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Wooden Soap Molds
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Wooden soap molds are no longer the only option out there to use for soapmaking. In all honesty, you can pretty much use anything as long as it doesn't leak, doesn't react with the soap and you can get the soap out of it later.
Most often though, soapmakers prefer to use proper soapmaking molds and we can now choose from HDPE molds, plastic molds, silicon molds and acrylic molds. They also come in many shapes and sizes like loaf molds and box molds that have dividers for individual bars as well.
Since I have a specialty soap cutter, I am able to use a simple square box and line it with butchers paper (freezer wrap). The paper makes it easy to remove the soap block when it has cooled.
If you're handy with power tools and want to know how to make soap molds, simply make a box using some scrap wood.
I made my wooden soap mold for $3.00 and I'm not that handy with the power tools. It measures 6 inches square on the inside and is 3 inches high. This size will make about 10 bars of soap (110 - 150gr. each). If you plan on selling your soap, you will probably want to make a bigger box.
For those of you not inclined to use power tools, there are many soap making molds for sale on-line and they come in a multitude of shapes and sizes. They tend to be reasonably priced and of much better quality than my homemade version.
Here are a few companies that sell wooden soap molds and HDPE soap molds:
Silicon Soap Molds
Silicon soap molds have become quite popular during the last few years. They come in many wonderful and unique shapes and sizes enabling you to get really creative. Try using the ice cube trays to make fun soap embeds or make a soap cake using one of the great bundt pans.
Another great thing about silicon molds is that you don't have to line them. The soap will just pop out. Now how cool is that?
Here are some examples of silicon molds that are available.
Plastic Soap Molds
Another option is plastic soap molds. These come in box form and in tray form. The tray forms usually make fancy individual bars or a sheet of bars that have score marks for cutting. Though they are most often used for melt and pour soap, they work for cold process soap making as well.
Here are a few companies that sell plastic soap molds:
Round Soap Molds
Want to make some round soap towers?
Those can be achieved by making soap in PVC piping. Simply buy some 2" or 3" PVC piping from your local hardware store.
Cut the piping to your desired length, 12" - 18" is best since it can be difficult to remove from longer tubes.
Place a test cap on the base of the tube and temporarily seal with duct tape. Place the tube(s) in a bucket and secure them with towels so they won't fall over.
Pour your prepared soap into the tubes and insulate them very well with blankets for 2 days.
To remove the soap, take off the test cap and place the soap tube over a soup can (or other cylinder object that is smaller than the tubes hole) on the floor and push the soap out of the tube.
Sometimes the soap may require freezing for a few hours before removal.
It's a good idea to wait a few days until the soap is harder before cutting.
***Update*** - I'm told by Birch Bark Soaps that a silicon baking sheet works wonderfully to line the pipe mold and now that I think about it, I imagine so would parchement and freezer paper.
Calculation for Rectangular Mold Volume
Not sure how much soap will fit in your mold? Here is a formula that will calculate how much oil you need in your soap recipe to make the right size soaps.
Length of mold x Width of mold x Height of soap x .40 = ounces of oil needed
example: My mold is 6" x 6" and I pour my soap to 2.25" high so the calculation will be:
6" x 6" x 2.25" x .40 = 32.4 ounces
Since I like working in grams, I convert the ounces over by mulfiplying the ounces by 28.375
32.4 ounces x 28.375 = 919.35 grams
(I use 900 grams in my recipes for simplicity)
Calculation for Cylinder Mold Volume
This same method can be applied to cylinder molds with the following forumla:
pi(3.14) x radius squared x height of pour x .40 = ounces of oil needed
example: Using a 3" pipe and pouring to 12" high, the calculation will be:
3.14 x 1.5" x 1.5" x 12" x .40 = 33.9 ounces
If you're using grams:
33.9 ounces x 28.375 = 961.9 grams
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