heartsong
Well-Known Member
a few years ago dh cut up six 2"x 12" pvc tubes for me. this was when i was still "warm+ soaping". i would line them with wax paper and tape the end shut. they were "self insulating" and i had no problems getting them out.
now that i'm doing rtcp and COLD rtcp, i've had a few challenges getting the soap to gel and come out of the molds. this weekend i've had some time to tinker with this, and i've found an workable soloution.
at lowe's i found smooth, flat "test caps" (69 cents) that fit perfectly and allows the tubes to stand upright.
after trying silicone baking paper (works pretty good), i cut a piece of the clear "stickybacked" contact paper (leaving the paper on) 7" wide by 12" long. i rolled it up tight into a small tube, and then relaxed it. slid it into the tube, jiggled it a bit, and it conformed perfectly to the tube. i put the cap on, taped it shut with masking tape.
i shot a little PAM cooking spray into the tube so the end cap wouldn't stick, and soaped as usual.
i found a cardboard box 10"x10"x15" tall, stuck my heating pad in the bottom on low, and placed my tubes inside. i tucked some bubble wrap around them just to keep them upright, and placed a towel over the whole thing.
i kept peeking, and they warmed up very nicely, if a little slowly at first. after a couple hours they were uniformly warm and i shut off the heating pad.
this morning when i went to unmold, they FLEW out of the tubes just as nice as can be, and unwrapped easily. these liners can be re-used.
i love using these tubes, as they make darling guest/sample soaps wrapped in the 4x4 multi-colors candy foil ( www.atrsupplies.com ) and put in colorful organza bags ( www.yourorganzabag.com ) the bags cost 5 cents.
i soap using 16 oz oil @ 33% which leaves a tiny bit leftover. if anyone contemplates doing this, then i would make them 13" long.
the pipe comes in 10' lengths for about $7, and they will cut them in half at the store for easier travel home. (don't forget to buy end test caps!).
they are fairly easy to cut using a miter box and a hacksaw. then sand the ends. wash them in soap and water and your're ready to soap.
i highly reccommend these little tubes-they're great for testing colors and f/o's, too.
cut at 1/2" they will yield 20-21 1 oz. little soapies! and you can cut them with a wire cheese slicer. (the kind with the cutting board, with an arm that raises and lowers to cut the cheese) i haven't had a wire break yet, but it would be wise to order a couple of spares.
happy soaping!
now that i'm doing rtcp and COLD rtcp, i've had a few challenges getting the soap to gel and come out of the molds. this weekend i've had some time to tinker with this, and i've found an workable soloution.
at lowe's i found smooth, flat "test caps" (69 cents) that fit perfectly and allows the tubes to stand upright.
after trying silicone baking paper (works pretty good), i cut a piece of the clear "stickybacked" contact paper (leaving the paper on) 7" wide by 12" long. i rolled it up tight into a small tube, and then relaxed it. slid it into the tube, jiggled it a bit, and it conformed perfectly to the tube. i put the cap on, taped it shut with masking tape.
i shot a little PAM cooking spray into the tube so the end cap wouldn't stick, and soaped as usual.
i found a cardboard box 10"x10"x15" tall, stuck my heating pad in the bottom on low, and placed my tubes inside. i tucked some bubble wrap around them just to keep them upright, and placed a towel over the whole thing.
i kept peeking, and they warmed up very nicely, if a little slowly at first. after a couple hours they were uniformly warm and i shut off the heating pad.
this morning when i went to unmold, they FLEW out of the tubes just as nice as can be, and unwrapped easily. these liners can be re-used.
i love using these tubes, as they make darling guest/sample soaps wrapped in the 4x4 multi-colors candy foil ( www.atrsupplies.com ) and put in colorful organza bags ( www.yourorganzabag.com ) the bags cost 5 cents.
i soap using 16 oz oil @ 33% which leaves a tiny bit leftover. if anyone contemplates doing this, then i would make them 13" long.
the pipe comes in 10' lengths for about $7, and they will cut them in half at the store for easier travel home. (don't forget to buy end test caps!).
they are fairly easy to cut using a miter box and a hacksaw. then sand the ends. wash them in soap and water and your're ready to soap.
i highly reccommend these little tubes-they're great for testing colors and f/o's, too.
cut at 1/2" they will yield 20-21 1 oz. little soapies! and you can cut them with a wire cheese slicer. (the kind with the cutting board, with an arm that raises and lowers to cut the cheese) i haven't had a wire break yet, but it would be wise to order a couple of spares.
happy soaping!
