Yesterday I made a batch of goat-milk soap. The recipe I used said to pour it into the molds, let it sit 24hrs, cut it, and let it age. It all went fine until today when I had to cut it. I used gutter for my molds. As I pushed it out of the gutter, I tried cutting it. The bars cut nice and smooth about half way through, and then the soap stuck to the knife and ruined the smooth cut. I've tried everything I can think of, dried and re-wet the knife each time, oiled the knife each time, with no luck. I still can't get a smooth cut. Is there any way? Do I have to wait for the soap to sit longer than 24hrs in it's mold before cutting? I've heard soap industries use hot wire to cut, but maybe there is a simpler way for the household soap maker...Any ideas are MUCH appreciated! I will try them all :o)

-- Danielle (thiessens@att.net), April 24, 2002

Answers

You could try chilling the soap in the freezer, give it a little more form.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), April 24, 2002.

Did you try using string or floss to cut?

-- DW (djwallace@sotc.net), April 24, 2002.

I have used piano wire but have found a sharp fine knife that is run under hot water each time works the best. My cuts were never perfect but that didn't matter. After they were cured and finished soponafying (sp) I used a cheese plane or really sharp pairing knif to trim the soap.

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 24, 2002.

If you used a large proportion of olive oil, the soap may take longer to harden enough to cut smoothly. Wait a few days and try again.

-- Mary (kmfraley@orwell.net), April 24, 2002.

I have a cutter made out of piano wirer that makes a perfect cut. Now, I would have waited 24 - 48 hrs to take out of the mold then I would never cut before the 48 hr. Yes now you can freeze it but I only do this to Milky Way Molds and only for 15 - 20 minutes and then they slide right out, but that is not your problem, I would wait and try again. After it ages some you might try prettying it up some. I sometimes use a paring knife if I have any ash on the soap. I hope this wasn't your first try - I had been making soap for years before I ventured into the goat milk arena. First try was a dump, now after getting it down I have been making goat milk soap for about 3 years now. Good Luck, there is a soapmaking forum called latherings. You can type in Sugar Plum Sundries and she hosts the site. We really learn off of each other and get lots of good ideas on selling or problems with the soap fairy. Debbie - hope to see you on the soap forum, Danielle

-- debbie (bwolcott @ cwis.net), April 24, 2002.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I ended up using copper wire stretched between two pencils :o) I tried floss, but the only kind we had on hand had die in it (yuck) and it stained the soap a little. They cut pretty well with the wire, actually. I did use a good bit of olive oil, but I was afraid the soap would get too brittle to cut. Too bad I wasn't able to read these last two posts before I cut! Debbie, this is my second try with soapmaking. I'm a zealous youth with lots of vision :o) My first try turned out great, except it didn't cut perfect. Maybe I'm overlooking some problems...it seemed to turn out great. I was really careful adding the lye to the milk. This next try looks really nice too so far. I'm hoping to make more in the near future. How do you get to the Latherings Forum? I'm really interested in checking it out. Thanks again!

-- Danielle (thiessens@att.net), April 24, 2002.

Danielle, did you try goggles and typing in either Sugar Plum Sundries or Latherings - when you get to sugar plum, she was a place to click onto the forum. She also sells in small qualities eos, I buy in bulk in Georgia for my eos and my oils (olive, coconut,Palm and cocoa butter) come from Columbus Foods in Chicage. I now freeze my goatmilk and add the lye teaspoon by teaspoon. You take a be risk of it becoming grainy if you dont. Now when I first started with goatmilk, I would mix the lye with 1/4 the amount of water needed and add the goatmilk (the other 3/4 liquid needed) at trace.

-- debbie (bwoloctt@cwis.net), April 25, 2002.

Debbie,

The book I started with (Milk-Based Soaps) told me to pasturize and freeze the milk before using to stabalize it. When I added the lye, I took over 15 min. to stir it into the milk in a bath of ice water. I blended it too, afterwards, so it didn't get grainy. I'm thankful I haven't had a huge mess yet on my hands! I tried to get into the forum, but no page could be found. It might be my connection, so I will try again later. I'd love to get into it! Thanks.

-- Danielle (thiessens@att.net), April 25, 2002.