Teach Soap

Hi Everyone,
As I start ramping up my soap making, I'm looking into different types and sizes of molds. I have the BB vertical wooden and the 40-44 oz silicone loaf, along with some silicone muffin and heart shapes "repurposed" from my kitchen. For large batches, though, I'll need the slab-type or multiple loaf molds. I'm curious what people use--do you like the plastic ELF molds, for instance? There's a 72 oz loaf that looks attractive. Is there is disadvantage to using that over a wooden mold? So far, I love silicone: flexible, no stick, washes easily--seems to have it all. Why not go all silicone?

My hesitation around wood is that I don't think I would be good at lining it. I know I'm not good at finicky things, and lining with freezer paper (and doing it well) looks finicky. I'm not even good at wrapping gifts. What do you think? And what do you use?

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

I have 2 silicone loaf molds and the BB 12 bar silicone mold, which I absolutely LOVE! And I have homemade wooden slab molds that I also love. The wood is a better insulator than silicone. I don't have any problem lining my wood molds with freezer paper, but you can use a heavy duty trash bag to line them if you don't want to mess with the freezer paper. You just lay the bag over the mold and then press it down until it is fairly smooth. You can fold the corners into a pleat for a smoother fit. Hope this helps!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Here is a video of how to line a mold with freezer paper. It's fairly easy.

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Debbie

Oh, I've seen that video, and others. I just know myself, and how bad I am at that sort of thing. Which is why I like silicone... No one has the ELF loaf mold in heavy duty plastic?

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

The SoapQueen blog also has a tutorial on how to line a wooden mold. I was really nervous that I'd screw it up and that it'd be super time consuming also. However, I've done it twice now (have used my silicone molds the other times) and it has been a breeze. I have the 9 bar mold and it is absolutely fantastic. A-M makes it really easy to figure out how to do. I thought it'd be such a pain, but after following the directions, I just had a little trimming to do, and it worked out just right.

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Inspiri Body - Bath & Body products Inspired by Life

Hi All,
Bringing this to the top again. Lining the mold aside, if you were to choose the 36-bar wooden mold from BB with the inserts versus a loaf mold (any type) plus heavy duty cutter, which would it be, and why? I see that slab molds have some advantages for swirling, for instance, but the loaf mold and cutter seems standars. Also, I have the silicone 12 bar mold, and like it, but you can't do some of the swirls, and cutting a bar makes for a completely different look.

So--for those who went from a few pounds of soap a week to larger production, what did you choose, and why?

Thanks!

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

For smaller batches that aren't swirled I prefer log molds. For swirling I use slab molds. I don't mess with cutting and lining. I use a trash bag since I don't gel my batches. For larger batches up to 20 lbs, I used HDPE molds.

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

Do you line with the trash bag do you mean? Does that give funny lines on your soap?

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

Google produces good and bad reviews for these molds. Anyone here have any personal experience?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-Lb-18-BAR- ... 671wt_1064

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

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

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

I looked into getting molds from that guy on EBay, until I researched him some. The molds tend to warp and he is not so great to deal with. Lots of folks said he sent them the wrong things, or missing parts, and they have been unable to get any cooperation from him to fix the mistakes. He is also red-flagged by paypal as there are several folks suing him. I decided I'd wait and get this one from BB when they have it again

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Yikes! So glad I asked then!!

Yeah I was looking at that BB mold. Problem is, I have to basically double to price to get it shipped to Oz.

I was looking at these guys in Oz but I can't find out much info about them. ~ Scroll down to Rectangular Divider Mold

Yet another reason why I wished I lived in the states

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

Ohh I found an Aussie mold maker when I was looking around for molds! I'mma see if I can find them again for you!!!!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Here it is! I really want one, but its way to expensive to ship to Canada.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist