Billie Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Sorry to hear that. The soap is so pretty. I wish someone who has acrylic molds would chime in with some tricks or something. Thanks for the update. I had the same problem with the HDPE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Posted July 30, 2009 Author Share Posted July 30, 2009 Yes, Billie, I hear you. I have been getting pm's about his HDPE molds. They say the soap sticking to the mold don't get any better. I sure hate that. I have ask for a full refund and to return the mold, but Jeff has not contacted me back. His molds are very well made. It's a shame they have problems.RaeSorry to hear that. The soap is so pretty. I wish someone who has acrylic molds would chime in with some tricks or something. Thanks for the update. I had the same problem with the HDPE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billie Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I think you are correct. My first recipe was very basic and although is was a great bar in a wooden mold lined with paper, it was a little softer. I have one now that is about 5 points harder. I have also learned how to do a little water discount now and didn't know how earlier. I bet it makes a lot of difference in these types of molds. I'm so glad you posted as this could help a lot of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugtussle Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Dana, I'm amazed!!!!!!!!! :yay: But I still won't change my soap recipe. I use coconut, palm, rice bran or lard, apricot kernal, castor, sunflower and shea. Does your recipe contain any of these same oils? Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Posted July 30, 2009 Author Share Posted July 30, 2009 Dana, that is great. I am so happy for you. So, did the bottom come off yet? My recipe has a lot of the same oils as Carole. Mine is a very hard bar. Would love to know about the bottom since that is where I had most of my problems.I am really happy for you. :yay: :yay: Rae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Dana, I'm amazed!!!!!!!!! :yay: But I still won't change my soap recipe. I use coconut, palm, rice bran or lard, apricot kernal, castor, sunflower and shea. Does your recipe contain any of these same oils? CaroleYes...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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugtussle Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Dana, I don't think you have offended anyone and actually, I am so glad Jeff's mold is working for you. I want him or me to find a way to make LB molds work. What kind of water disc do you use? Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Posted July 31, 2009 Author Share Posted July 31, 2009 Dana Mae, thanks for sharing with us. I really appreciate it. I will go see if the video comes up for me. It didn't yesterday.Rae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmejeffd Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I have 2 videos up on my site now. You can see them here: http://loganbearcandles.com/teststore/videos.htmlNext one I'll be posting will show how to unmold an 18 bar slab mold. More will follow soon. I hope they help everyone.Dana Mae, thanks for sharing with us. I really appreciate it. I will go see if the video comes up for me. It didn't yesterday.Rae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Posted July 31, 2009 Author Share Posted July 31, 2009 What is SL? I must be having a brain fart. :laugh2: Rae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Sorry.......Sodium Lactate. I use the liquid kind. HTH, dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Posted July 31, 2009 Author Share Posted July 31, 2009 Thanks! Why didn't I think of that?RaeSorry.......Sodium Lactate. I use the liquid kind. HTH, dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitn Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Beautiful Swirls , I have serious mold envy . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcotao08 Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Sorry, I have kinda been out of service for the last couple of days, so I am catching up on some reading.....I am going to try to tips you fine ladies have offered when using this slab mold! Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billie Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Something else I figured out by myself and now confirmed by Jeff is:You can't just pull the soap off the dividers or base, you have to slide them off. Along with sodium lactate, sliding or pushing off should work hopefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasBrat Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Something else I figured out by myself and now confirmed by Jeff is:You can't just pull the soap off the dividers or base, you have to slide them off. Along with sodium lactate, sliding or pushing off should work hopefully.That is what I have to do with my Kelsei, it never just picks up, I have to glide it off using one of the dividers to keep from mis shaping the soap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecandlespastore Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 I am really loving the mold and the soap! I like Jeff's site too, how it has cool calculators. I know where I will be getting my next molds from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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