Anybody have gel issues with the WSP silicone loaf molds?

[judymoody]

I just bought some of these and my first batch gelled unevenly. Still haven't cut it because the corners and edges are very soft - like the consistency of butter - you can push into it with your finger. I seem to have gotten gel in the middle and out to the sides but not the top and bottom. I warmed the mold prior to pouring and then insulated it lightly. Is it better to CPOP with these? I used a reliable recipe and low % of well-behaving EOs. Soaped at around 100-105 with modest water discount (33%). Up to this point I've only used wood loaf molds and have always gotten complete gel or very nearly so. Thanks!

 

[newbie]

I know my soaps would go to full gel in my wooden molds with just insulation. With my silicone molds, I use a heating pad to make sure I get gel and get full gel because they're smaller and the silicone doesn't insulate like wood. To be honest, I've never just left them alone with just blankets over them because I'd heard it was more difficult to get and keep the soap hot enough to complete gel, so I don't know what would happen without the heating pad. I've also gone with a warm oven with the silicone molds, which works as well.

 

[agriffin]

I have to cpop them. If my soap doesn't gel all of the way it is difficult to get out. I really like them but sometimes it's easier to use a lined wooden mold. lol

 

[judymoody]

thanks for the feedback, that's what I suspected.

For people who don't gel, I imagine these WSP molds would be ideal.

Wonder how long it will take for my last batch to firm up?

 

[carebear]

with silicone molds, I find it helpful to preheat the mold in a warm oven. also, be sure to wrap on sides and bottom when insulating.

 

[soapbuddy]

I made a batch with it yesterday and it gelled. I don't normally gel, so I will try it without gelling and see. I also put my molds in the freezer so they are easier to get out.

 

[Bukawww]

I use coconut milk in almost every batch (and soap at RT) and have not had tons of luck NOT gelling (always a partial gel in the middle layer) even when the molds are prefrozen, then immediately wisked into the freezer after pour. I use the WSP silicone loaf but I'm thinking about locating a slab mold with dividers (HDPE)...suggestions on good ones welcome

I also only soap 2 main recipes: a high coconut and a high olive (the latter I DO gel or it will never harden, I fear lol).

 

[soapbuddy]

I use the WSP silicone loaf but I'm thinking about locating a slab mold with dividers (HDPE)...suggestions on good ones welcome

How big of a HDPE mold with dividers are you looking for? I might have one.

 

[Dragonkaz]

I have only used silicon moulds ... and I'm still a newbie. I place a wire rack on top of a couple of towels and place the moulds on the wire rack. After the soap is in my moulds, I cover them well with cling wrap and then wrap the towels over the moulds and roll up the sides. I then cover with a couple of smaller towels, going across from the rolled up sides. This way the moulds are well wrapped and there's no open areas.

During the 'gel stage' I often feel the towels and it's amazing the heat that can be felt radiating from the them.

So far ... my soaps have gone through the 'gel stage' without any problems.

 

[judymoody]

Thanks everybody, I will try CPOP next time and see how it goes.

 

[Bukawww]

I use the WSP silicone loaf but I'm thinking about locating a slab mold with dividers (HDPE)...suggestions on good ones welcome

How big of a HDPE mold with dividers are you looking for? I might have one.

Well I'd love something with at least 12 bars (7-12lbs), the more the merrier

 

[PrairieCraft]

If I have soaped really cool or if the temp in my house is cool I will stick a tupperware box over the the molds after covering them with towels to hold in the heat. Every time I've put them in the oven I have overheated them, even with the door cracked. I have also gotten partial gel when I was trying not to gel by putting it in the freezer. Always with a milk soap or a coconut oil soap though.

 

[honor435]

I just used mine for the the first time, i also put on heating pad, covered for a hr, I unmolded and cut next day.

 

[c.a.p.]

I don't gel; they work perfectly for non-gelling so I am no help for those who gel. Whenever I have gotten a gel from certain batches that I make, I get a partial gel. That's rare though.

 

[MidwestSoaper]

I use WSP's silicone molds and the only problem I have had with partial gel is when I tried not to. I used to just cover the mold with towels and leave it on the counter overnight. Now I just CPOP because I don't like waiting so long for the soaps to cure. So far I've had no problems with unmolding any soap from these molds.

 

[BakingNana]

I have a "Proof" setting on my oven for raising yeast doughs. I use this for the green silicone loaf molds. Most recipes seem to be fully gelled within a couple of hours. As soon as they hit full gel, I turn off the oven and take them out and just set them on the counter. (The "Proof" setting is basically running the oven fan with the light bulb on to circulate the heat from the bulb. It doesn't get warm enough to cause overheating.)

 

[Stinkydancer]

I too prefer wood- it's just easier. But I have used these and they are great if you don't gel.

They work pretty well with CPOP too- it did seem like my batches were softer than if I had used a wood mold so I waited an extra day to un mold and all was well.

 

[FloridaSoaper]

I tried the green molds and got partial gel uncovered just sitting out. Tried to get it to fully gel by wrapping the mold in a towel and setting it on a cookie sheet and it gelled almost all the way, but still left the corners un-gelled. I may have to get a heating pad. I didn't like cpop with my green one, it overheated and I got a spongy top - it did fully gel though. And I didn't like the way it made my oven stink of eo's! Had to run the clean cycle before I could cook in my oven again...

 

[tisci]

Is the spongy top a CPOP thing? THe first time I tried using the oven for soap is w/the green molds & mine did the same thing. I wasn't sure if it was the because of my recipe or if that was typical.

 

[SudsyKat]

I'd love a reply to this as well - I'm just getting into CPOP.