best molds

[dirrdee]

I want to get some new molds and wondered if you guys could give me your opinions of the molds out there. I would really like to have a mold I didnt have to line, if they work well. Do the wood molds with the silicone liner work well? Also can you tell me who the best supplier is?

Dei

 

[Fragola]

I'm happy with my cheap silicone mold.

I never used wooden molds, but I believe this is how silicone compares to wood:

- silicone is lighter than wood and easier to handle / remove soap from it
- you can't take it apart to extract your soap, and kind of need to turn the soap upside down (may be a concern if you have decorated/textured tops)
- it is more flexible so you should avoid poking at it until the soap has hardened
- it loses more heat - if you gel your soap, you need to either rely on good insulation or put it in the oven
- I've heard that some of the red ones may pass the color to the soap for the first few batches

 

[kharmon320]

My go to mold is the little silicone loaf mold sold at WSP and BB (although BB is getting rid of the small one to get a larger one). It holds approx 40-44oz of batter. It's my "go-to" mold because of ease.

However, if one of my wooden molds had a silicone liner, I would use those in a heartbeat. I get approx 12 bars from my wood molds, and only 8 from the little silicone mold. But, the silicone-lined wooden molds are out of my price range at this time.

I know that didn't really help.

 

[ToniD]

I have been very happy with my silicon molds from wsp. I have a log, a tray and some individual ovals. Nice to get away from lining!

 

[judymoody]

I also use the 8 inch silicone loaf mold as my basic "go to" mold. As Fragola mentioned, you do need to insulate them or place them in a preheated oven if you want your soap to gel evenly. But they are easy to unmold and if you have textured tops, just unmold over a towel and no problem. Use the palm of your hand to release the soap from the bottom, if you use your fingers you will indent your soap.

Don't know if BB still is running their sale on these.

I'd love a silicone lined wooden mold but beyond my price range.

 

[dirrdee]

what do you think of this company? Has anyone ordered from them?


http://silvermoonsoapmolds.com//index.p ... c8mj9vc7j5

 

[KD]

It depends what you want to spend. If you make tiny batches, and want something cheap, the eight inch silicone loaf is pretty decent. Because I make large batches and want to configure a mold to serve different purposes, I have a Soaphutch Uber mold, made out of HDPE. I love it. Nothing sticks, no lining needed, and it will last me a lifetime. Yes, it was expensive, but it is a custom mold.

 

[dirrdee]

right now I am still experimenting and only do about 36 oz. recipes, but I want to have the smoothness and not have to do those dang liners...lol, I hate that part :wink:

 

[Padamae]

I bought 5 of the wsp silicone loaf molds I also like the cordial molds they are harder to find and I lightly mist them with mineral oil before I use them. I do have many suppose silicone molds that I like

 

[Soapsugoii]

I also use the small silicon molds. I love them and will probably always use them for smaller/test batches, but it does bother me a bit that they bow slightly so your bars aren't truly, perfectly rectangular. I've been really intrigued by the acrylic molds so might give one of those a shot eventually. I got my silicon ones at Bebe collection by the way. Ships from Taiwan but still was cheaper than any more local sites I think

 

[paillo]

i'm still stuck in the dark ages using 4.5-lb wood log molds that must be lined. i just try to think of the lining process as a 'zen experience' while i drool over the new acrylic molds

 

[dirrdee]

I was looking at the acrylic molds too...so are they the cadillac of molds then?...would you consider them nicer than silicone lined wood? I really want a nice smooth bar and my lining leaves much to be desired (already watched all the video's how, I just hate it and Im impatient lol).

Should I put my sights on an acrylic one then? One thing I dont want to do is buy one type of mold and then decide I want the other one instead...hahaha.

I have made my own wood molds (Im handy with power tools), but again the lining is a pain IMO

 

[Padamae]

I have not seen any bowing in the wsp molds they are gust small. They are reinforced. But I also have been looking at the the acrylic molds. I almost bought the silicone broken never but the shipping was more than the product so I went with the wsp crofter choice

 

[jcandleattic]

I think I have every type of mold imaginable. LOL I like them all for different reasons, and I dont' think one is "better" than the other, because it depends on the desired effect I want as to which mold I use.

I don't mind lining - for each mold I've figured out how to best line each one and it literally takes me less than 45 seconds from start to finish to line a mold. The longest part of lining a mold for me is taping it down to the sides of the mold so it doesn't move.

 

[CandleLaneCo]

My favorite is Life Works Molds. I stopped using everything else I've purchased. If you are looking for something cheaper, I'd go for the Crafters Choice Molds. I find they are a pain in the butt to get the soap out of, but great for small batches and if you only make soap as a craft.

 

[dcornett]

i'm still stuck in the dark ages using 4.5-lb wood log molds that must be lined. i just try to think of the lining process as a 'zen experience' while i drool over the new acrylic molds

LOL! I'm right there with you.

 

[dirrdee]

It takes me longer to line the mold than to make the whole batch of soap...hahaha...did I mention I also hate it