Teach Soap

I was hoping to replace mine since it starting to give off an overused motor smell but became overwhelmed by the number of available products all with great and horrible reviews. Anyone know any good sturdy models decently priced (ideally under 35). Also I do not see in straight lines so getting a straight cut bar is turning out to be impossible for me however those divider or prelength cutters are all pretty expensive any one know any products that can give you straight bars for under 20 or have a trick?

Cheap stick blenders usually have plastic shafts that can melt during higher temps. I would find one with a detachable shaft so it's easier to clean and make sure that the shaft is stainless steel. I don't know of any cutter under $35 or under that would give you perfectly straight cuts. Some people have had good luck with a miter box or a cheese slicer.

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

You can get yourself one of these guys for under $10. I've seen MANY videos where folks use them and have great results!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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

This is a picture of the stick blender I use (not my pic, but same model). I paid ~$10 for it 10 years ago. It was used for food until a few months ago, and now is only for soap! I clean it by letting the soap batter on it saponify, then I stick the blender end in super hot water and it self cleans after a couple minutes. I don't run it while in the hot water, just let it soak. It is 1 solid piece.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

They don't make these any more, but if you ever see it new or used, grab it! My Braun MR550 is almost 10 years old and it's still going. I have a back up of the same model.


My second choice would be this Russell Hobbs.

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

A two-speed blender can be useful if you're trying to do swirls and want better control of the trace. I use a 400 Watt 'Robot' brand thing, terrific power but very unforgiving.

The little one I have is 2 speed. Low for soaps I plan to swirl, high for single colour and especially for castille!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I recieved a cheese slicer for Christmas, and got rid of the miter box after one loaf! I did have to mark it to get the even cuts, but I figured that out by the end of the first loaf. I also have to wipe down the wire after each cut.... I just use my gloved hand, only takes 2 seconds. Here is a photo of it marked with electrical tape. My dtr got it from amazon.com.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

I had a fancy SS cuisinart which ended up with a bad seal and was pumping air into my soap.

I replaced it with a cheapo $20 Hamilton Beach from K-mart that has two speeds. It works great. I find that less power is more.

I would never soak the SB though, more change of getting water inside the thing. I whir it in clean water after I'm done soaping. Then I dismantle, unplug, and wipe down with a paper towel. When I use it for lotion, I wipe down with bleach solution.

Would love one of those Brauns. Maybe I need to spend more time on ebay.

ETA, I got no joy out of the miter box. I believe you can get single wire soap cutters (like the cheese cutter shown) from Soapies Supplies and soapmakingresource.com but I don't recall price info.

~ Soapies-Supplies cutter is $50. I'm thinking about saving a bit to get it. Until then, I'll stick with my $5 Miter box from Harbor Freight.

For blending, I use the cheapie Hamilton Beach 2 Speed Blender & I've been using it for years. I think they're about $15 - $20.

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Genny

SoapHutch has a new cutter, but it costs more. http://soaphutch.com/cutters.html

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

I found that the trick with cutters is getting one that works with all of your molds. Mine only works with my wooden mold. The crafter's choice mold makes a log about 5mm too wide! Doh!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist