Slab molds....which one?

[Deedles]

For my first couple of batches I used a small plastic drawer from a desk storage unit. It worked OK but there was this ridge around the edge. I love my loaf mold but want to try some color designs on a slab.

So I've been looking at slab molds on the interwebs. I know I want one with dividers, 2-3lb size and hopefully one that doesn't need to be lined. I've found acrylic, silicone and wood molds. Does anyone have a favorite one to recommend?

 

[IrishLass]

My favorite is my dual log/slab mold, which you can see here (click the refresh button if the pic doesn't show): http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showpost.php?p=514940&postcount=13 I love that thing! It was made for me by a former forum member almost 10 years ago, who has seemingly dropped off the planet (haven't seen him around for about 3 years or so), but Dianna's Sugar Plum Sundries sells a mold just like it, but with taller sides and a few other minor differences (the lid is shaped a little different and it uses hooks instead of nails to fasten the collapsible sides). I have one of those too: https://diannassundries.com/product/wood-soap-mold/ Unfortunately, Dianna doesn't have pics of the mold up yet since revamping the site, but like I said, it's pretty much the same design as the one I show in my first link. She sells liners for it, too.

Anyway, I love it for it's versatility. I can make either 9 bars or 18 bars in the slab portion, depending on how deep I pour; 8 to 18 bars when in log mode (depending on how thick I cut or whether I use one log compartment or both), and I can even make 1-lb sample batches in it by pouring the batter in the log set-up mode, which will make as little as 4 to 8 full-size, slab-style bars.

One of our members, Lee (LBussy) is looking to make a version of it: http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showpost.php?p=519327&postcount=32


IrishLass

 

[amd]

Omg.... I need to show this to the bf....

 

[snappyllama]

I have the BB 9bar mold with silicone liner. I've been pretty happy with it after 20 or so batches. I do recommend getting the liner for it. I kept popping holes through my freezer paper with the dividers.

Oh, the lid doesn't fit snugly on top when I use the liner. It doesn't bother me, but my daughter with a touch of OCD always tells me my lid isn't on right.

ETA: that's a sweet mold, IrishLass!

 

[Deedles]

My favorite is my dual log/slab mold, which you can see here (click the refresh button if the pic doesn't show): http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showpost.php?p=514940&postcount=13 I love that thing! It was made for me by a former forum member almost 10 years ago, who has seemingly dropped off the planet (haven't seen him around for about 3 years or so), but Dianna's Sugar Plum Sundries sells a mold just like it, but with taller sides and a few other minor differences (the lid is shaped a little different and it uses hooks instead of nails to fasten the collapsible sides). I have one of those too: https://diannassundries.com/product/wood-soap-mold/ Unfortunately, Dianna doesn't have pics of the mold up yet since revamping the site, but like I said, it's pretty much the same design as the one I show in my first link. She sells liners for it, too.

Anyway, I love it for it's versatility. I can make either 9 bars or 18 bars in the slab portion, depending on how deep I pour; 8 to 18 bars when in log mode (depending on how thick I cut or whether I use one log compartment or both), and I can even make 1-lb sample batches in it by pouring the batter in the log set-up mode, which will make as little as 4 to 8 full-size, slab-style bars.

One of our members, Lee (LBussy) is looking to make a version of it: http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showpost.php?p=519327&postcount=32


IrishLass

I like that design, so versatile! I see you have the fondant liner on sides and bottom in slab mode, do you also use the same liner for the sides in loaf mode?

I'll be watching Diana's website for the pics.
http://www.soapmakingforum.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[Deedles]

I have the BB 9bar mold with silicone liner. I've been pretty happy with it after 20 or so batches. I do recommend getting the liner for it. I kept popping holes through my freezer paper with the dividers.

Oh, the lid doesn't fit snugly on top when I use the liner. It doesn't bother me, but my daughter with a touch of OCD always tells me my lid isn't on right.

ETA: that's a sweet mold, IrishLass!

The BB 9 bar mold is at the top of my list. Nice to hear it works as advertised. Thanks!

 

[Consuela]

I lusted and oogled wooden loaf molds for a Looooong time. The soap is so perfect and beautiful and crisp edges (which I like - though a little out of my price range)..... Anyway, last summer I asked the boyfriend to make me some wooden molds because I was "over the silicone" which don't get me wrong - they work awesome and are easy to unmold... but I ended up with too much waste and I grew tired of the look of my bars - they were too rough-looking. And they were a ***** to wrap...

SO... Hubby made me five, identical wooden molds - that are the width of two loaves, and I can decide how long or how short I want them to be... (I had asked for small and large molds.. he came back with 5 customizable-multi-purpose ones... Men...). Sure, they might seem a little redneck (I use a clamp to hold the last piece of the mold on) - but they work awesome. I can make 8 bars, or I can make 50ish bars per mold.

SO... that works for me..!

 

[IrishLass]

I like that design, so versatile! I see you have the fondant liner on sides and bottom in slab mode, do you also use the same liner for the sides in loaf mode?

I'll be watching Diana's website for the pics.

Yes, I use the same liner set-up for my loaf molds, too. I love those fondant mats so much that I cut sets out for each of my wooden molds, both log and slab.


IrishLass

 

[vmakkers]

Yes, I use the same liner set-up for my loaf molds, too. I love those fondant mats so much that I cut sets out for each of my wooden molds, both log and slab.


IrishLass

Question! Where do you get these fondant mats? I've been on the hunt and haven't found any that I could cut to size.

 

[IrishLass]

Question! Where do you get these fondant mats? I've been on the hunt and haven't found any that I could cut to size.

I bought all mine from Michael's craft store in the baking section where they keep the cake pans and cake decorating things, etc.. The fondant mats are packaged in a long, skinny rectangular box and are hanging on a peg by the fondant and pastry bags. This is what to look for: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Fondant-Imprint-Mat-Graceful-Vines/6730572/product.html


IrishLass

 

[TBandCW]

I have the BB 18 bar slab mold with the silicone liner. I love it! I also bought and extra set of silicone liner/dividers. I make soap one day, next day take silicone liner out of box, I don't remove soap as it is still a bit soft, but can use the wooden slab mold for another round of soap with the extra liner!