Wood soap molds that areso versatile, you can truly tailor them to your own needs.
Rebecca D. Dillon is a soapmaker, DIY-er and blogger whose life is controlled daily by a dachshund. Example sideboard dimensions for a wood soap mold that is used to create a 3.5" wide, 2.5" tall, and 10" longloaf of soap: 10" (length of soap) + 0.75" (thickness of end board 1) + 0.75" (thickness of end board 2) + 3" (additional length) = 14.50" longx 3.5" tall (same height as end boards and 1" taller than soap loaf height). (Plus the soap gave them a nice, fresh scent.) However, you must line the mold with plastic so there are no gaps. Hello! You don't have to use stainless steel or any high-grade steel, the standard zinc plated steel is fine. Recently, they stopped carrying it all together. A couple of common (and affordable) choices for wood soap molds are Baltic birch plywood or pine. If you want to change the width of your wood soap mold, just change out your end boards for a different size! To unmold the soap, loosen the nuts about a half-inch. Struggling to find success with your soap biz? Also, we would love it if you shared this article across your social media networks to friends who might be interested in making a DIY soap mold. Why two holes at each end instead ofone, you ask? Labour costs money and your labour isnt free. Yes, you can use them for hot process soap as well. Sign up for our newsletter below for more tips and tricks to make bank in your biz. But the time depends on the size of the soap, but it should be completely hard to the touch before you try to remove it from the mold. The idea is to make a simple cheap soap mold from wood. You can find the answers to your questions and learn how to make soap within this tutorial. This technique is for making tall and skinny soap molds but you can also use the technique to make any size of soap mold you want, so if your current soap mold is not giving you what you want, why not try this method and see how good it is. Before then, here are a few items you need to get started, a ruler, masking tape, an exact knife, packaging tape, 2 rubber bands, and much more. I personally use the same method as Amy at Great Cakes Soapworks, you can view her video tutorial about how to line soap molds with freezer paper here. The 3 by 4 sides make up the shorter sides. soap mold pergo plans hinges Because of this, and due to the stiffness and occasional pain in my hands from the fibro, I use trash bags to line my molds. The smaller cube will go inside the bigger one and sit properly. You can mark the placement of the holes prior to drilling if you wish. Love this post, Im pinning it!! It can take soap anywhere from a few hours to a few days to set. One of the most costly parts of soapmaking is the molds and cutters you use as you grow from making smallsingle batches to wanting to make tons of soap all at once. Also have it in mind when insulating wood molds that because they insulate the soap naturally, placing the mold on a heating pad may not be necessary. containers of Roebic brand lye from Lowes assuming your store still carries it. Of course you do! I live in Manassas, VA i will go to your hometown for my lye. Your maximum safe weight-lift limits will ultimately determine the maximum amount of soap and the number of bars you should get out of each mold. Get a paper plate, Elmer's glue, latex rubber, scrap wood, castin craft brand mold builder in liquid format, and Accent piece for the soap if you want to or not, and finally a cheap paintbrush. This can be achieved without expensive ingredients or buying these ingredients in bulk. Place the end boards in between the two sideboards to create the soap mold cavity. This article is a compilation of some of the best DIY soap mold ideas that you could find. As an Amazon Associate I also earn from qualifying purchases. 
The 12 by 4 boards make up the long sides of the rectangle. The step is simple and easy for even a beginner. To calculate the volume of a mold, First of all, fill the mold with water and then pour that water into a measuring cup. See my, the same process that this tutorial by Inner Earth blog uses with contact paper, 2lb. How big your wooden soap mold is will affect the cost of supplies needed. container of Roebic lye had gone up to $16. It was a horrible mistake that resulted in leaky messes. Copyright 2022 Profitable Venture Magazine Ltd | All Rights Reserved | See About Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer. bars depending on how large you cut them. The placement hereisimportant, as you need to ensure that you place the bolts with enough room for the soap mold cavity and the end boards. She used large 20 gallon kitchen trash bags to line her molds, then once she unmolded the soaps, shed re-use the trash bags for actual trash.
