What size Loaf mold works best

[soap1daze]

My very favorite molds are the original Tall Skinny molds from American Soap Supplies. I love the feel in my hand of this size soap. Also BB has a blue mold for individual rectangular soaps that is fantastic makes 12 bars here is a test batch photo of salt bars.

 

[cmzaha]

I will warn you one issue with hdpe molds they will eventually warp if you put in the oven to gel. Even though you may set the oven at 170º F you will have the added heat of the gelled soap. I will not necessarily warp the sides but the bottom, thinner hdpe will warp over time. I use the size I do because they will fit in my oven, although I cannot close the oven door all the way. I only use the oven if all my tubs are in use and my electric blankets are in use. If I want to make a much larger batch I just make it up the batter line up the molds, do an in the pot swirl and pour.

There is also the fact I hate silicone molds. But do line your molds with freezer paper or you will be hating your hdpe molds. If you find you hate them just let me know...

 

[Lin19687]

@snappyllama PVC pipe is easy to unmold without a liner if you use Mineral oil. It does get 'seasoned' after a little while but I still use a round sponge (like the shape of a toilet bowl cleaner brush........... BUT NOT ! ) and just do a quick run on the inside before I soap

LEAVE ROOM in the top so you can get it out better. 2 inches works, I only had 1 inch last night in mine that was stuck

 

[Lin19687]

@cmzaha I doubt I will hate them, loving them right now I'm just not that good at cutting the freezer paper, but any leaks just wipe off the molds
I don't need to use the oven for gelling, seems my recipe, HDPE mold and blankets is all I need. Gell in under 2 hours and I usually cut 4-6 hours after that.

 

[cmzaha]

The other reason I use the size hdpe mold I do as the freezer paper fits the mold. If you cut your freezer paper at 9.5" you will have enough to cover the sides and bottom, but you will have to cut one shorter than the 18" width to line the mold end to end. As for the ends I usually line them but sometimes do get lazy and not line the end. If I do not line the ends I have to use a knife and slip it down to get the soap off the mold. Plus, my multi cutter the hubby built me fits my mold perfectly

You are lucky your soap gels that easy, mine does not gel with some nudging

 

[Lin19687]

Don't think I am that lucky, it also traces super fast and, it seems, that every FO I use makes it worse

But I am use to HP so "glopping" in a mold is 'normal' for me hahaha

I think I will start cutting half-assed as the mold is so easy to clean. But it does need to have freezer paper or it is not coming off

 

[penelopejane]

American Soap Supply: Tall and Skinny 4 lb. I like this one a lot (especially since I splurged for dividers); however, it's just too big for me. It is very stiff so it can be a little tricky to unmold unless I let it sit for an extra day. Some folks say it slightly warps in the middle over time, but mine is fine after several years.

WSP: silicone cylinder mold. Run away; save yourselves. It leaks and it opens up unexpectedly. If I do manage to keep it together with binder clips, I still get a seam/ridge. I've gone back to lining pringles cans. Sigh.

I have a T& S that looks very similar and it does bulge a bit.

Have you tried using a piece of hose or a cut down PVC pipe to hold the edge of your column mold together like this?

 

[Lin19687]

@cmzaha ALSO, I think it also traced a bit faster this time because I tried out RBO for my OO

 

[zanzalawi]

@Lin19687 I think that’s the same seller I bought my hdpe mold from on eBay
The instruction sheet that came with it said it didn’t need to be lined but rather needed a “slip” put in it- which from the description sounded like a poorly done lining job?
I’m so used to silicone liners I’ve been nervous to try the hdpe
In the pvc pipes I use the flexible cutting boards from the dollar store to line them (strangely enough- they’re hdpe as well)

 

[zolveria]

I have used many mold in the begining even made my own from scrap wood i got from Home Depot..
But i have setteled with the ONE MOLD.. I find i go to it several times.. i can make a slab.. use the insert piece on a piece of 12x12 wood with silicone mat i made and a peg i create on the wood to hold down the white pvc mold. so i can make tons of soap and style.. i also use an old bramble berry wood slab mold..

but on regular i use my One Mold.. make a 2 slabs daily. as i can un mold my soaps after 8 hours and place them in a box covered to continue gelling.

