Dana Mae

mmmmmmm outstanding. I've been wanting to try to make a pumpkin soap....seeing yours is just the push I needed, although mine will not look so glorious! Gorgeous...... dana

So awesome and generous for you to show the method of your fabulous swirls!!!!!! Thank you! dana

Sorry.......Sodium Lactate. I use the liquid kind. HTH, dana

Nothing special on the lye solution.....my standard is 33% for my milks and fussy or new FO's....I've gone up to 40-45% when feeling brave, ha ha. One thing I think REALLY made a difference was adding a teensy bit of SL. I didn't believe it....until I tried it. I am using less than .2oz ppo and I can sure tell a difference. I did a test batch in one of my pvc molds and when I took the cap off the soap literally FELL out ... I wasn't expecting that as the liner was still in the mold, and my soap almost hit the floor. I even forgot to put a liner in the pvc pipe one time (doh) and I popped it in the freezer for a short bit, and out it slid. Amazing stuff, really. I have heard some people don't like it, but at such a small amount I don't see any difference except a bar that gets harder sooner. I'm trying my "softest" recipe in the new slab right now, I think the full GM really slows it down in getting firm. I just popped it into the fridge, I'll take it out in the a.m. and hopefully unmold after it gets to room temp. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted! I'm going to do my HDPE mold tonight as well. I haven't tried it since I tweaked my recipe and added the SL..... Oh Rae if you do get to see the unmolding video, one thing I found out (after I slid the soap off the bottom) Jeff recommended me to leave the dividers IN until you slide it off the bottom......that way it sticks together in one whole piece. I didn't have any issues though but tomorrow I will do that for sure. dana

Yes...I haven't soaped AKO...and use all those oils except I use HO Safflower instead of sunflower...lard/tallow or palm, rbo/olive/or combo of both, and I usually use castor too. I soap with full milks alot (none here though) and am trying that recipe now (I soap RT so am letting things cool down) My main purpose was to let everyone know I don't believe there is an inherent flaw in the molds....and of course didn't mean to infer you should change your recipe... Just wanted to show what worked for me. Honestly it's really been an interesting experiment/learning thing for me! Hope this helps, dana

it slid right off.......but if I had not done it the way he did in the video, I might have had problems.......!!! I just want it to work for YOU all too!!!!! dana

it didn't post in the gallery? I added to your thread????? off to go see....... dana

I'm not wanting to stir the pot here, or anything, but I did want to post my experience. I think we all agree that the molds are beautiful and well made. I haven't had much problem with my HDPE mold, especially after I seasoned it a few times, it got better and better... What I did learn very quickly was that I have a very soft recipe....and I had to tweak this and that...not change it overall.....but when I did a bit of experimenting I found the right time to umold, etc. That said, my Logan Bear acrylic molds came last week. I hadn't used them yet, but after hearing of Rae's problems I wanted to give them a try. I have really been thinking about this. HDPE is HDPE. Acrylic is Acrylic. Why do the molds work for some and not for others? The material is the same. I could only assume it was the recipe, timing, etc. So I set out to use my slab last night. It's been about 15 hours since I made it. I unmolded the sides, and they literally DID fall off. You can see how clean the acrylic is in the pictures. My dividers slid right out with no sticking whatsoever. I saw on Jeff's most recent video how to unmold the bottom, and because my soap is still on the soft side I will wait a few more hours before I finish. I am really sorry that the molds haven't worked out for everyone. But I think that I've proved (to myself, anyway) that my recipe did make a difference in how my soap performed in the mold. I don't gel, so I don't have much luck with wood molds, although the silicone is divine! I just wanted to post this to show my results with the new Logan Bear molds. I don't think they are a bad product, but I did have a learning curve in figuring out how to make them work with my recipe. dana

I just started unmolding........will add to your gallery thread! dana

I will certainly let you know.......I have not used the log mold yet but I did do my first batch in the slab. I had a bugger of a time getting it together....and that was WITH the video! I just couldn't get that last piece to snap in.... Jeff recently posted another video on you tube showing how he unmolds... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1gAvzCmIuI I would not have done the bottom that way so I'm glad I watched. Silicone lined wood are nice, but I don't like to gel and they just get too hot for me..... I'm so sorry you're having problems, Jeff has been really good (for me) to work with so far, I hope you will hear back from him soon! dana

I just got mine, haven't used them yet....how'd the soapin go???

um I have to go with Scented........lol dana

I haven't noticed it but will watch closely.... Thanks for the tip! dana

Jeff said I could use either.....and I had the Pam on hand. This is my first "real" mold experience so I've never tried mineral oil...I just used what I had handy and it works just fine. For what ever reason, saponification doesn't seem to be an issue with the Pam... I love your mold, what size are your bars? dana (who can't wait for her next LoganBear mold!)