Just as the creator of this video tutorial made it video with her smartphone, something that was easy to come by and not expensive, you can also make your soap out of something easy to come by and not at all expensive, like a pringles can. 2020 Rebecca D. Dillon | Disclosure Policy & Disclaimer | Privacy Policy Created By Lucid Themes, I may receive compensation from links on this site. The comments section is open for questions or contributions regarding this article. If putting them together or taking them apart seems confusing, here are some "live-action" photographs of using these molds: One of these wooden soap molds lined with freezer paper and filled with soap. If you don't already have one, this Black & Decker Drill and Project Kit will have everything you need. Then you can customize your wooden soap mold for the job at hand. If you make 2.5" tall, 3.5" wide, and 1" thick soap, you will want to: You may also want to consider what silicone liners are available from soapmaking suppliers. After you must have cut your wood into the proper dimensions, you can begin assembling your mold. Use the wood clamps to secure while the wood is drying. Rebecca, Love this! I dont know what you mean by craft wood. And I just use a Chefs knife. Then, place the 3 by 4 sides between the 12 by 4 boards, creating a rectangle shape with your boards. This gives me a clear indication of where I should place the holes for the bolts. In soap making, lye is very important. Honestly Ive never needed to use a fancy lid as cutting cardboard to fit on top of the molds works just fine during the curing process. Parchment Paper is not the best for soap making. The directions to follow to make this amazing soap mold is super quick and easy. Also, if you are fond of tall and skinny soaps, then you should probably try out this method, and the yield is 1 mold, 1 liner. The 3 x 11 board fits inside the rectangle. Opting for any width ofsoap mold cavity beyond 12" wide will greatly affect the cost, as the bolts needed greatly increase in price. This video tutorial works for all sizes of soap molds, tall and skinny molds included. Example end board dimensions for a soap mold that is used to create a 3.5" wide, 2.5" tall, and 10" longloaf of soap:3.5" wide x 3.5" tall. If you CPOP your soap, you will want to skip this step. This soap mold will take you 50 minutes to make if you get this material first, things you need are a piece of corrugated cardboard, packaging tape, glue, cutting mat, freezer paper, ruler, masking tape, and a few other supplies.
Run some wood glue along each side of the bottom board and then place it inside the rectangle. Even with shipping, these containers run cheaper than 2lb. Spray the solution on the wood floor and then use a mop with a soft cloth to clean the floors. am from Africa,and this has been of great help to me! The higher the grit number, the stronger the sandpaper. Wash all your containers well and let dry completely- Take special care with the Pringles can since its made out of cardboard. You can learn more about Rebecca by checking out her bio. I like to use 5/8" diameter bolts, as they feel substantial enough without being gigantic, but again, it's entirely up to you. Again? You'll also need four sets of steel bolts and accompanying nuts, two sets for each end of the mold. This will secure the sideboardin place and allow the glue to dry. My pine molds were made and used when I was a hobbyist, and held up fine, but there are others who have reported that they warp over time. Wood molds are sturdy, cost-effective, and act as great insulators for cold process soap. Let's go. To line a mold I simply unfold the bag but dont open it press it into the mold and then tape the outer edges where the bag folds over the outside of the mold to keep it in place. Indeed, you will also need larger pieces of wood to make a larger mold. Thread your steel bolts through the securedsideboard, and your loose sideboard. ), No spam, even if the gremlins threaten our soap pot. As craft glue is fairly soft, you do not need high grit sandpaper for your soap mold. The mold is durable, easy to dismantle when you want to remove your hardened soap, and also very easy to make. ASSEMBLE & ROCK YOUR SOAP POT:Hurray! Use a tool specifically made for round-soap, Have a round-shaped pan for your hot process soap. focusing embossed There are some molds that come together with wire cutters for soap making. (, Create Sustainable Success (Free Program), molds and cutters you use as you grow from making smallsingle batches to wanting to make tons of soap all at once, use the drill to stir large batches of soap with a paint mixer when you start doing production size batches of 20 lbs or more, view her video tutorial about how to line soap molds with freezer paper here, How to Use Your Soapmaking Skills for Soap Business Success, How to Invest in Your Soap Business's Success Wisely, Three New Team Members? You