How to Remove Soap from PVC Pipe

I have heard that one can use PVC Pipe as a mold for their batches of soap.  Honestly, I have not tried it before.  But I always wondered what was the best way to get your soap out.  I found this post from Lovin' Soap called How to Remove Soap from PVC Pipe that has some tips and a video on how to do this.  So if you have PVC pipe lying around and you are short of a mold for your soap batch, then you may want to give this a try.

Calculating mold/recipe size

Have you received a mold that you do not know what the size of the recipe you can put in the mold? Or did you find something that is not a normal mold that it is used for soap and you want to calculate how much of soap you can put it in? I have not had to figure that out yet, but I have purchased some 9x9 silicone cake molds that I thought I would use for cold process soap batches.  So I went out on the hunt for some information on how to calculate this information. I happen to come across this posting called Calculating Mold/Recipe Size by Janice from West Virginia that appears on the website Soapmaking Essentials.com.  This will give you some basic formulas on how to figure the correct amount you will need for your mold.  Good luck!

Back to Basics: How to Choose a Soap Mold

Soap making molds come in various shapes, sizes and materials. It’s crucial to consider what kind of mold you’ll be using when designing a soapy project. The mold will determine how big your batch needs to be, and may influence ingredients and cure time. One of the most popular soap mold options is a silicone mold. They are easy to clean with no lining necessary and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Other mold options include recycled containers, plastic and wood molds. Each have benefits that may affect your soaping experience.  So if you want to choose the best mold for your soap making needs but do not know which one, then I would suggest reading the post from The Soap Queen called Back to Basics:  How to Choose a Soap Mold.

Unmolding Cold Process Soap from Plastic Molds

Since I started out making soap by the melt and pour method, I have collected a lot of molds over the years.  I have taken several courses on the cold process method at The Nova Studio but never had the guts to make a batch until this week.  But I was wondering if I could use some of my melt and pour soap mold for cold process soap?  Well, guess what?  Just in time, this posting from The Soap Queen called Unmolding Cold Process Soap from Plastic Molds magically appeared.  It gave me some good information on the subject so I will try and use the molds after I have practiced making several batches of CP soap.

How to Care for Silicone and Wood Molds

Taking up a hobby has it costs.  Soap making is no different.  There are supplies such as carrier oils, colorants, fragrance or essential oils, and molds which can surely add up.   But one should invest in quality soap molds to take your products to the next level.   Soap making mold come in various shapes, sizes and materials.  Among the most popular are silicone and wood.  With proper care, your will last for years.  Would you like learn the proper care of your molds?  The Soap Queen recently posted an entry on How to Care for Silicone and Wood Molds tells you everything that you need to know.

Using 3D Latex Molds

Latex molds can be fun and economical way to create detailed soaps, beeswax figurines and candles. But you are wondering how to keep the mold stable since there is no flat side to keep the mold up while you pour your mixture into the mold. According to Glory Bee Foods, there is a simple way to keep your mold stable. Just follow these instructions and you should have success:

(1) Trace the open end of your mold on a thick piece of cardboard.

(2) Cut shape. Cut 1/8" inside the line that you traced which will create a smaller mold than the mold rim. This is to insure that your mold will fit snuggly and will not fall over spilling any of your contents.

(3) Insert mold into cut out. Lip of mold should be supported by cardboard cut out.

(4) Place in a container deeper than your mold byt not wider than the cardboard.

(5) Fill mold.

(6) Let cool until completely harden.

(7) Peel mold from cast by rolling mold down casting.

I have never used these type of molds myself for candle or soap making, so if anyone has any suggestions to add, please share them with us.

New Easter Silicone Mold from Wilton

Looking for a silicone mold with Easter shapes?  Here is one from Wilton.  If you are interested you can directly order if from Wilton.

Or check out Wholesale Supplies Plus because they are selling it with most of Wilton silicone pieces, plus many other silicone molds.  Check out their website - http://wholesalesuppliesplus.com/.

I happily found out that Michaels was selling this new mold and I bought it immediately since I had a 40% coupon to use.  If you shop at Joann's, they are selling them too!

Flexy Fast

Flexy Fast is a new verstile silicone product which allows you to make your own molds (for melt and pour soaps) at home.

In August, Soap Queen TV will be doing an episode on Flexy Fast.  Until then you can check out tips from the Soap Queen's blog on how to use this fantastic product  - http://soap-queen.blogspot.com/2009/06/flexy-fast-tips-for-success.html.

If you are interested in getting this product visit the kits page on Brambleberry's website @ http://www.brambleberry.com/Kits.aspx.

Wilton Silicone Muffin/Tart Pan

If you are having problems finding the Wilton Silicone Muffin/Tart pan to make your massage bars, etc. Wholesales Supplies Plus (http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/) sells them for $10 each. Or you can check out Wilton's website (http://www.wilton.com/) sells them for $9.99.

You also may want to consider checking out Ebay (http://www.ebay.com/) to see if anyone is having an auction on this item. In the search area of the site just plug in the words silicone bakeware to see what is available.

These pans have 12 cavities. I would recommend getting 2 pans in order just in case.

HOW TO USE A 3-D MOLD

(Submitted to Soap Wizards http://www.soapwizards.com/ by Ela Heyn)

Here are my instructions for using a 3-D soap mold effectively. Of course, this is contingent upon the two halves of the soap mold fitting together correctly in the first place. So the first step would actually be to acquire a soap mold designed to be 3-D, or examine your soap mold to make sure that the two halves do, in fact, fit together to form a 3-D image.

Assuming that you've done this:

1. Prepare sufficient soap base for BOTH halves of the soap mold at once - adding both scent and color to it. This can be either clear soap base or opaque soap base, in either crafting soap base or molding soap base.

