it overlaps on the sides. Make & pour your soap. Then start inserting your dividers. The long ones go in first. Then the short ones. Don't wast a lot of time inserting the dividers or the soap in the middle will be thick and the corner bars will be lop-sided. I posted a picture of my small slab mold a week ago in YOUR thread about mixing M&P and CP soap. It's a 9 bar slab mold with dividers. Go take a look at it. You can swirl, and everything else you want to do. It just saves you the trouble of having to cut the bars. Each bar is exactly the same dimension and uniform. I like uniformity so there..... Don't stress over them. They're easy to use once you get the hang of it. I lubricate the sides of the mold and the partitions with a light coating of vaseline. Vaseline doesn't saponify and will allow for easier removal of the dividers and soap along the walls. Hope this helps.

You can also leave the divider out, only pour til you have no more than an inch (1/4 or 1/2 inch works well) and then use cookie cutters or other objects to make shaped soaps, more like m&p's

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Tammy