also want to consider how heavy the wood soap mold will be when filled with soap. They currently have locations in Roanoke, VA (my hometown), Colonial Heights, VA, Piney Flats, TN and Rock Hill, SC. And trimming the loafs when theyre done is quite tedious. Do you run a soap-making business and need a cutter or mold? You can also use cling film and tape at the top edges. The two short sides should be cut to 3 1/2 x 4 and the bottom piece of the mold should be cut to 3 1/2 x 11. Of course, how you choose to line your molds is personal preference. Of course I want to try CP too so this is a perfect project to do beforehand . Here are a few materials you need, wood boards, a miter saw, polyurethane, and wood glue. Stick to grit levels below 100, as anything above 100 level grit is best used on large furniture. (It will fit into one of the wooden soap molds described above but will make large square bars about 5 1/2oz. Big hugs and Much Love. And then place the end boards in place and tracea light pencil line on the outside edge of each end board. The following can be recycled to make soap molds; No! Add 1 teaspoon per pound or 450 grams of oils to your warm lye solution, Use salt- Add 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt per pound or 450 grams of oils to your hot lye solution to dissolve. of (cured) soap and will make approximately 10-12 4oz. each rather than rectangular bars of soap.). I was just wondering. Add more starch if need be. Sandpaper is rated by grit number. Get the real deal on your bottom line in under 5 minutes - what are you waiting for? 6oz. The following are the processes in making a soap mold; To unmold soap from a wooden mold, first of all, pull on the sides of the mold. Woods that containglue or are chemically treated should NOT be used in the oven as they could fall apart ormay off-gas toxic chemicals. I also have hand problems (nerve damage) so I need the least hand intensive method to do this. Soap molds can be made from several inexpensive tools. Thanks for sharing. Ive been using loaf pans & lining them with parchment paper. If you are planning on only making one, you will likely spend upwards of $20 to $30 on supplies as smaller wood boards at hardware stores are more expensive and you will have leftover wood. Plus, you can use the drill to stir large batches of soap with a paint mixer when you start doing production size batches of 20 lbs or more.). Join me in this free workshop to learnwhat holds soapmakers back from the success they dream of - and how toovercome it. Making a lid for these is optional. If you don't have a saw at home, many home improvement stores will cut your wood for you,if you ask, so keep that in mind! Thanks!! The following tips are the processes in making round soap; A 2lb of soap which is 24oz makes roughly 6 bars of soap. And if the soap delays in coming out, pop it in the freezer for about 10 to 15 minutes. But note that because they are individual molds they probably wont gel and so might need a lot of extra soap. To start, assemble the sides of the wood to form a rectangle. I simply place cardboard on the top of the filled mold and then cover with towels to insulate during the 24 hour saponification period. GET STARTED: Start off by drilling the holes for your bolts in your sideboards. For example, if your mold holds 12 ounces of water, 12 X 1.8 = 21.6 cubic inches. This is a lot of soap, so to get the best results, allow the soap to set overnight, When completely set, remove the soap from the container by slowly tearing away the sides of the container, Firstly, you have to cut out the big piece of freezer paper that will cover the bottom of the mold, Place the paper inside the mold to make sure that it fits trim the edges if you need to make any adjustments, Repeat the same method in step one for the two end pieces- make a crease with your finger along the sides that you can cut on, Cut along the creased lines again and cut the freezer paper in half. This soap mold is super easy to make, you just need a few materials to get started. My dad is handy with wood and power tools so he made me a bunch of these, however, if you dont own power tools, its possible to get the pieces for the molds cut at no charge. I like to place a wood screw every two inches or so. Release any tape you have securing your liner to the mold. molds The great thing about this method is that the mold is easily adjustable. containers of lye, you receive $5 off your purchase. Add a fragrance oil of choice using a disposable pipette. The first time Ibuilt these molds, I only put one bolt in each end. If soap is too hot, keep stirring slowly until the soap reaches 130. People that make soap in small batches on almost a daily basis might want to start making it in larger batches all at once, if you fall into this category of people, you should consider using this method to make your soap mold with ease. Or if youre looking for skin conditioning