| You have decided to give soap making a try using | | | | Another type of wooden soap mold is the slab |
| the cold process method. There are a few | | | | mold. This is also made from hard wood, and is |
| different varieties of soap making molds that you | | | | shaped more like a flat rectangle with dividers |
| can use that will give different looks to your | | | | inside. The size of the interior dividers determines |
| soaps. | | | | the size of the soap bar. Most slab molds will hold |
| The most popular is the wooden log soap mold. | | | | 20-30 bars of soap at a time. You can also use |
| This type of mold is constructed using a hard | | | | slab molds without interior dividers, and later cut |
| wood, like pine or poplar. It is formed into the | | | | the bars, or use cookie cutters to create fun |
| shape of a long rectangular box with a removable | | | | shapes. |
| lid, like a shoe box. The box is then lined using a | | | | Soap molds are also available constructed from |
| release, this can be a plastic-coated paper or a | | | | silicone materials. The benefit of silicone molds is |
| custom silicone mold. This allows the soap to be | | | | you do not have to line the mold before pouring |
| removed easily after it has hardened. After the | | | | the soap mixture, as the silicone acts like the |
| box is lined, the saponified soap mixture is poured | | | | release agent itself. Although this may seem |
| into the log mold and allowed to sit overnight. | | | | quicker and easier to do, after awhile the silicone |
| Once hardened, the soap resembles a loaf of | | | | does break down, absorb odors and colors and |
| bread, and can then be cut into 1" thick bars to | | | | should be replaced. |
| cure for several more weeks. | | | | |