Finding or Making Molds
Almost anything that will hold water can be
used as a soap mold. The possibilities are endless. As a soapmaker
you have three basic choices when it comes to soap molds. First,
you can purchase soap molds from soap supply companies that are made specifically
for molding soap. Second, you can go to a Hobby Store like "Hobby
Lobby" or "Michaels" and purchase molds or containers that were not made
for soap but make excellent soap molds. Thirdly, you can make your
own molds using anything from scrap wood to PVC pipes to vinyl downspouts.
Buying Soap Molds
If you choose to purchase soap molds that are
specifically made for that purpose you can go to the bottom of this page
and click on soap links and go to the soap suppliers link. There
are hundreds of molds available for soapmaking.
Items that Make Good Soap Molds
If you choose to purchase alternative molds
locally try some of these ideas. For fancy soaps go to a cooking
supply store and look for candy molds. There should be a wide variety
of designs. Also, try candle molds. For simple square or rectangular
blocks of soap you can use brownie pans that have squared edges so as to
make a nice block of soap.
Making Molds
If you choose to make your own molds try these
ideas. Go to Lowes or Home Depot and purchase a short length
of 2" and 3" PVC pipe. While there purchase a few caps for the ends
of the pipe. They sell what is called a test cap that makes a good
cap for soapmaking since it fits inside the pipe and makes a flat bottom
that lets the pipe stand up on its own. If you can't find a test
cap a regular cap will work but you will have to prop the pipe up against
something when you use it since regular caps are rounded on the end.
Cut the pipe into 2 foot lengths, clean it and put the cap in the end of
the pipe. Take a piece of clear or hurricane tape and seal the cap
to the pipe so no liquid can escape.
Make your soap as usual and fill the pipe up
with the soap mixture. Set the pipe in a place where it can't fall
over and leave it there for a day or so. When the soap has hardened
place the pipe in the freezer for an hour or two. Take it out and
unseal the end with the tape and cap on it and run the pipe under hot water
for 30 seconds or so. Take something about the size of the inside
of the pipe and gently push the soap out of the mold. Wait another
day for it to harden more and then cut it into round pieces. You
can do the same thing with vinyl downspout material. You will have
to find a way to plug up one end but that should not be difficult.
Whatever you use just remember to cut the pieces short enough to fit in
a freezer.
You can also make soap molds out of scrap plywood
or white/yellow pine. The best way is to hinge the sides so that
when the soap has set you can fold the sides down thus making it easier
to remove the block of soap. You can purchase everything you need
at Lowes or Home Depot. Line the inside of the box with wax paper
before you pour you soap mix and when it has set simply unlock and fold
down the sides and pop the block of soap out. If you make the box
around 4-5 inches deep you can cut your soap sideways instead of flatways
and get more bars out of each mold.