bar of handmade soap, check out my Skin Loving Natural Cold Process Soap Recipe. Yes! The following are the ways soap increases in volume; To make oil soap for wood, get about 4 cups of warm water, 1 teaspoon of castile soap, 10 drops of lemon essential oil, an empty spray bottle, and a mop. Are you into the business of creating soaps? So, to make this silicone soap mold, first, you need a two cube box, one slightly bigger than the other. The number of wood screws depends on the length of your mold, I tend to use one screw for every two inches of length. Making soap is without doubt a fun hobby that can potentially earn you money if you sell your soap at craft shows or online. If you dont line your mold, your soap will get stuck. Use your handsaw to gently saw along that line. Soap mold is one of the most difficult parts of soap making but this method makes it easy to use and follow, the instructions are easy and concise, all you have to do is get the necessary supplies to build the mold. Old-fashioned soap was produced by cooking fatty acids like the fat rendered from a slaughtered cow, sheep, or goat together with water and an alkaline-like lye, a caustic substance derived from wood ashes. Tighten the nuts onto the bolts, and voila! Example bolt sizefor a soap mold that is used to create a 3.5" wide, 2.5" tall, and 10" longloaf of soap: 5/8" diameter 6" longzinc plated steel bolts(must be widerthan 5" = 3.5" width of soap + 0.75" thickness of sideboard 1 + 0.75" thickness of sideboard 2). How long to cool, or to what temperature? How big your wooden soap mold is will ultimately influence the cost of supplies needed. It's easiest to stack your sideboards on top of each other, clamp them together, and then drill the four holes into the sideboards together at one time. Then use a thermometer to monitor the soap base temperature it should be about 130 to avoid warping the molds. Most wood molds are made out of top-grade birch plywood that is both sturdy and durable. You can use any kind of wood you desire. Here are the few supplies you'll need to get started, some rubber bands, masking tape, scissors, marker, packaging tape, some sort of clips, and a few more. However, a word of caution: Know what your physical lifting limit is. If youre practical and dont mind a few minor creases on the sides and bottom of your soap, then this method may be the one for you. Trace the inside edge of the sideboard using a pencil, this will help you line up the placement of the wood screws to secure your sideboard to the base. I am doing lots of research before trying my hand at soap making. Place a line of wood glue along each 4 side. For instance, if youre building a premium-priced soap brand, your soaps can be sold for at least $9.95 per bar. It also seemed to insulate the soap better than other woods I had tried. (Yes, we're serving up solutions over here! This is easier than buying a wooden mold or silicone mold online or at any store, and also way faster. You should be able to ask someone at the store to trim the wood down for you. ChemSolv sells 99% pure sodium hydroxide (which is suitable for soapmaking) in 55lb. Multiply the number of fluid ounces of water by 1.8 to get the total cubic inches of the mold. It is recommended to let your soap rest in the mold and harden for at least 12 to 24 hours after pouring. It depends on the soap recipe youre using. Keep in mind that you can make multiple sets of end boards to change the width of the wood soap mold, from a single loaf to a double or triple slab! In order to make soap, however, you must have a mold and a cutter in which to pour the liquid soap so that it can harden. Yes! You wont have to spend a lot of money on this project. The soap-making business is very profitable. I really, really want to try my hand at soapmaking. You can use parchment paper or trash bags to line your Board.
Several months ago I noticed that their price for a 2lb. Ive heard of using wire, & seen the metal w/ wood grip, but it seems like the metal w/ wood grip would need to be the perfect width, & I would need to make mold interior dimensions fit the metal w/ wood grip. If the sides are rough, use sandpaper to smooth them down. Learn more. The largest mold that I'd recommend with this method of building molds is 18" long and 12" wide. (Besides, I think everyone should have such a kit on hand for basic maintenance work around the house. This guide has a cut list that will guide you to make the proper cuts to the wood boards. Freezer paper is the liner for most soap makers. I recently made ten of these wooden soap molds and the total bill was $55, making each mold a nice and cheap $5.50 each (and a couple hours of time!). It's usually cheaper to buy a box of bolts instead of individual bolts, so it's more economical to build multiple molds at one time. Ready to get started on your own wood soap molds? To create one mold youll need to use wood that is 1/2 thick.
