Flower Power Bread Pan....Can I use it?

[DWinMadison]

A coworker gifted me with the awesome flower shaped mold that is intended for use as a bread pan. She suggested that I could use it as a soap mold and doesn't care if it is ruined IF I will teach her to make soap. It measures about 3.5" across and would make a great upright mold. Problem is how to line it. Freezer paper is out because of the contours. Would plastic "cling wrap" work, or would the lye dissolve it? What are your thoughts or advice? Pic is below. Thanks

 

[Bullets]

I am new to the scene and I haven't even made my first batch yet. That being said I'll give you my advice for whatever it's worth. From what I've read, some soapers use petroleum jelly to line their molds. So I would think that would be the best option there. I have no idea about what the soap would do to the cling wrap but I would feel at the very least it could leave some strange lines on the edges of your soaps. Hopefully someone experienced will come along and clear this up for you! And I love that pan as a soap mold! It would make beautiful soap if you could make it work. Good luck!

 

[Genny]

Fresh soap batter definitely can eat through cling wrap. Is it aluminum or stainless steel? If it's stainless steel, you could try a little petroleum jelly on it. If it's not stainless steel, I wouldn't use it at all.

 

[paillo]

totally agree with genny. i don't like the idea of using aluminum for much of anything, would only use stainless steel when using metal. when i was new to soapmaking i used a lot of odd-shaped molds and had pretty good success at lining with just plain old plastic grocery bags. you can get small ones at convenience stores. but they will leave creases and lumps and bumps in your soap. will be eager to hear how your soap turns out!

 

[Marilyna]

I had one of those and I think it was stainless steel. I did use it for soap a number of times. I sprayed it with Pam, really didn't need to be lined. But you have to seal up the end really good, even though it has a lid thingy. Take about 4 layers of plastic wrap and put over the bottom and tape it up with duct tape or masking tape might work. But seal it good or the soap will leak out.

 

[sweethavenarts]

I would fill it with plaster and use the plaster flower to make insane awesome column pour.

 

[chicklet]

I think you should check out the YouTube videos and online instructions about making your own molds using 100% silicone caulk - the kind you get at Walmart or Lowes to seal windows. The silicone replicas wouldn't have to be lined or greased ...and you could send me one, too.

 

[melstan775]

I love that flower mold! I was browsing a thrift store today and found one just like it, and a few others. Also found a couple of silicon loaf molds which I intend on buying (if they are still there), in a few days. It's a pretty mold to be sure, maybe it would be okay with melt and pour since it's already cured? I'm just saying, I have no idea as I'm new. What do you guys think?

 

[Genny]

It would be fine for MP. But definitely lube it up with some oil first. With MP you can use a vegetable oil to lube it up instead of petroleum if you prefer.

 

[new12soap]

Ditto Genny, if it's not Stainless Steel I would not use it for CP soap. You could use it for MP, but I would use it for HP.

 

[lizflowers42]

This might be a dumb question, but can you spray paint epoxy on aluminum materials to use for soap making?

 

[new12soap]

I have absolutely no idea, but again I would not risk it. Your best bet is something completely inert and lye resistant. Raw soap can corrode a LOT of substances, and I don't think I would want epoxy in my finished soap. JM2C

 

[MaitriBB]

You can use mineral oil; it doesn't saponify so there's no risk that the soap would absorb it.

 

[DWinMadison]

So, to summarize. Not really recommended for CP, but I could risk it with some sort of barrier (grocery bag, epoxy/paint, petroleum jelly). I could make a silicone mold, but I have to "pay off" Chicklet for the idea roblem by sending her one. Otherwise it would be fine for MP (or "cheating" as I like to call it) or HP, which I've never tried. Thanks for the feedback.

Here's one last question. What's the problem with aluminum and CP? Does it cause a "Manhattan Project" type reaction that eventually melts through to the Earth's core causing a massive chain reaction and ending all life as we know it? Does it make the soap toxic? Discolored? Or does it just ruin the mold? Does it interfere with saponification?

 

[Genny]

When lye reacts with aluminum it creates hydrogen gas, which is highly combustible.
Aluminum isn't the only problem, lye can react with magnesium, galvanized zinc, tin, chromium, brass, and bronze.

 

[Bullets]

I have to say..I was just at the consignment store 10 mins ago and I saw that very pan! They also had a star shaped, circle, and a bumpier flower shape. They were $1.20 each. I can pick them up for ya!

 

[DWinMadison]

I have to say..I was just at the consignment store 10 mins ago and I saw that very pan! They also had a star shaped, circle, and a bumpier flower shape. They were $1.20 each. I can pick them up for ya!

lol "bumpier"...is that a technical term? That's actually a great price. Why don't you pick them up and try...although the previous comments got me to researching aluminum and lye. Here's what I found...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gihAT6eXaoc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gihAT6eXaoc[/ame]

Ouch! However, I've already made cp soap in the Pringles can which is also lined with aluminum with no such reaction. It WAS lined with freezer paper, and of course the lye is greatly diluted and partially saponified when it goes in, but still....

 

[Genny]

Most pringles cans that I've ever seen also, have a clear plastic liner over the aluminum. But I'd still add an extra liner, just in case.