Hot wire cutters for soap?

[Guest]

Think craft foam hot wire cutters/knives would be good for soap?
Seems they would be, especially the type that has a thermostat control.
Use low heat and just about melt through a bar...no smearing.

Maybe we could do like the model railroad people and make designs in soap.

search google: "hot wire cutters" to see what I'm talking about.

 

[artisan soaps]

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[donniej]

If you time when to unmold and cut, plain wires will work fine... Here's mine, it cuts about 30 bars at a time. I planned to go up to 50 (my mold size) but it takes more force than my body weight

 

[Guest]

Cool on the mass production. Wires have to be cleaned each time too, like a blade has to be cleaned each time?

I may buy a hot wire cutter. It will probably have to be cleaned often too. I used to carve wood and it would be fun to carve the soap logs so that each half could go back into the mold with new soap poured over the top. I'm already thinking of ideas, but you're right -- if I had a wire cutter that was about 20" long -- that would work for me.

Hubby is handy, maybe before I buy anything, ask him to make one from the guitar 'E" string, 20" long and see what happens.

 

[Godiva]

If you time when to unmold and cut, plain wires will work fine... Here's mine, it cuts about 30 bars at a time. I planned to go up to 50 (my mold size) but it takes more force than my body weight

cool cutter! I'd like to see a video of you cutting with it using all that force! LOL

 

[donniej]

Cool on the mass production. Wires have to be cleaned each time too, like a blade has to be cleaned each time?

Hubby is handy, maybe before I buy anything, ask him to make one from the guitar 'E" string, 20" long and see what happens.

I have a stiff bristle brush that I use to clean it after each cut. It takes just a few seconds to clean.

I think you'll find that 20" is too long. The longer the wire, the more it will flex, ie. when the sides are at the bottom of the cut, the middle may be an inch or more still inside the bar. With that long I also suspect that the wire will stretch very fast and will need to be constantly re-tensioned.

cool cutter! I'd like to see a video of you cutting with it using all that force! LOL

If I get the loaves out early enough it's not too bad.... otherwise I hold onto the handles and put my entire body weight on it and slowly sink through the bars

 

[Gramma Judy]

I did a seach as suggested. I don't think it would have to be heated. But I saw a tute on making one. This one was huge - for syrofoam- but I think I can use the same principle, only smaller. They used PVC pipe for the cutter frame and guitar string with eye bolt and wing nut to adjust tension. I am going to experiment, I think it will be CHEAP to make.