Thread: 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.

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.

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.