Choosing a soap cutter

[Feelin' Soapy]

I've made about 12 batches of soap so far, and each is getting better. At first I cut the loafs by hand and the bars were all wonky, so my husband built me a cutter box, but his "craftsmanship" makes bars that are all different sizes. So I've decided it's time to buy an official soap cutter. I'm torn between the kind that uses a blade and has multiple 1"-spaced slots vs the single-wire on a cutting arm with a stop. Blade vs wire? Any particular affordable model you'd recommend for a hobbyist who's totally hooked on making lots of soap?

 

[AliOop]

I have a single-wire cutter. FWIW, I'm one of those people who can't cut in a straight line if there is any leeway, and the slots in the box+blade system definitely have more room for variance. If that's not you, then the box+blade may be fine.

But I also find that the single-wire cutter gives me more options for easily slicing my bars in different directions, which is necessary for certain types of techniques. Depending on the dimensions of a box cutter, you may not be able to rotate the bar the way that you want in order to cut it the way that you want. Hope that makes sense.

 

[TheGecko]

For about $25.00, you can make your own soap cutter:

I bought the above Cheese Slicer on Amazon (amazon.com/gp/product/B00004S1DU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) for $18.00. I used a Sharpie to make a 1" and 1 1/2" cutting line. I then went to Home Depot and bought a 1/2" round Dowel, cut it to size, used the round sandpaper thingy on hubby Dremel to make a trough and used strong construction superglue to set it into place.

But if your heart is set on a regular soap cutter, as a hobbiest I would just go with a single bar cutter.

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

Thank you for the input. Sounds like the single-wire type is the best bet. I am considering this one on Amazon ($34).:

 

[AlexanderMakesSoap]

I purchased a highly rated miter soap wood cutting box with included blades on Amazon - and I was constantly getting uneven wonky cuts. So I got a cheap cheese cutter, like what TheGecko suggests above - this works much better, though you do need to DIY just a bit as suggested.

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

I tried the cheese cutter I have at home with only limited success, but the one TheGecko suggests is a bit larger, so that would be helpful. I am concerned that the arthritis in my fingers that makes it difficult to hold things in place might be a problem without having a taller side-guide and a stop at the end rather than just cutting lines?

 

[AlexanderMakesSoap]

I tried the cheese cutter I have at home with only limited success, but the one TheGecko suggests is a bit larger, so that would be helpful. I am concerned that the arthritis in my fingers that makes it difficult to hold things in place might be a problem without having a taller side-guide and a stop at the end rather than just cutting lines?

I find it pretty easy to hold with my short guide along the side. I couldn't keep it steady enough without the side guide rough.

 

[SPowers]

I love my single wire soap cutter.

 

[AliOop]

Thank you for the input. Sounds like the single-wire type is the best bet. I am considering this one on Amazon ($34).:

Oh, I wasn't thinking of that one at all, sorry. While I have seen some folks on YouTube who use those, for me, it still has the spacing issues in that the slot for the wire leaves too much room for variance.

I have the same type of single-wire cutter that @SPowers pictured in her post, just above this one. The cheese-slicer type referenced by @AlexanderMakesSoap are favored by a lot of people, as well. The drawback to the cheese slicer is that it doesn't hold longer loaves very well, unless you make an extension for it.

 

[TheGecko]

The drawback to the cheese slicer is that it doesn't hold longer loaves very well, unless you make an extension for it.

I cut 10" loaves with no problem. But even with a single wire cutter, you're going to have issues with longer loaves. And if you're just making soap as a hobby, you can always cut your loaf in half.

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

Thanks for all your input. Lots of good ways to go, but I hear a definite preference for wire over blade cutter.

 

[Zing]

A lot of folks on here like the one from Bud's which was a bit out of my budget. I did a lot of research but kept finding shipping costs doubling the price. Then I found and bought this one with reasonable shipping, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PHZKC6D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .
I believe it's the same as @SPowers. I too am a hobbyist but LOVE my cutter, it makes me feel professional. Keep us posted on your final selection!

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

A lot of folks on here like the one from Bud's which was a bit out of my budget. I did a lot of research but kept finding shipping costs doubling the price. Then I found and bought this one with reasonable shipping, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PHZKC6D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .
I believe it's the same as @SPowers. I too am a hobbyist but LOVE my cutter, it makes me feel professional. Keep us posted on your final selection!

That's the other one I keep looking at (vs the one I posted the picture of near the top of this thread). It's a question of spending $90 or $34. How much difference in quality and function is there between the two? I'm just a hobbyist, but I am selling to friends, and I do want to offer nice bars of equal sizes.

 

[Zing]

@JoyfulSudz , If possible, I'd look at reviews for the $34. I frequently get concerned if something is priced really low and then dig in to reviews. I have had zero problems with the one I got and love it. It was at the high end of my personal budget but I'm pretty sure it will last awhile.

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

@JoyfulSudz , If possible, I'd look at reviews for the $34. I frequently get concerned if something is priced really low and then dig in to reviews. I have had zero problems with the one I got and love it. It was at the high end of my personal budget but I'm pretty sure it will last awhile.

The $89 one certainly has better reviews (4.7 out of 5) than the $34 model (3.5 out of 5). As a beginner not knowing how my soaping will progress, I'm having a hard time justifying the higher expenditure, but also don't want to have to buy a better one later because I cut corners trying to cut soap economically early on .

 

[atiz]

I'm probably the odd one out here, but I love my bench scraper for a cutter
I have a miter box to go with it, and it's not wobbly at all, I get straight and consistent cuts.

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

Okay, I did it! Ordered the cutter like the one SPowers and Zing have. Now I need to be patient while it ships! Thanks, everybody, for your helpful input.