I need a good recipe for use in semi-intricate clear plastic

[maryh]

Hello Fellow Soapmakers,
I am new to the forum but have been making CP soap for 11 years now. I have done a few weddings before in which I made small rectangular bars and they turned out great with my current recipe. However, I just got an interested client asking for soap in the shape of leaves, i.e. a guest leaves mold from Brambleberry. I tried my recipe in it and it doesn't come out without damaging the detail of the leaf. I really could use a good recipe or suggestions for making a hard, waxy bar that will hold the design of the clear plastic molds. Thanks for any and all suggestions.

 

[Soaplady22]

Perhaps you have already stated it - use beeswax in your regular recipe. I forget how much they say to use - perhaps 1 tsp. PPO?

Good luck!

 

[mariflo]

Hi Maryh,
You can try greasing your molds with mineral oil before pouring the soap in. Also, before unmolding, put the molds in the freezer for half an hour and then leave them at room temperature for 5 minutes and they'll pop right out
It works for me

 

[sygrid]

Hi....I can help you.
Your recipe does not have to change.

What oils are you using in your current recipe? Any cp recipe will work in a plastic mold, I even do Castille which is very soft in plastic molds without fail, just a little prep is needed.

Do you know who the manufacturer of the mold is? Different plastics require different prep. If you know the manufacturer I will know what plastic they are using and how to prep it. Sometimes if you are having a hard time with release it's because you have left it in the mold too long. Plastic molds go thru incubation far faster than wooden molds. 24 hours in a plastic mold is way too long and the soap can get stuck in it. Fragrance oil' can play a part too...both fragrance and plastic are 'oil' products and some of them would like to 'rejoin' when they meet.

Let me know and I'll be happy to help you with it. A wedding is no time to be experimenting.

Lorie Martin
Martin Creative Molds

 

[agriffin]

Low water, beeswax and making sure it gels helps when I use individual molds. I want to try adding stearic and see if that helps. But the low water helps the most.

ETA: I usually double my lye amount for water. So if I have 2.2 ounces of lye, I use 4.4 ounces of water.

 

[maryh]

Thanks everyone for all of the great suggestions. I have replied individually to some, but think I"ve now figured out how to post to everyone at one time. How do you keep a 50/50 lye water ratio without changing the saponification rate of the soap? Just curious. I will try these suggestions in the upcoming week. Thankfully, the wedding is not until October 2011.