Nurture soap loaf mold/liner

[Servant4Christ]

I recently bought a Nurture 5lb mold and liner. I just received it and I'm a little disappointed in the quality. I know I didn't order the premium mold, but I wasn't expecting this:

The wooden mold is stapled rather than screwed together, which I had no way of knowing from the pictures online. Is this the industry standard for this type of mold?

Also, one side of the liner won't stay up. Is this normal for silicone liners? I thought Nurture liners were thicker and stayed up, which is why I chose this one.

But the thing that really bugs me (which could be purely asthetic, not sure) is that there are some holes along the top edge of the wooden mold in places that I'm assuming has something to do with their woodburning process for their logo. This actually makes me wonder how long the mold will hold up.

Are these things typical? This is my first experience buying a wooden mold and silicone liner.

 

[paradisi]

Have you set the liner on the counter, and had the sides straighten up? It may well be the box is too small.

Nurture have a continuing problem with the boxes not fitting the molds (too short for them).

I've got several, and have had various rodeos trying to get full 18" liners with boxes that fit. Customer service on the issue was .. interesting. You might have better luck.

My last one, I knocked the end board loose so the liner fits, and put duct tape bands around the setup.

The liners, when correctly sized, are great, and sturdy. The original boxes were great too, but the newer ones are less so.

 

[dibbles]

I've had Nurture molds for almost as long as I've been making CP soap, and they are still going strong nearly 10 years later. My loaf mold is 9" and my tall/skinny mold is 11". The sides of them are vertical, and the silicone hasn't stretched after hundreds of batches. I also have an 18" loaf mold that I got in a destash from a soapy friend. The liner on that one does tend to bow inward, but does flatten against the walls as the mold is filled, and they don't bow so much that they impede pouring. My molds from Workshop Heritage have a 'softer', floppier silicone liner. To keep the liner in place, I have found that a swipe of vaseline between the liner and the wood works pretty well to keep the liner in place. Maybe that will work for you?

I'm sorry you were disappointed

 

[Servant4Christ]

I'm not so much disappointed as I am surprised. Maybe I just didn't have realistic expectations. I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out. What's typical and what's not?

My understanding is that the current Nurture liners are thinner/floppier than their previous liners and I can clearly see the difference because the liners shown in older pics and videos (the very ones that sold me on this brand) are definitely thicker/sturdier than this one.

Does anyone else have the holes along the top edges? Will the holes compromise the lifespan of the mold or cause it to break or splinter at some point?

 

[FFLinOhio]

the holes in the wood is very typical of plywood. Some wood putty will fill that up and then you can sand it after it's dry.
it is poor craftsmanship on Nurture's side not to take care of that themselves.
But since it is only being used for soap, it should not affect the strength too much. Filling it with wood putty should prevent any chipping.

 

[Servant4Christ]

the holes in the wood is very typical of plywood. Some wood putty will fill that up and then you can sand it after it's dry.
it is poor craftsmanship on Nurture's side not to take care of that themselves.
But since it is only being used for soap, it should not affect the strength too much. Filling it with wood putty should prevent any chipping.

Thank you so much for this. DH surprised me yesterday by asking to check out the new mold since it's technically my Christmas gift and I'm not allowed to use it until after Christmas. He likes it. DH said the same thing as you: The holes are typical of plywood because it's layered, unlike the solid wood mold he originally made me as a prototype. DH likes the staples and says that's actually a good thing because screws can crack/split the wood. I had no idea. I am so relieved because I was genuinely unsure what constitutes a good quality mold and now I know and I am super excited to try it out after Christmas.

 

[squidstings]

I recently bought a Nurture 5lb mold and liner. I just received it and I'm a little disappointed in the quality. I know I didn't order the premium mold, but I wasn't expecting this:

The wooden mold is stapled rather than screwed together, which I had no way of knowing from the pictures online. Is this the industry standard for this type of mold?

Also, one side of the liner won't stay up. Is this normal for silicone liners? I thought Nurture liners were thicker and stayed up, which is why I chose this one.

But the thing that really bugs me (which could be purely asthetic, not sure) is that there are some holes along the top edge of the wooden mold in places that I'm assuming has something to do with their woodburning process for their logo. This actually makes me wonder how long the mold will hold up.

Are these things typical? This is my first experience buying a wooden mold and silicone liner.

Those "holes" aren't from burning a logo. Looks like that was a piece of scrap from something that wasn't. Repurposed at least.

Staples should just be extra hold for glue. Finishing nails would have been better. But PVA glue holds better that the actual wood/wood cellular bonds. Screws wouldn't be practical for such a small mold.

The liner would be held upright by the soap. Even if a little thin in that area.

I'd be returning it if I was paying for a brand. But value is subjective.

 

[Servant4Christ]

I'd be returning it if I was paying for a brand. But value is subjective.

