Giant Soap

[Rlunch]

I'm looking to make (or have someone else make) a gigantic bar of soap, roughly 2 feet long, 1 foot thick, and 1.5 feet wide. I'm planning on making the mold myself. Do any experienced soap makers see potential challenges/reasons why this won't work?

 

[carebear]

It's simply a large batch. Watch out for the batch to be faster moving than with a smaller one (faster to thick trace - s ometimes), and beware it'll be more likely to overheat. Oh, and the full mold will be heavy.

 

[carebear]

this said, I'd recommend getting some smaller batches under your belt first! for those dimensions you'll need (someone check my math!!!) 130 pounds of oils. Plus 50# of water and about 20# of lye...

srsly - start smaller LOL!

 

[AmyW]

Oh my word, I checked your math and it's right, that's a LOT of soap :shock: Definitely get a few small batches under your belt before you try something that adventurous.

 

[SudsyKat]

OMG - yes, please do start with smaller batches (or have an experienced soaper do this for you). Like Carebear said, that's a lot of oils gone to waste if it gets messed up. Good luck - sounds wacky! If you had that thing in your shower, you'd probably just have to rub yourself all over it because it would be too gigantic and heavy to lift! LOL

 

[AmyW]

OMG - yes, please do start with smaller batches (or have an experienced soaper do this for you). Like Carebear said, that's a lot of oils gone to waste if it gets messed up. Good luck - sounds wacky! If you had that thing in your shower, you'd probably just have to rub yourself all over it because it would be too gigantic and heavy to lift! LOL

The mental image is killing me rofl... huge block of soap on the floor of the tub and someone rolling all over it...omg I'm dying...

(no offense to the OP, I'm assuming you would cut it into small bars! but this mental image is too funny)

 

[danny p]

I've got to wonder what a bar that big will be for? I pictured a parade float with a giant in the shower but I guess you don't need real soap for that so do tell. Just curious. If its a secret I guess ill deal with it.

 

[Relle]

Why that big ? :?

 

[soapbuddy]

I've done 50 lb. batches before, but this is pretty big. Is this for some type of a contest?

 

[c.a.p.]

I have to say, just because it's somebody's first post, doesn't mean it is their first batch.

Now, back to the OP, good luck to you!

 

[carebear]

Since the question (and a great question it is-excellent topic to discuss) is fairly basic for those who have done significant soaping and researching, and because the OP specifically asked experienced soapers, I'd guess that s/he doesn't have a lot of experience.

 

[Rlunch]

I have never made soap before. I would prefer to have this made for me because I will more than likely mess it up, but I have no idea where to outsource it to. Any ideas? I'm in the Bay Area.
Thanks for the responses everybody

 

[carebear]

If no one local steps forward, let me know. Perhaps I can find someone. I'm East Coast, so I'd not be a good choice. Plus I don't like to do big batches!

Just curious why the huge bar...?

 

[Rlunch]

Giant Bar

I was going to hold out on the mystery, but it's for a sculpture. I suppose it's not necessary for the entire bar through and through to be made of soap. Really just the outer layer could be soap. But due to my lack of soap experience I'm not sure what kind of material could go in the center..

 

[AmyW]

Oh how fun! Thanks for enlightening us. I'm too far away, hope you find someone!

 

[ToniD]

That sounds like an interesting project. Hope you can find someone nearby to make the soap for you.

I don't see why you couldn't embed something in the middle to save on materials. A capped PVC tube, a freezer paper wrapped box, empty milk jugs....anything that won't react with the lye and be the correct size so that it does not impact the finished piece. I would think that it could even help prevent overheating. Not sure how any shrinkage would affect that.

Post a pic when you are done!

 

[Dixie]

LOL, I was in a panick just thinking of all those oils and the chance of them being wasted!!! YIKES! I did soap sculpting in High school .....but not that size :shock:

Sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[dandelion]

as a former art major, I get it. Yud most likely want just a sample tallow or lard block which should be fairly easy for a soapmaker to create. It will definately need to be made 30 days before its sculpted, and then the sculpter needs to know it still may be anywhere from waxy to mushy under the top layer but will soon harden when esposed to air.