DIY Soap Tools

[CiCi]

I bought a 4" window razor/scraper on ebay and it came with 5 extra blades it was cheaper to buy the tool set than it was to buy replacement blades alone....

You can get those blades at Lowes. They come five in a pack but I can't remember the cost. I think it was like five dollars and something.

 

[Zoeybean]

You can get those blades at Lowes. They come five in a pack but I can't remember the cost. I think it was like five dollars and something.

I paid 5.95 total for a scraper with a blade in it and 5 extra blades. so 6 blades delivered to my door.

 

[Todd_in_Minnesota]

Scotsman,
I make my own tools too... generally quite badly, but I'm the only one who uses them, so no worries. I've built both a planer and a wire loaf-cutter, like below.

Here's the planer I made some time back. It's over-engineered, which makes it sturdy and easy to use. The blade is cut from some aluminum I had lying around, and "sharpened" by hand. It's not very sharp at all, but it's adequate to cut new soap. It's removable too, for re-sharpening. I've been considering replacing it with steel, but it's not a priority so I haven't gotten around to it yet. My only dissatisfaction with this tool is that the cut-depth isn't adjustable. It's set based on the difference in height from one side of the top surface to the other side.


Then I just (almost) finished my first wire loaf-cutter. It's based on some pics I found via Google. The frame is 3/4" plywood. The dark green loaf-cradle is cut from a recycled plastic beam I had lying around (nasty stuff to work with. Makes the whole basement smell like burning plastic when you cut it on the table saw.) It's sized to my silicon loaf mold, and will give me 11 1" bars from each loaf. I'm using 18 gauge guitar strings and normal guitar tuning machines for the wires and tensioners.


Things I wasn't aware of:
1. guitar tuning machines are not all the same post-length. They're sold in sets of six, and some sets come in 3 pairs; each pair of a distinct length. Apparently, this is useful when you're building a guitar. I didn't notice until after I'd been fitting them for a couple days. It's not a big deal, but it was a surprise. Other sets-of-six come all the same post-length. They're marked on the packaging, if one knows to look.
2. locking tuning machines (which these are) don't lock the string to a specific tension. Rather, they lock the string into the turning-post... so it doesn't slip out. I had hoped the 'locking' would help me keep a consistent tension, but I misunderstood.

Here's the same thing from the hinge-end.


And, from the inside.


I used each sting twice, because the tuning machines are expensive, and sold in sets of six, and I needed twelve wires. I anchored them and turned them around 3/8" pivot pins I got from a place called Fastenal. Very convenient. I set the pivot pins into hardwood inserts, because I didn't trust the plywood to stand up under the load. If the guitar strings don't work out, my next step is either piano wire, or something called 'music wire' that I can get for cheap from an industrial supply place called Grainger (who knew?).

Most of my construction agonizing was around two things:
1. assuring that the grooves in the plastic loaf-cradle would line up with the cutting wires. I cut the grooves first, then mounted the cradle, then mounted the wires to line up with the grooves. It would have been smarter (easier) to mount the wires first, then groove the plastic wherever the wires ended up....
2. making sure the cutting wires would cut sufficiently deep to assure they would completely cut through the loaf. I've been wire-cutting my last couple of soap batches using wire wrapped around wooden toggles (the classic garotte), and it was tough to pull the wire tight enough to force it to cut. And - that's the other reason I added the hardwood inserts... they raise the cutting wires (actually, when the top is closed down, they lower the cutting wires) further, to assure a complete cut.

It's not pretty, but it might give you some ideas. If you'd like more pics, just let me know.

Best luck!
Todd

 

[Todd_in_Minnesota]

And... I used it for the first time today.
It worked!
The loaf I cut was only in the mold 1 day, but had set up very quickly and was very firm (instant trace.. don't know why). The wires all distorted some, but i pressed slowly and let them cut at their own rate. They all twanged together when they finally cut through. Very satisfying. I got 11 even bars and 2 skinny little end-scraps; all clean-cut.
Seems like a success.
Todd

 

[AKjulz]

Congratulations on a successful build, that's so awesome! Your design is very similar to my cutter (purchased) and I love the clean cut it gives. I tighten my wires before I cut and loosen them a little when done and I haven't had a wire break yet. I sell my soap and have been using it for 3 or 4 years pretty frequently. Only drawback to mine is that my loaves are too long for it so I have to cut them in have first, big advantage to building your own.

 

[scotsman]

Anybody ever use pallet wood for making molds? Not as nice as the craft wood, but I have a basically unlimited free supply of brand new pallets right across town from where I live. Worst case scenario if they won't work for soap molds I just make soap dishes outta them

 

[DeeAnna]

If your pallets aren't fumigated, the wood should be fine. If they're fumigated or if you happen across pallets have been used for shipping chemicals (especially if they show signs of any spillage), I'd take a pass.

You should see the pretty little "spool chest" my dad made for my mom out of the pallets that Harleys are shipped on.

We live a few miles from a tiny little biz that makes pallets -- the wood is just wood. No problemo.

 

[goji_fries]

If your pallets aren't fumigated, the wood should be fine. If they're fumigated or if you happen across pallets have been used for shipping chemicals (especially if they show signs of any spillage), I'd take a pass.

You should see the pretty little "spool chest" my dad made for my mom out of the pallets that Harleys are shipped on.

We live a few miles from a tiny little biz that makes pallets -- the wood is just wood. No problemo.

Also to add to DeeAnna, "treated" wood pallets shouldn't be used. It will usually be stamped on the pallet if it treated or not.