 

[cmzaha]

@Lin19687 I think that’s the same seller I bought my hdpe mold from on eBay
The instruction sheet that came with it said it didn’t need to be lined but rather needed a “slip” put in it- which from the description sounded like a poorly done lining job?
I’m so used to silicone liners I’ve been nervous to try the hdpe
In the pvc pipes I use the flexible cutting boards from the dollar store to line them (strangely enough- they’re hdpe as well)

I am betting you purchased hdpe from olemanandsons on ebay. The slip liner he talks about is just a piece of approx 9.5" wide freezer paper to line the sides, and bottom with one piece. Since I usually line the ends I just cut a piece a little over 3.5 inches to line the end. I like the 18" molds because freezer paper is 18 inches. I simply dislike silicone molds but love my hdpe

 

[Lin19687]

@zanzalawi The instructions say to not line with HP, MP, Natural CP, and with CP w/ scents to "use parchament paper slip 1-3 in shorter then the length of the inside of mold, do not line the mold."
I took that as to only do the bottom ? I really had no idea.
At first I lined it all in one piece then tried the bottom slip (don't do that btw) now I am back to lining but may just line bottom/sides and NOT the ends. That is where my scissor cutting is bad so I might as well just not

My guy may be the same as he is also from Vancouver WA

 

[MaryWaldman]

Also BB has a blue mold for individual rectangular soaps that is fantastic makes 12 bars here is a test batch photo of salt bars.

These were my go-to molds and I invested in four of them last year (one to test and then another three). This past winter the more recent three began to discolor my soaps. I did a thread about it: https://www.soapmakingforum.com/thr...causing-this-discoloration.68936/#post-684437 (follow up: the soaps I made in these molds have continued to discolor on the surface)

Strangely, the fourth one that was about 6 months older has been fine. Brambleberry made an exception to their return policy and refunded me the purchase price of the three and return shipping, but flaked out on any follow up with the manufacturer in China. I emailed them several times and only got 'these things happen' responses.

I would love to find an exact replacement for this mold but I'm very hesitant to try others.

 

[zanzalawi]

i got curious so i went and looked up the purchase history
https://www.ebay.com/sch/dwizz1983/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
this is the shop i bought from- yes @Lin19687 out of vancouver- and i thought those instructions weren't super clear. :/
@cmzaha thank you- thats much more clear to me the way you explained it. is there anything you don't like to use them for?

 

[snappyllama]

I have a T& S that looks very similar and it does bulge a bit.

Have you tried using a piece of hose or a cut down PVC pipe to hold the edge of your column mold together like this?
View attachment 30483

Good suggestion, I'll try that next time!

 

[penelopejane]

I would love to find an exact replacement for this mold but I'm very hesitant to try others.

I don’t know about an exact replacement but I’d try nurture molds. They are really great to use and long lasting too.

 

[shunt2011]

I highly recommend Nurtures molds too. They are excellent.

 

[cmzaha]

i got curious so i went and looked up the purchase history
https://www.ebay.com/sch/dwizz1983/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
this is the shop i bought from- yes @Lin19687 out of vancouver- and i thought those instructions weren't super clear. :/
@cmzaha thank you- thats much more clear to me the way you explained it. is there anything you don't like to use them for?

Nope, I have been using these molds since I started soaping quite a few years ago. I even use 2 lb hdpe ones for test batches. I will mention I do not line them when I do rebatch, I just spray with Pam. Pam does not work with cp. Also my customers are used to the size bars I get. I cut my soaps 1.25 inches.

 

[Patgst]

I have been using silicone molds for my last two batches and have used lavender fragrance oil. The soap has turned out really well but now I'm concerned that the lavender fragrance will stay in the silicone. Can I bleach these or used baking soda to neutralize the fragrance? It seems to be lingering. The molds (from Amazon) work really well but I don't want the next soap to have any lavender fragrance at all...??
Thanks! I love this site. I've learned so much from the questions that other ask.

 

[shunt2011]

I have been using silicone molds for my last two batches and have used lavender fragrance oil. The soap has turned out really well but now I'm concerned that the lavender fragrance will stay in the silicone. Can I bleach these or used baking soda to neutralize the fragrance? It seems to be lingering. The molds (from Amazon) work really well but I don't want the next soap to have any lavender fragrance at all...??
Thanks! I love this site. I've learned so much from the questions that other ask.

I’ve never had fragrance transfer from my silicone molds. I just wash them in hot soapy water and dry. I’ve been using silicone for 4-5 years and never replaced them.