For some I used plywood others craft wood. Lets begin! Using a screw-drive splitter that has a wire grid, push the wires through the sides by use of a wheel or crank that turns a long screw moving the grid up or down, backward or forward, depending on the design. For square or rectangular molds, multiply the length by the width by the height in inches to give the volume of the mold in cubic inches. And there you have it! Although, there are a few optional things, a plastic garbage bag, foam fill, additional scrap wood, and a few more other items. Give it more time- You can leave your soap in the mold for an extra one or two days. If you need and prefer a printable step-by-step version of this guide you can check this link for the link description for more info on that. Lining your soap molds before use is essential to being able to get your soap out of the mold. 20 Ways To Make A DIY Pottery Wheel: Do It Yourself Easily! This project will only cost you $10 and that's for the purchase of the materials needed for the soap mold production. To determine the minimum length of the bolts, take the width of the soap loaf,add the thickness of your two sideboards, and an additional inch. I pinned this! For this mold, you will need the following: Have it in mind that you may not find craft wood cut into the exact dimensions you need. If you are not going to fill the mold to the top, calculate the height you want the soap. Draw a line marking the dimensions with a pen or pencil. After that, put the craft wood pieces and form your rectangle mold. This soap mold is rectangular, but you can make whatever size you want.
I use an office trash bag since its quick and easy.
Bolts tend to run anywhere from $1.00 to $3.00 each up to 12" lengths, which is long enough for a slab that is three loaves of 3.5" width soap. Once youre done creating your board, you can use it to make soap. Yes! To be 100 percent sure everything is dry, its best to set your board aside overnight before use. The listed below are the materials that can be used as a soap mold; No, you dont need to grease them. To remove the soap, I just lift it out of the mold by the plastic bag I lined it with and peel off the soap. I've included tips and tricks I've learned over the many times of making these. You'll also need a power drill to predrill holes for the wood screws, holes for the bolts, and to drill the screws in place. I have. Once your soap has set you simply lift the soap from the mold and peel off the liner, cut into bars and allow to cure a minimum of 3-4 weeks. bags. Home Business ideas Beauty Care Industry Cosmetics Line Soap Making Business . You should be able to find the materials for this mold at most craft stores. ANYONE can build these wood soap molds, you don't have to be a woodworker to do it! Thanks for stopping by, if this article was helpful to you feel free to bookmark this page for future reference. Soap-making molds come in various shapes, sizes, and can be made with different materials. A simple handheld cordless power drill set tends to come withthe standard drill bits you'll need. Craft wood is a solid wood rather than pressed wood like plywood. So, here is another amazing video on how to make a soap mold out of a cereal box, this is one of the key materials that you already have at home, which makes the job a whole lot easier. Would it be too much is the wood was thicker than 1/2 inch? A single loaf at 18 in length will range in weight from approximately 6 to 8 lbs of soap. If YES, here is an 8-step guide on how to make homemade cutters and wooden molds with hinges. Other brands of lye you can use include Red Hot Devil Lye Caustic Soda Beads and RED CROWN High Test Lye. This blog generates income via ads. Below are the necessary steps to make a homemade mold and cutter for your soap production. Gracias. Washers are totally optional, I like to use them so that the bolt head and the nut don't dig into the wood. The entire making process technique is easy and simple for anyone to use.
Its similar in size, a little nice but also a little more expensive. Opting for any width of soap mold cavity beyond 12 wide will greatly affect the cost, as the bolts will increase in price. This will further secure the board, as wood glue may lose strength over time. 10 DIY Car Wash Soap Ideas: Homemade Car Wash Soap, 23 DIY Homemade Soap Recipes for Almost Anyone, 25 DIY Soap Dish Projects That Will Make Your Bathroom Look Good, 25 DIY Moss Wall Art - Best Faux & Living Wall Art With Moss.