Thread: Form-fitting hard soaps to a mug or bowl?

I have taken a page from RandyDance's book of knowledge and began using the Ziploc bowls with lids for my soaps. The Conk glycerine varieties melt easily and conform to the bowl and, with a little more care, so do Ray's glycerine soaps. How to do this with a hard soap such as Taylors for example? I like the bowls because they float around easily in the sink of hot water before and while I shave, and I can just grab it and whip the brush around for a great lather before resting it back down on the water. Then pop the top back on and stack 'em up when I'm done. I even cut out the label from the box or whatever the soap came in and double-side tape it on top of the lid for the bowl it's in. The Taylors cake I have won't fit into anything I have easily though, and with that convex half moon back on it it rattles and spins around in a mug or bowl. Has anyone figured out how to melt these types of soaps safely? I heard someone mentioning shaving them into fine slivers first with a cheese grater. Don't want to go there if I don't have to. Advice would be appreciated.

You should be able to put a little (and a little will do) water in the bottom of the container before you put the soap in. That should keep it in place just fine.

As for melting... I suppose a you could experiment with different power settings on the microwave to melt without cooking it (defrost maybe?). Aside from that, grating & melting would probably provide the best results. You could use a double-boiler and try to melt it straight away over a lower heat.

For myself, form fitting the soap into the dish is indespensable. Only then can I adequately control the amount of water needed to produce a good lather. I also follow Chaaaz's nifty idea (or Randy's?) and use several tupperware (low rim) containers to keep a wide assortment of soaps and aromas on hand.

I asked Ray at classicshaving about how to form fit my hard-milled Taylor of Old Bond soap. He suggested cutting it up into small pieces (you'll need a small hacksaw for this...lol) and then using a double boiler to melt them. Following his instructions I had reasonable success. However, it was quite a hassle, so next time I will order the Taylors in their own custom bowl.

Hal

drugstore.com offers a wooden bowl by Kingsley at a reasonable price. I have ordered a couple of them and should receive them this week. I have a Floris soap in it's original bowl. Love the soap, hate the room to work. The Kingsley bowls appear to be deeper. For my melted soaps, I prefer Anchor Hocking (can be picked up at Wal Mart or Target) 1 cup and 2 cup bowls. The 1 cup bowls come in packs of 4 (with lids) and the 2 cup bowls in pack of 3 (with lids). You'll spend about $6 bucks for the 1 cup bowls and about $5 bucks for the 2 cup bowls. Glycerine soaps melt nicely, and Ray's soaps contain Bentonite Clay, which aids in their melting. Hard soaps and microwaves do not mix. For more info on melting soaps...
http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2465

Randy