My new mini-mold and new (old) soap guillotine.

[Tienne]

I was wondering about deli cutters for slicing soap, but the ones I looked at the guide wouldn't allow thick enough for good bars.

Whats the cotton method you're talking about?

On the soap cutter in the pics, I can turn out the thingy just enough to get one inch bars, but on the other one I bought, I can't. I can only get that out to about 0.7 -0.8 inches, BUT, that's going to be fixed. (****, I wish I knew what things are called, but I don't, so please bear over with my descriptions.) The width adjuster thingy is on a threaded bolt thingy (without the head part) that is just screwed into the machine itself and the hole it sits in goes all the way through to the back, so you can just use an ordinary bolt if you want. All that needs to be done is to remove the old bolt and put in a new one that's a bit longer. My mold maker helper says it'll only take a few minutes to replace the old bolt with a new one. He's also going to drill a hole at the far end of the adjuster thingy that touches the soap and attach a small plate so the "thumb-looking" thingy gets a bigger surface to slide the soap up against. It's not an issue really, but it will perfect the cutter just a little bit more.

As for the cotton cloth method, I'll make a new post about that in just a little while, so you can see.

EDIT: Here's the post!

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?p=386667#post386667

 

[Tienne]

Here's a method to make a thicker silicone mold. You could make a liner this way too in the dimensions you want the log to be and then build a wooden mold afterwards to go around it.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr3q5D6qDRc[/ame]


Here's another way to do it. I've read that when you "weld" the sides together, the silicone completely fuses the parts together as if there had never been a seam to begin with:

http://thesoapbar.blogspot.se/2011/02/diy-silicone-liners-for-soap-moulds.html

 

[Lin]

Funny, I just watched that video tonight and bookmarked it and the silicone site!

 

[seven]

yeah, i've seen that one. but the type of silicone i've found so far over here cannot be used like in that tutorial (i've tried.. and FAILED, LOL!). it's also too thick, so it wasn't pourable. adding more thinner didn't help. so yeah, i gotta find me the correct type of silicone first.

about the cotton method... it's where you dip cotton glove (or old cotton shirt) in water and just rub the surface of the soap.

Tienne, please cmiiw

 

[Tienne]

about the cotton method... it's where you dip cotton glove (or old cotton shirt) in water and just rub the surface of the soap.

No no, you use a dry cloth on dry soap!! It's MUCH easier that way and the results are much nicer, too.

Tienne, please cmiiw

Please WHAT?!? :shock:

Sorry Seven, I haven't the faintest clue what that means.

*Dashing off to look up the Abbreviations sticky, just in case it's common knowledge to everyone but me. *

 

[Lin]

I was about to google it myself when it hit me. I believe its "correct me if I'm wrong"

 

[Tienne]

I just changed the bolt on the one cutter (all by myself, even!) and here's what it looks like now. I just used an ordinary bolt. I could have screwed it in the hole from the backside and not have the head showing, but I think I like it better this way. If I can do this, anyone can! *I did though manage to cut myself on the blade while playing McGyver, but I'm not saying a word about that to my mold maker buddy. :shh: *

I've included a slither of a soap I chopped up in the pic, so you can see how thin this thing can cut. (The soap that got sacrificed had ricing in it, so it deserved nothing less than to be guillotined. :evil: )

@Seven;
Guess what? I'm getting my two-soaper tonight! He's made it adjustable so it can be a 3, 4, 5 or 6 soaper, too. I already have some Pasito-inspired designs ready that I want to try out. I can hardly wait!! Woohoo!

 

[Tienne]

I was about to google it myself when it hit me. I believe its "correct me if I'm wrong"

*Slapping myself on the forehead* Doh! Of course!! Thanks so much, Lin!

 

[seven]

Whoops i swear i thought you gotta wet the cloth. Thank god i haven't try it yet. Okay, i got some soaps that are semi wet, i guess by later today i can practice on them. I got some rough edges caused by a silicone mold that i put into the freezer to prevent gel. The soap came out bloody wet and the edges are faaarr from purrrfect.. It's a bit hard to grasp by the logic how a dry cloth can smoothen the surface, but in reality it worked, so i gotta at least try..

I am so jealous of your 2 soaps mold! Your mold maker was def more creative, i don't think my mold maker can make me one with an adjustable width yep, i'm certain.. He even got one of my molds to be slightly lopsided, lol! And, he used too big bolts for a basically thin wood, the **** thing nearly broke apart. Okay, i should stop complaining since i got mine for free, he he..

Now, i am gonna sit nicely while waiting for your pasito inspired creation(s). I know for a fact that it's gonna be amazing!

*cmiiw: correct me if i'm wrong.. Thx Lin

 

[pjfan74]

Beautiful soap!!!

2 questions...what is the Pasito technique? What is the cotton method you refer to?

Thanks

 

[seven]

^^^
Google up "elomar pasito" and you'll see
The cotton method.. Grab a cotton glove or an old cotton shirt, or whatever cotton, rub the surface of your soap with your fingers to have a smoother soap.


Tienne... I'm so happy! The cotton worked! My soap have smooth surface now. I just did some with a week old soaps and it worked like a charm. I owe ya big time for this

 

[Tienne]

Tienne... I'm so happy! The cotton worked! My soap have smooth surface now. I just did some with a week old soaps and it worked like a charm. I owe ya big time for this :smile:

Told ya so! LOL I am just smiling BIGTIME right now. That is just so great to hear, Seven! The cotton trick can really bring out the best in our soaps, no doubt about it! Those blasted pocks won't be a bother ever again. Heh heh.

Beautiful soap!!!

2 questions...what is the Pasito technique? What is the cotton method you refer to?

Thanks

I posted a link on how to do the cotton trick further up the thread, but if you missed it, then here it is again:

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=41199

Pasito isn't a technique. He's a person. He's the Patron Saint of soapmaking! A soap guru. Once you've seen his blog, you can never unsee it. It will stay with you forever.

Okaaay, the groupie in me is getting a bit carried away, so just go look him up and you'll understand.