2. Fill ONE half of the soap mold with soap base; let it "set up". The rest of the soap base can be allowed to cool down in the meanwhile.

3. When that half is "set up", unmold it. Now, reheat the rest of the soap base, and fill the OTHER half of the soap mold with soap base.

4. Very quickly, before the soap base has a chance to cool, take the finished half, and SMOOSH the unfinished side down into the molten soap base in the other half of the soap mold. Make sure as much of the surface of the hardened soap touches the molten soap base as possible, to get the greatest adhesion possible. You might need to pour a little extra soap base around the edges, to fill in any gaps between the two halves.

5. Let set up, and then unmold. Very carefully, with a wet finger or the edge of a butter knife, rub the seam to smooth it out as much as possible. A perfect 3-D soap object! Note: It's important when making 3-D soap objects to prepare ALL of your soap base at once to ensure that the two halves of your finished soap match each other in texture, color, scent, etc!



Source: http://www.soapwizards.com/tek9.asp?pg=recipes#HOW%20TO%20USE%20A%203-D%20MOLD

Cold Process Soap Molds and Bevellers

If you make your soap by the cold process method and you are looking for a great mold to pour your soap mixture in, I would recommend purchasing F&D Soap Mold & Cutter Box for 4 LB Batch from Mission Peak Soap in Fremont. It is a great quality mold and cutter that will create a batch yields 18 bars weighing approximately 4.5 ounces each. The mold comes with complete instructions and a couple of sample mold-liners to get you started. The price of this great mold and cutter is $70.00.

I would also recommend the F&D Soap Beveller from Mission Peak Soap. The Beveller puts a beautiful 45 degree bevel on the edge of your soap with a safe, thin wire. The bevel gives your soap a gorgeous, jewel-like appearance and will help open doors to a new, upscale, clientele. This beveller is itself a real work or art - handmade in the USA from native hardwood. A multi-position adjustment gives you the option of either small or large bevels. The price of this beveller is $75.00.

I am planning to purchase both of these items when I get more involved in making my soap by the cold process method. If you want to want to take a closer look at these two items, here is the link to both of these pieces of equipment -http://www.missionpeaksoap.com/equipment.htm.

If you live in the Bay Area, you would definately be able to save on shipping on this product. You may be able to arrange to pick up the scale instead of having it shipped. The best way to contact Mission Peak is by email at missionpeaksoap@sbcglobal.net. But if you do not have access to email than you can call 510-795-1326 or send a fax to 510-791-1672.

Flexible Ice Cube Trays/Silicone Molds

I normally make soap embellishments for my melt and pour soap with flexible ice cube trays. They come in a variety of different shapes/themes. I found that is best to hand wash the ice cube trays because the dishwasher gets so hot that it warps the item out of shape.

I also use Silicone Muffin Pans in various shapes to make a variety of soaps. I have not put them in the dishwasher, but the clean up is so easy that I just hand wash them.

Calculating/Capacity of Soap Molds

If you recently purchased a soap mold and you do not know how much soap base you need to use here are some calculations and formulas to help you out.

Capacity of Shape Molds

Mini Rectangle (1 1/2" x 1" x 1" deep) = 2 oz
Small Rectangle (2 3/4" x 2" x 1" deep) = 3 oz
Medium Rectangle (3 1/4" x 2 1/4 " x 1" deep) = 4 oz
Medium Square (3" x 3" x 1" deep) = 5 oz
Large Square (3" x 6" x 1" deep) = 9 oz
Medium Circle (2 1/2" diameter x 1" deep) = 2 1/2 oz
Domed Small Circle (2 1/2" diameter x 3/4" deep) = 2 oz
Domed Medium Circle (3" diameter x 1" deep) = 4 oz
Medium Oval (2" x 3" x 3/4" deep) = 2 1/2 oz
Domed Medium Oval (2 3/4" x 2 1/2" x 1 1/4" deep) = 4 oz

Capacity of Loaf Molds

Small Loaf Molds (3 1/4" x 4 3/4" x 2 1/2" deep food storage container) = 16 oz to fill
Medium Loaf Molds (4" x 6" x 2 3/4" deep food storage container) = 24 oz to fill

Capacity of Tube Molds
This chart lists how much soap is needed to fill 1" of a tube mold. Use it to calculate how much soap base you need for the number of bars you wish to make. My estimates are for 1" thick bars for molds 2 1/2" in diameter or larger and 1/2" thick bars for smaller tubes.

Plastic molds made for soap are 6" high; metal tube molds are 9" high. Plastic and metal candle molds range from 4" to 10" in height. The tube mold measurements are across the top of the mold and include the width of the mold material.

1" (small) circle - 1/2 oz per 1"
2" (medium) circle - 1 1/2 oz per 1"
2 3/4" (medium) circle - 3 oz per 1"
3 1/2" (large) circle - 5 oz per 1"
2" x 2 1/2" (medium) oval - 2 1/2 oz per 1"
2 1/2" x 3 1/2" (large) oval - 4 oz per 1"
1 1/2" (small) heart - 1 oz per 1"
3" (large) heart - 4 oz per 1"
1 1/2" (small) star - 1 oz per 1"
3" (large) star - 4 oz per 1"
1 1/2" (small) blossom - 1 oz per 1"
3" (large) star - 3 1/2 oz per 1"
2 1/2" butterfly - 3 1/2 oz per 1"
3" hexagon - 4 oz per 1"
3" x 4" (large) rectangle - 8 oz per 1"

Source: Designer Soapmaking by Marie Browning, Sterling Publishing, 2003. pg 23-24