Replies

1. 
   carlmccarty | Jan 13, 2007 12:39am | #1

   Answer to the first question. Epoxy or second best "Gorlla Glue"
   Answer to the second question. Probably.
   Fee for the first answer: One bar of soap.
   Fee for the second answer: An equally silly reply.

   Seriously, good luck with the soap making, it's a nifty project.
   I wonder if some of the new flexible silicone baking molds might work even better?

1. 
   TWG | Jan 13, 2007 01:11am | #2

   For ease of application I agree with Gorilla Glue.  Wear latex gloves and follow the directions on the bottle.

   TWG.

2. 
   gj13 | Jan 13, 2007 03:58am | #5

   Oh, I'm willing to try most any container we have. I'm thinking plastic molds used for playing in the sandbox would make some nice shapes.
   The tough part about making soap (at least up until now) has been getting the ingredients together. It require lye, which used to be widely available as Red Devil. Now, it's virtually impossible to find (other than online from soap making suppliers) because, supposedly, lye is an ingredient in the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine. Thus, to prosecute the war on drugs, 100% lye can no longer be found on store shelves. I found what was probably the last batch on the market in the grocery store in a small town in the mountains of northwest Pennsylvania.

1. 
   Steinmetz | Jan 13, 2007 08:16am | #7

   Make lye by burning wood down to white ashes.Save the ashes. will send link to soap making website Steinmetx

   Edited 1/13/2007 12:29 am ET by Steinmetz

2. 
   Steinmetz | Jan 13, 2007 08:32am | #8

   gj, the attachment is the website for soap making and lye making

   
1. 
   gj13 | Jan 18, 2007 11:45pm | #12

   Thanks.  I'll check it out. 

   I did a little more poking around on the 'net and found out that Lowe's (oops, I mean the Big Blue Box) sells Roebic Heavy Duty Drain Cleaner.  According to the Roebic website, it's 100% lye, and according to the Lowe's website, you can order it online and pick it up at the store, no shipping costs.  2 pound containers, which is just right for someone who's dabbling. 

1. 
   Steinmetz | Jan 19, 2007 03:02am | #14

   When handling lye, use eye protection and rubber gloves. Keep a bowl of clean water nearby, in case you might have to flush youe eye/eyes /hands or gloves..  Dispose down your sink and continue with running water.   I learned years ago how to soak metal objects in lye solution to strip away heavy accumulations of paint. 

   DO NOT store lye solution  in aluminum containers! Or, near pets and kiddies.

   Steinmetz.

    

    

3. 
   AndyE | Jan 13, 2007 06:14pm | #10

   http://www.chemistrystore.com/I found this place through Google. They carry caustic soda, as well as soap making stuff. Enjoy, but don't inhale.Andy

1. 
   mrbird90 | Jan 14, 2007 04:12am | #11

   My son- in- law has made many soap mold boxes as his wife makes thousands of bars a year and he uses screws and elmer's glue and 5 years later the molds are still in great shape. He used white pine 3/4" thick.  I made them  a slicer which slices off the bars to a designated thickness. She used to do it with a large knife.

1. 
   gj13 | Jan 18, 2007 11:47pm | #13

   Sounds good.  Thanks.

   A friend suggested 3" PVC pipe, lined with parchment paper, as molds.  Slide the hardned soap out, slice into pucks.

2. 
   AndyE | Jan 13, 2007 03:05am | #3

   I would think that any glue that could withstand a little heat and moisture would do the trick. You are pretty much filling the mold with something like warm wax, right? how do you get the soap out of the mold? And don't say " It's soap, it will just slide right out." what about a box held together with a strap or rubber band that would be collapsible? That way you could peel the box off without destroying it. Or taper the sides slightly so when you turn it over and knock it on the counter the soap will release from the mold. Do they publish any tricks for that sort of thing online?

   Good luck with it and let us know how it turns out.

   Andy
1. 
   gj13 | Jan 13, 2007 03:54am | #4

   The rubber band idea is a good one. And supposedly the soap will just slip right out once it's hardened.

3. 
   observer | Jan 13, 2007 07:38am | #6

   My wife made soap for years in a couple of cedar boxes about 1 1/2" high x 10" x 14" inside dimension. She found what worked the best was to line the boxes with a layer of wax paper cleanly folded to fit well. The soap will shrink a bit as it hardens but it will stick to wood so doesn't come out easily without the paper. The size of the box worked well for cutting it into 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" bars.

   It was nice soap, I wish she still made it.

4. 
   CharlesW | Jan 13, 2007 05:36pm | #9

   We occassionally make soap.  For molds, I purchased several fishing tackle boxes.  Plano and others make them.  They are approximately 10" x 12" or larger, and between 1 to 2 inches deep with dividers that you can configure for different size bars and the soap easily releases from the plastic box.  Just a thought. 

    

   Chuck

5. 
   user-93281 | Jan 19, 2007 03:19am | #15

   Don't use a water-base glue!

   Carolina Jack