I was originally considering this. However, I bought the liner separately and it isn't returnable. The wooden mold is still returnable but was only $23 and I'd lose close to that much on shipping both ways. We'll see how it holds up, but I'll likely just buy silicone liners (if I like them) and have DH build wooden molds to match in the future.

 

[squidstings]

I was originally considering this. However, I bought the liner separately and it isn't returnable. The wooden mold is still returnable but was only $23 and I'd lose close to that much on shipping both ways. We'll see how it holds up, but I'll likely just buy silicone liners (if I like them) and have DH build wooden molds to match in the future.

Sounds like value to me

Just noticed. looking at the liner, is there a ridge that should rest on the outer mold? might be a couple MM difference. Will change how it sits.

 

[dibbles]

Sounds like value to me

Just noticed. looking at the liner, is there a ridge that should rest on the outer mold? might be a couple MM difference. Will change how it sits.

No, there is no part of the silicone that is intended to sit on top of the wood.

 

[Tammyfarms]

My two cents…. The hole is cosmetic and a by product of the plywood used. It’s not structural although soap could get in there and would be impossible to thoroughly clean out. I like @FFLinOhio’s recommendation to put a bit of wood putty in there and sand it flat.
I have a nurture mold and opaque liner. I’m not sure if there is a difference between the opaque and green liners. My liner, like this one, is pretty floppy. My other (less expensive) liners are much firmer. When unmolding, I prefer this liner. It is softer and makes unmolding much easier. The downside is that the floppy sides make pouring close to the side a bit challenging when using dividers. I specifically bought this mold as it came with dividers for vertical layers. When pouring 4 layers, each layer is about 1” thick which isn’t a lot of room. The mold bowing in gives even less room. As the soap is poured in the mold the side opens up, it’s just the initial pouring that can be challenging. I may try @dibbles recommendation to use Vaseline to stick the mold to the wood.
Overall, I really like my mold and hope you will like this one too. Sometimes it’s disappointing when we receive something that is different from our expectations. Especially when we are paying more than we think we should.
Please let us know what you think after your first batch. Merry Christmas!

 

[Servant4Christ]

My two cents…. The hole is cosmetic and a by product of the plywood used. It’s not structural although soap could get in there and would be impossible to thoroughly clean out. I like @FFLinOhio’s recommendation to put a bit of wood putty in there and sand it flat.
I have a nurture mold and opaque liner. I’m not sure if there is a difference between the opaque and green liners. My liner, like this one, is pretty floppy. My other (less expensive) liners are much firmer. When unmolding, I prefer this liner. It is softer and makes unmolding much easier. The downside is that the floppy sides make pouring close to the side a bit challenging when using dividers. I specifically bought this mold as it came with dividers for vertical layers. When pouring 4 layers, each layer is about 1” thick which isn’t a lot of room. The mold bowing in gives even less room. As the soap is poured in the mold the side opens up, it’s just the initial pouring that can be challenging. I may try @dibbles recommendation to use Vaseline to stick the mold to the wood.
Overall, I really like my mold and hope you will like this one too. Sometimes it’s disappointing when we receive something that is different from our expectations. Especially when we are paying more than we think we should.
Please let us know what you think after your first batch. Merry Christmas!

Thank you. I'm with you on this. I'm no stranger to using a little wood filler and sandpaper and I plan to do exactly that just because I don't want soap batter to accidentally get in there. BTW, that's not the only 'hole'. There are three more that look just like it along the top edge going around, but not a big deal to fill them all at the same time and sand them down.

The staples aren't a big deal, just surprising because I haven't noticed them in any of the pictures online anywhere or even the YouTube videos. I guess I would've expected this to be disclosed on the ordering page either in the description or the pictures.

The floppiness of the liner is something that appears to have its own set of pros and cons. I won't actually have an opinion on whether the floppiness is a pro or a con to me until I actually get to use it after Christmas, which I totally cannot wait for!

 

[paradisi]

Thank you. I'm with you on this. I'm no stranger to using a little wood filler and sandpaper and I plan to do exactly that just because I don't want soap batter to accidentally get in there. BTW, that's not the only 'hole'. There are three more that look just like it along the top edge going around, but not a big deal to fill them all at the same time and sand them down.

The staples aren't a big deal, just surprising because I haven't noticed them in any of the pictures online anywhere or even the YouTube videos. I guess I would've expected this to be disclosed on the ordering page either in the description or the pictures.

The floppiness of the liner is something that appears to have its own set of pros and cons. I won't actually have an opinion on whether the floppiness is a pro or a con to me until I actually get to use it after Christmas, which I totally cannot wait for!

If the liner stands back up square when out of the box, it will stay so in a box that fits it.

A box that's too small will push the liner sides in. (Like jamming an empty cereal box into one that it smaller than it.)

A liner that is saggy when not in a box, will be saggy in a box even if the box is not too small. And, sadly, soap isn't enough to push the sides back where they should be. You might be able to slick the liner to the sides of the box .... you'll be the decider of how well that works for you.