How long do you wait until you cut your soap loaf?

[Possum_Magic]

Hi,

I make soap using a loaf mould. I think it is approx 3 lb mould (I am a metric person).

Anyway, how long do you wait until you slice your freshly made soap loaf into bars? I usually wait 24hrs, but I think I may need to wait longer.

I have a wooden soap loaf slicer. I wipe the metal slicer/cutter every time I cut, but my bars don't get a smooth enough cut. However, when I cut individual slices a few weeks later, I get a lovely smooth cut.

I am starting to use ingredients to make a harder soap and the problem doesn't seem to be as bad as before, but it is still there after waiting 24hrs.

TIA

 

[AustinStraight]

I think I'm switching to almost exclusively making salt bars now, and those only take about four hours before they're ready to cut. But for other soaps? As long as I can handle! :razz: Just experiment and see how long of a wait is best for you, it really depends on your oils, water amount, additives, etc. even the environment could have an effect. I find that bastille soap is best cut after 48 hours, any earlier than that risks denting the soap.

 

[Possum_Magic]

The first pic is a soap I cut after 24hrs, but the photo was taken 2 weeks after cut. It is made of coconut oil, olive oil and rice bran oil.

The second pic is a soap I cut after 24hrs and the pic was taken just after the cut. It is made of equal parts mango butter, olive oil, rice bran oil and coconut oil. I added the mango butter to make it a little harder for the hard water we have at our new place.

 

[chennywren]

My formula is pretty firm so I can usually cut after about 15-20 hours when I gel, if I don't gel I need to wait 2 or 3 days. You could try increasing your water discount to firm your bars up faster.

 

[Relle]

Is there a reason you have to cut at 24hrs, if not, leave it a few days, it should still be soft enough to cut and then you will get a smooth cut.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I'm going to be a pain and say - cut them when they are ready to be cut! When is that? Well, practice and experience will tell you that, but each one might well need more or less time than another recipe.

 

[pamielynn]

When I cut depends on the recipe and sometimes how busy I am, LoL. Sometimes I cut right away (24 hours or so), sometimes they can sit there for a week before I cut into bars.

Your soap will tell you. If it's a soft recipe or you didn't gel it, I'd wait a few days. Salt bars obviously need to be cut WAY sooner than a regular recipe. I would suggest that when you cut, you make a note on your master sheet how it was to cut. Did that OMH smoosh when it was cut right away? Note that. Was that heavy cocoa butter recipe really too firm when you waited a week to cut? You'll start to get a feel for your recipes.

 

[fuzz-juzz]

I cut early in the morning on the next day, so maybe after 18h or so. My recipe makes hard bars, I use water discount and always gel. So those might be the factors you can play around with if you want your soaps to be ready to cut earlier.

 

[leeleetrue]

It's funny I saw this now, because I literally just walked out of my studio thinking that I still need to wait a few days before I cut some soap I made on Thursday :think:

My recipe is pretty soft, so in my case, it takes about a week 'til it makes a great cut. Earlier, and I lose a lot of soap on my blade; later, and the bottom may start to crumble. About a week, and my blade slices neatly through, with little to no residue left on it and my soap has a lovely smooth face.

 

[Koley]

What are your thoughts on a 5lb mold
It’s been 24 hours and I still need to do soap frosting - (flowers ) it was too hot to add them -