fortifying a cardboard mold

[MzMolly65]

I'm a beginner and don't want to go all out buying molds (yet!) I have a thin, cardboard box that's the perfect size for a small loaf.

Is there a way I could easily fortify this box to make it strong enough to hold a batch of soap or am I just wasting my time?

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

How thin is thin? How big is it?

If it can stay rigid when picked up by one edge and isn't too big (so will have a lesser amount of soap in it) then it might well be okay just to line it with paper - there is a post stickied in this forum about lining molds nicely.

 

[boyago]

I'm a beginner and don't want to go all out buying molds (yet!) I have a thin, cardboard box that's the perfect size for a small loaf.

Is there a way I could easily fortify this box to make it strong enough to hold a batch of soap or am I just wasting my time?

When I find a perfect shaped box I slip them into one of these to keep the sides from bowing out.

AWLLL.. BEEP BEEP RICHIE!!!

Seriously though, I use more cardboard. Lots of tape. Your gonna get the long sides bowing outward if the cardboard is thin. If your not doing fancy swirls a band of tape across the top in the center will help allot too. Kind of make a slip around the box you like and line it really well.

 

[NurseEmily]

Duck tape!!

And some extra cardboard pieces on the side. That's what I was using till I got my new mold - which I haven't tried yet.

 

[Soapy J]

I'm in the same shoes as you and plan on using a cardboard box mold the next time I soap. One thing I came across to reinforce was to stack books on the side of the mold. I know in the long run this isn't ideal but for a newbie I plan on trying this when I use my newly made box molds!!!

As a side note, everything looks like a mold to me now. My next mold will be a repurposed pringles can! Happy soaping!

J

 

[MzMolly65]

How thin is thin? How big is it?

The box is not very big, should make 7 little bars about 3" x 2.5" x 1.5" (guessing without actually measuring the box because I'm too lazy to get up and find the measuring tape right now) which I thought was a good size batch to start with but it's a very thin, almost floppy box.

I like the size of it but not really sure if it's possible to make it sturdier or if I should just scrap the idea of using it.

 

[MzMolly65]

Thanks for some great ideas everyone. I want proper molds if I keep this up but right now buying a few ingredients is the goal and molds will wait until I decide if I will like this enough to continue.

ETA. I have some 1" hard styrofoam with a foil backing that might firm up the small box as well as insulate it. Would that be a good idea?

 

[AKjulz]

I think reinforcing the outside with that foam is a great idea, and IMO the insulating factor is a bonus. I was thinking maybe duct tape some paint sticks to the outside...free.
Also if you are going to need to move it before it is setup be sure to put it on a cookie sheet or board before you start.

 

[Lin]

I use cardboard molds, on the slab molds (cereal boxes with the front cut off) the sides do bow out, but I just trim the soaps into rectangles and set aside the scraps I cut off for use as scraps or rebatching.



I really like pringles cans as molds for making round soaps, thats my fav right now. My next step if I can't find things that would make good molds from good will is to buy some coroplast cheaply and make slab and log molds. PVC pipe to replace the pringles cans.

 

[MzMolly65]

Ok .. all the advice sounds good and promising. I'll post pics as I go. It's going to be my first batch of CP soap.
*crosses fingers*

 

[seven]

have you try your local dollar store? who knows, maybe you can find some nice silicone ones (i like silicone best for its durability and easy unmold), or even plastic would do fine as long as you line it. it would last you quite a while also.

of course cardboard box will do fine as a soap mold, aside from the flimsy sides that you gotta hold with something to keep the soap's shape.

 

[grayceworks]

Thanks for some great ideas everyone. I want proper molds if I keep this up but right now buying a few ingredients is the goal and molds will wait until I decide if I will like this enough to continue.

ETA. I have some 1" hard styrofoam with a foil backing that might firm up the small box as well as insulate it. Would that be a good idea?

I get sheets of foam-core at the grocery store by the poster-board in the office-supply aisle. Enough for either making an 11x14x4 slab mold, or a couple smaller molds. Score half-way thru the foam-core on your fold lines, tape well with duct-tape. Line as usual.