Please help with soap shape engineering...

[kikajess]

I have an idea for a soap shaped like a half-circle on top of a rectangle. How could I make a loaf mold for that? I prefer a loaf mold rather than a column mold because I want the circle part to be a different color than the rectangle part.

Do you think cutting a pringles can in half down its length then taping cardboard to the sides might work? Like this?


How could I cap off the ends? Is there a mold out there already shaped like this? Any and all input is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[MzMolly65]

Someone (might have been Dennis, can't remember exactly who but think it was one of the fellas) is using plastic eavestroughing found at hardware stores. Might not be as tall as you want it but it's definitely got that shape.

 

[bennabors2007]

You could use a piece of gutter. They have all shapes and sizes and they are a breeze to work with .

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I'd also go with guttering.

 

[houseofwool]

I would use gutter as the mold, but would line it with a placemat to get the exact shape you are looking for.

 

[kikajess]

A few of you mentioned using a placemat inside a piece of gutter. I happen to have a few of those cheap plastic placemats and I came up with the idea to use one inside a loaf mold. I think it will be great. What do you think?


Thank you everyone for all your ideas. I couldn't have thought of this without you!!! :clap:

 

[shunt2011]

That just might work though you may have batter seeping under it.. Give it a try and let us know how it works. (pictures of course). Good Luck!

 

[DeeAnna]

It should work, but I'd say you need more rigidity your round bottom might end up being more squarish with round corners. One thing is to attach the sides of the placemat that stick above the mold to some kind of sturdy support. You could also use 2 or 3 placemats to make the curved shape instead of one -- that will make the shape more rigid. You could also fill in the voids in the corners of the mold with something that will better support the curved bottom of the placemat shape -- um, maybe triangular pieces of wood or cardboard?

 

[kikajess]

It has been poured!

The placemat was wedged into the mold really well. I was confident I wouldn't need supports to keep the roundness and there wouldn't be much seeping. But I could live with a little seeping.

So I just went with it. Wow! It worked perfectly! See?

No seeping, lovely shape. Ok, now I'll just let that set up a little bit, then pour the rest on top.
Yep. I'll just start my ITP swirl....wait a minute...I forgot the sides on the ends!
If I pour more soap in it will spill out! Nooo!!!
AAAGHH!! Whatdoido? Whatdoido?!?!?

Calm down, I just need to shove something down in there real quick...
Lemme just cut some more pieces out of that placemat...
Oops too big, cut off a little more...
Ok, it's fitting, it's fitting! Oh wow this might actually work...
Now how about some tape to keep those edges together? Yeah, tape!
Hey, this is looking pretty good. And the rest of my soap is still swirlable...
Ooooo....I think it worked! Amazing!!! See?


But who knows what will happen when I try to unmold it. The dome soap saga is to be continued...

 

[MzMolly65]

eagerly awaiting results!

 

[Jencat]

Creative solution. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

 

[DeeAnna]

Well, good for you -- glad it worked!

 

[seven]

take it out of the mold... nooowwww i was getting real excited when i saw the 1st pic of the half dome. i know how it feels when something you plan in yer mind is working. it feels fab!

 

[kikajess]

It's aliiiiive!!!! And by alive I mean it's unmolded. This was a very exciting soap moment for me. I'm so glad of this forum as a place to share with people who love soaping like I do.

Omg! omg! It is so cool just what I imagined. Eeee!!!!


Eww, there's oil all over it.


Eww, aaaallll over....no zap, though. That's good.


Ugh, oil, get reabsorbed already!


I started a new thread in the photo gallery for the real slices pictures here: http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=43817

These are just, really, exactly as I imagined them. They wouldn't have been possible without all your help. Thank you!!!!