Melting soaps to fit mugs

I've been out of the proper shaving game for about a year now in favor of the fast and cheap alternative, but I'm looking to get back into it now. I'm picking up a few different types of cheaper soaps (Williams, VDH, Col. Conk, etc.) to practice making lather and see what kind I might like for a go-to, but they don't really fit the mugs I have. I know that a lot of guys melt their soaps down to fit other containers, so I was wondering about the rules of melting soaps down. Can certain kinds not be melted without negative effects, are there certain ways I can/can't melt them, or other questions I've forgotten to ask.

Milled soaps don't melt
Glycerin soaps do

Exception: Now before I go farther, and some "soap guy" tells me that Milled soaps can be melted in, to this date not one has ever posted a vid or even a illustrated guide on how it can be done, without wrecking the soap.. So if you say it, prove it, and we will all be enlightened... I use a knife or a grater to shred them and press them into containers...

I use the double boiler method for Glycerin soaps as it is more gentle to the soap, I put the soap in the container I am going to use, then put that in water on a low boil, as soon as the soap melts in even, I take it out, many times the center of the puck doesn't even need to melt.. Glycerin soaps melt at about 150° so it is pretty low heat... I was advised many years back on here, that the Microwave method can burn off some of the EO's and FO's so I stopped using it...

Cheese grater, then thumbs. Press soap down, smooth with water. Done.

Awesome, thanks guys, that'll make things a bit easier for me. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jdto

Cheese grater, then thumbs. Press soap down, smooth with water. Done.

---

+1

I learned (the Hard Way) that heat very quickly becomes excessive, and in a flash you've lost the EO/FO's aromatic qualities. As the man said, "grate it, press it, water it" (to which I'll add, "lather, rinse, repeat... for three passes").

This is great. I've been meaning to ask about all this. Thanks.

I suppose I'm fortunate to have two mugs that fit the smaller soap pucks and the bigger sized ones nicely.

I just soak them as I shower, shake my brush dry and go for it.
Great lathers, great shaves.
The only time the puck wants to drop out is early on... after a few shaves it just stays there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jdto

Cheese grater, then thumbs. Press soap down, smooth with water. Done.

---

Right on! Melting soaps is really not the best solution. The grater is the way to go. I grate the shreds into the container, place shaped soap into the container on top of shreds, add hot water, let sit a few minutes, drain, and then press hard with thumbs into the bottom of the container. No need to throw away the shreds when they can be used to fill in the bottom for an even tighter fit.

For my glycerin soaps, I'll add some bentonite for glide (not a lot, it will tend to dry your skin for you use to much), some vitamin E, olive oil and some EO for smell. Heat glycerin to 150,let cool to 120 (which happens quickly), add extras and pour into containers. If it lumps up, it can go back onto the double boiler until it softens again, don't turn the heat back on.

For uber lather, I'll add a drop or two of glycerin and a dab of commercial shaving soap into my bowl. Start a lather in the homemade and transfer to the bowl for extra lathering.

It has been said but I always just grate the soap like cheese on my grater into the container, drop a little water and mash it.

You know, maybe that food processor is not just good for chopping up food. Hmm, I wonder how I slip this by swmbo.

(hangs head and feels stupid)

I always melted my soap, it takes 10-15 seconds tops...but only recently learned that you must stir some soaps lest they separate and your results evolve as you use the separated layer cake left behind.

Grating and pressing is so stupid-simple...how did I never think of doing that before? (slaps forehead).

A stick blender works well. And since your making soap, it's real easy to clean. Put it in the sink and turn it on.

Knife, shape to fit, press the shavings back into the bowl/mug. I don't like to mess around with grating.

I once softened an Arko stick in the microwave oven to fit a tub with a screw cover. It turned soft and flakey, performance did not suffer. I guess au bain marie might be a better way.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kees

I once softened an Arko stick in the microwave oven to fit a tub with a screw cover. It turned soft and flakey, performance did not suffer. I guess au bain marie might be a better way.

---

Waste of microwaves, Arko is so soft you could have just pressed the soap into your tub with your fingers... :)

[QUOTE=unit;1014604stupid-simple... (slaps forehead).[/QUOTE]

You almost got it right.. There is an old acronym for situations like these. I don't know if this acronym is exclusive to the military because I have yet to hear civilians use it.

KISS
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

No head bowing nor forehead slapping required. :)

The amount of knowledge to be gained here is mind-numbing! If only I had actually spent time here before making any purchases when I started my adventure into the world of wet shaving; I would have made much wiser and therefore more cost-effective purchases preventing tossing some of my purchases directly into the trash can once I realized I had pissed my money away.
Now that I have been an active READING RESEARCHING member of the site I no longer spend hours searching the web trying to think of proper phrasing for google searches to find information on different topics relating to our shared avocation. Today is a perfect exampl; after reading the article on making Redneck shaving Soap I was curious as to whether or not store bought soaps could be melted to fill or better fit a mug. I was sitting here pondering the proper wording for yet another google search when I reminded myself of one of those military leadership traits; make use of available systems or as one of my grand kids my have said to me DAH paw paw use what you've got. So I clicked on Forums, looked under Soaps and Creams and there staring me in the MUG was "Melting saops to fit mugs." Exactly what I was looking for and the information was more than helpful.
Whenever I do have the privilege of turning someone on to this "thing of ours," to borrow the Holloywood mafia's phrase, I stress to them they NEED, no MUST come to this site for information/education and if they prefer str8 razors over DEs then I also HIGHLY recommend the WoSRS by Lynn Abrams. I am probably beginning to sound like Mr Abram's pimp because I have written this paragraph under at least 2 or 3 other threads. :) Forgive me, but if my rewriting a bit of information in several threads will help a Newcomer who happens upon my post to then it has been worth it to irritate my carpul tunnel. :boohoo:

I would love to get even half of my 6 brothers to become wet shavers, if for nothing else than to give us something new to talk about other than Harleys, Ford pickups, Deer Hunting, stupid driver trying reduce the number of motorcyle riders in the United States.
Yes I know, I have been babblin.......... again!
I'm outta here.
Ga Day Mate
Happy Shaving Everyone