Making a soap mold..need advice!

[Bullets]

Hello! I am having my husband make my soap mold and I want it to look like this one. With the ends to come completely off and have a cutting slot in it. The thing I can't wrap my head around is how do they accomplish this like in the picture. I'm talking specifically the end cap with the bolts and wing nuts. Does anyone know? Thank you in advanced awesome soap community!

 

[Kansas Farm Girl]

The bolts are embedded in the end of the long pc with wholes drilled in the end pc so that it fits over the bolts and slides up next to the long pc then the nuts are put on. They aren't normal bolts, they are special to be used for this type of use, either an anchor with a bolt that comes out or they have a screw on one end and a bolt on the other end.
anchor type: http://gyhardware.en.alibaba.com/pr...dge_Type_Anchor_Zinc_Plated_Carbon_Steel.html
double end , hanger type: http://www.leevalley.com/en/Hardware/page.aspx?p=40988&cat=3,43715,43727
hope this helps. If you have a local hardware store take a picture in and show one of the guys who work there and I am sure they can help you find the right kind and tell you how to use them.

 

[ThenCameJen]

My brain says a pilot hole was drilled in the plywood, and a piece of threaded rod was screwed in. The threaded rod would have to be narrow enough to not split the plywood, but strong enough to hold a little bit of tension with the wing nut. Also, if the soap mold is taller than about what the picture shows, consider doing two bolt/wing nut combos on each side.

And while it looks like the wood was repurposed from something, I think it also looks like 3/4" plywood.

 

[Bullets]

I was also thinking about the lid. Should the lid sit on top of the side edges? I would think so but I ask because I see some designs with the lid that sits nestled inside the loaf on top of the soap!

 

[melstan775]

The lid sits inside the mold to increase insulation, but you can put it on the top if you want, especially if you texture or peak the top of your soaps, you will need the space for those designs.