Soap Hutch HDPE Mold Users...

[SudsyKat]

Hey, all! I just got my new SoapHutch HDPE "Uber mold" over the holidays. I'm very excited, but I find that it has a couple of quirks and I wanted to ask if anyone here can comment. Remember, these are the HDPE, not the plexiglass molds.

1. One of my batches did not fully gel (this was the first time this has ever happened to me). After that happened, I researched a little (on this forum) and found that these need a little help with insulation/added heat. How do you handle that? Is it safe to put these in a 170 degree, turned off oven?

2. I used the dams, but found that I had to jury rig a way to keep them in place. What have you found that works for this?

Overall, I liked the result from this new mold - the soap came out just fine (I used a little mineral oil on the sides before pouring).

Thanks for your input!

 

[soapbuddy]

I have 5 of SoapHutch molds and I don't gel. Some of my batches have gone in the freezer or the fridge. I find if I run hot water over the outside, they release easier. My recipe also uses sodium lactate and besswax.

 

[soapopera]

I too just got the Craftline slab series. It's pretty hard getting the soap out of the mold. I hope it get easier as I've read from here. I didn't grease the sides with anything and also my recipe are fairly softer (bastille type). Anyone making bastille care to share how they unmold without denting the soaps? Maybe I was also a bit impatient, I unmolded it in 2 days. Use almost full water. Thinking to line them

 

[carebear]

get some food grade silicone spray and use it a few times before soaping - before you know it, you won't need anything.

 

[HutCar92]

I'm so getting one of those from Rich soon!! Just waiting for my tax refund to come n its taking entirely too long!!

 

[soapopera]

get some food grade silicone spray and use it a few times before soaping - before you know it, you won't need anything.

Never seen these before. Will these be in a hardware store? I have Pam here, will this work? I can't pop it in the freezer as the mold is pretty large and currently it's looking like Nigella's...

Also, so far I heard people coating the sides with mineral oil, is there a reason why not using oils like CO or any other vege oils? Does vege oil react with the traced soap batter and turned into soap hence coating with it is futile?

 

[KD]

I have two Soaphutch mold and do not use any type of release agent. I do gel my soap, and I put a heating pad underneath it to ensure a good gel. Sodium lactate generally goes into all of my soap batches at 3%, but I have forgotten and still manage to get my soap out just fine. If I could afford it, I would buy a few more, but that will have to wait.

 

[KD]

I have two Soaphutch mold and do not use any type of release agent. I do gel my soap, and I put a heating pad underneath it to ensure a good gel. Sodium lactate generally goes into all of my soap batches at 3%, but I have forgotten and still manage to get my soap out just fine. If I could afford it, I would buy a few more, but that will have to wait.

 

[carebear]

Pam isn't colorless, and yes veggie oils can saponify and thus disappear. Mineral oil isn't as slick as silicone and some say it causes a whitish haze to their soaps.

Food grade silicone spray is at BJs and Costco I think, but I"m not sure where. Hardware store stuff may not be food grade.

NaLactate is probably enough.

 

[soapopera]

Thanks everyone for the insight. Will check out the food grade silicone. Thanks Carebear

 

[carebear]

i have to say, though, that some find that PAM works well.