Newbie wooden mold question

[mmonette100]

Hello. All. I am a complete newbie at soapmaking and just ordered myself two 4lbs wooden loaf molds. It is stated that they are 4 lbs molds and the dimensions are 14" long by 3 1/4" x 3 1/4". My question is in order to have a bar that will be 3 1/4 by about 2 1/2" high when cured, Do I need to use 4 lbs of oil plus the water and lye or 4 lbs of total oils water and lye together when making the soap?

Thanks in advance,

Mike M

 

[carebear]

2.85 pounds of oils (L X W X H X 0.4 = ounces of oil) for soaps that START OUT the dimensions you mention. To what actual size they cure out will depend on how much water you use in your mix. You will always lose a bit though.

some mold vendors talk about total weight (oils + water) when they say mold size, others only include the weight of the oils.

 

[mmonette100]

Thanks!!

 

[Soapmaker Man]

With my TOG Molds, I always state oils/fats only. When I say my TOG Mini Test Mold is a 1 pound mold, I mean it uses 1 pound of oils, fats, butters to make a log 5 inches long, 2-1/2 inches tall and 3-1/2 inches wide.