Welcome to Day Three in using 3-D Molds. Monday covered set up. Tuesday dealt with pouring and fill linesand today is all about unmolding and trimming.We recommend waiting a full two to four hours when unmolding your 3-Dsoap. The longer wait period is necessary because the soap retains its heat (and therefore stays liquid) longer than a traditional, open-topped mold. You can put the soap in the fridge for a few minutes to help with the release process. If you leave the soap in the fridge too long (fifteen minutes plus), it is prone to forming condensation and sticky glycerin dew.Using both hands, gently pull both sides away from each other. Most of the time, soap will seep out of the edges of the mold. This makes the mold harder to pry apart. Be gentle and patient. While 3-D molds are very heavy duty, they can crack if you apply too much pressure.
Despite the overfill, there is still a hole in this bar. As the soap was cooling and contracted in volume, the soap shrunk up, leaving a hole as bubbles drifted to the top of the surface. In this case, the bubbles caught at the top of the mold and became more concave as the soap shrunk. To help prevent this, tap your mold several times on the counter right after you’ve poured the warm soap. This will force the majority of air bubbles to the top of the mold and out the spout.
Watch for a post later today about trimming and finishing your 3-D soaps.
Despite the overfill, there is still a hole in this bar. As the soap was cooling and contracted in volume, the soap shrunk up, leaving a hole as bubbles drifted to the top of the surface. In this case, the bubbles caught at the top of the mold and became more concave as the soap shrunk. To help prevent this, tap your mold several times on the counter right after you’ve poured the warm soap. This will force the majority of air bubbles to the top of the mold and out the spout.
Watch for a post later today about trimming and finishing your 3-D soaps.
Hi Judi! Thanks for posting to the blog. I’m happy that you are liking the postings – and – I am really interested to hear what you think about the 3-D molds once you use them. I like them because you can get the same rounded, curved backs that “commercial” bars get.
=) Anne-Marie
I started reading your blog after seeing you at the AZ Gathering this year and really enjoy it.
Thank you for the series on using 3-D molds. I won one at a gathering and have never used it, but will give it a try now.
I’m just ‘dabbler’ in the soap world, but I love seeing you link and talk about all the wonderful products.
Judi – jcarlson8[at]cox[dot]net