ruba Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 Bevel or plane the soap? Is it right after you are able to cut it, a few days later, a few weeks later?? Just wondering when is the best time. I have done several searches and have not found what I want to know...but all sorts of other good info:wink2: .TIA for any adive you guys and gals can give me...as always, I really appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 It totally depends on your recipe. If you have semi soft soap though, it's harder to get clean lines. I've got a pretty hard recipe, and if I'm going to bevel or plane I do it about 3 days after it's cut. Softer recipes you can push to 1 or 2 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruba Posted December 2, 2006 Author Share Posted December 2, 2006 Thank you Bunny. I think my hardness (according to soap-calc.) is 39 so I guess I am the softer side. I only have 4 batches under my belt and am making one today for the swap #2...I am almost up to counting them with 2 hands LOL!!Thanks again Bunny!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichelleOH Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 If I plane mine I do it a few days after being cut. I agree the harder the bar the cleaner the plane lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenia Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 It totally depends on your recipe. If you have semi soft soap though, it's harder to get clean lines. I've got a pretty hard recipe, and if I'm going to bevel or plane I do it about 3 days after it's cut. Softer recipes you can push to 1 or 2 weeks.Have to disagree here. I bevel and polish after the cure, six weeks or more, right before I box and it works out just fine. It's never too late to bevel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beloved Posted December 2, 2006 Share Posted December 2, 2006 Great minds think differently. Do it both ways and find out what you like best. Not much help. huh! sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruba Posted December 2, 2006 Author Share Posted December 2, 2006 Thanks everyone for the input. I didn't know if there was a "best"/"correct" time to do it and it looks like it is a matter of the recipe and your preference.Thanks again, you guys (gals) rock!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwahlton Posted December 3, 2006 Share Posted December 3, 2006 Have to disagree here. I bevel and polish after the cure, six weeks or more, right before I box and it works out just fine. It's never too late to bevel.Yup, me too. Right before I package Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruba Posted December 3, 2006 Author Share Posted December 3, 2006 What do you gals mean by polish? How the heck do you do that?? I know its not with "polish" but what do you do to make them so pretty?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca_IA Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 I prefer to do it after the bar has cured also. I find the soap crumbs stick to a fresher bar than a cured bar. On a cured bar, I can brush it off, on a fresh bar, it wants to stick to it.Take a batch you have now, do half and save half to do later and see how this compares for you and what your preferences are. This is one thing with soap making that there is no right or wrong answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecandlespastore Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 I use a 30% lye solution so my soap is pretty rock hard after 12-15 hours in the mold. So I bevel while my soap is freshly cut. I also stamp then too.I have found that the hardness scale on soapcalc can be off. It told me my castille would be 24 or something like that, and my castille was as hard as a brick the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Oooh, for castile try a 40% lye solution - it's amazing - you get beautiful bars that are nice and hard almost immediately. Still a "mellowing" cure period is very desirable (the longer the better). But go no higer or you will end up with crumbles.A lot of the numbers are off in the calculators - they are good for a starting point but you will get much better info from trying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecandlespastore Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 I have been too scared to go any higher than my 30%. It is amazing how much even a 1% difference will make. I tried a 29% solution last week just to see what it would be like. Blehh, hated it.I need to make some more castile one I get some regular olive oil. The last batch I made I kept all to myself:DI use it for everything, I even brush my teeth with it sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singleyellowrose Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 I too bevel after the cure before it will be packaged. Less chance of dents! and nail marks.:embarasse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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