Choosing a Soap Mold

When I first started making soap I brought a small 1lb mold.  I could not wait to use it, but unfortunately, I did not line the mold properly and this is how that story ended.

 When choosing a mold you have a multitude of options.One of which is the individual silicone mold.  This is a six cavity mold and makes 5oz bars of soap.  It will take a 1.5lb batch of soap

 This is my newest 1lb mold.  I love it! It is very well-made, one of the walls is hinged for easy removal.  It has a foam liner that makes removal a breeze!   This mold can make 4-4oz bars if you use 1lb of oils or 4-5oz bars if you use 1.5lb of oils.

Here is another 1lb wooden mold. Although extremely well made, I don't care for the dimensions and the way the finished soap bar looks.  Which is just my personal preference.  Also, if you notice the middle pic, one time when I used it the freezer paper I used obviously had a leak somewhere.  Thank God the soap did not stick to the mold. But it is permanently stained, still usable but stained.  I am thinking about giving this mold away.  Stay tuned.

                                                                                                                                      

 You can use good old fashioned cardboard boxes, lined with a plastic bag or freezer paper.  But this box would hold a 3-4lb batch, possibly 5lb.  Keep that in mind when choosing a cardboard box.

You can also use a gladware or other plastic container.  You can line with plastic wrap or you may  have to put the soap in the freezer for 30 minutes to make the soap easier to release.

This  is a wooden tray soap mold.  Notice the notches in the sides, the mold came with the knife that you can cut while still in the mold. I have used this mold several times and I like it.

 Lastly, here is a wooden log mold, this is lined with freezer paper and ready to make soap.  The soap from this mold will need to be cut by hand or with a soap cutter.




What things should you consider when choosing a mold?

1. What kind of soap are you making?  It wouldn't be a good idea to put a plastic container in the over for CPOP, silicone or lined wooden molds hold up best in the oven.
2. How much soap are you making?  Are you making soap just for family and friends.  Then one or two molds would probably suffice, but if you intend of making soap to sell, then having multiple molds will give you more flexibility and options, as you won't have to wait for soap to be removed from the mold before making another batch of soap.
3. What size do you want your finished bars to be?  Some people prefer a small, thick bar, while some people prefer a larger, thinner bar.  This is truly a personal preference and I advise that you try different molds and see what you like best.

Choosing a mold is one of the most important decisions you make as a soap maker, it is second only to the ingredients in directly effecting the outcome of your soap.  So try a few and see what is the best choice for you.