Using handmade soap is a concern for the health of loved ones: the cosmetic product does not contain harmful chemical impurities and ingredients of unknown origin. You can buy such a product at the needlework exhibition, in the online store or weld yourself.
Soap “from scratch” contains alkalis, work with which requires accuracy, accurate calculations and safety precautions, but the advantage of the product is that it does not contain sulfates. To make soap at home from a ready-made base, dyes and flavors is an occupation that even a child can cope with. In shops for needlework, where there is everything to create a beautiful and practical gift, you can buy ingredients or various sets.
How to make soap a source of income
Soap making can turn from a hobby into a truly profitable business if you add something unusual to the manufacture of this cosmetic product. Such a highlight will be the original form, a special smell and additional coloring of the finished product with special paints.
Ordinary cubes of a classical form do not surprise anyone. But the figures in the form of animals, fruits and various objects, in which it is difficult to recognize the usual skin cleanser, attract admiring glances and cause a desire to buy an interesting thing. To make such figurines, you will need special silicone molds for soap. They can be purchased at the store or made independently.
Pros and cons of using silicone molds
Silicone is convenient in that it is much easier and faster to get the finished product out of it, and molds take up less space than plastic containers. Plastic sometimes has to be heated under running hot water, which adversely affects the shape of the soapy figure. Wet and twisted cosmetic product loses its attractiveness.
Cheap silicone soap molds are not easy to find in creative stores, but even the most ordinary ones will cost three times more than plastic ones. As an alternative, soap makers can purchase standard molds for ice or baking, if they do not plan to create something unusual.
DIY soap mold
Interesting figurines are obtained using 3d silicone molds for soap, which allow you to create detailed figures of different sizes. Their only drawback is the very high cost. Not every master is willing to spend a large amount on such a device. It is much more profitable to learn how to make silicone molds for 3D soap yourself, using various materials.
You will need a special super soft silicone two-component compound with high fluidity, designed for casting. It consists of a base and a hardener. An optional component is a dye for silicones, which will help to evenly mix the mixture. The master model by which the silicone mold for soap will be made must be dry and clean.
Additional materials
Of the equipment you will need electronic scales - accurate, and ordinary kitchen. You should make sure in advance that their readings match. To mix the components, it is convenient to use a large disposable glass, measuring container or a mug with a handle.
Plastic containers are not very suitable for creating a silicone mold for soap, because they are wrinkled. In them it is better to mix small portions of silicone, weighing up to 100 g, using small plastic knives with cropped edges.
The liquid stick should be rigid and flat. You can make such a tool yourself from a simple ruler with rounded edges. To mix the dye, stock up on a long and thin wooden stick. The catalyst can be recruited using a conventional Pasteur pipette.
To fill the silicone mold for soap, you need a hard surface, for example, a thick cardboard and several sheets of thick paper. They form the walls of the formwork. Paper napkins or towels are more convenient to use in a roll, they will need a lot. Fix the model on a cardboard basis with a glue gun.
Ingredient preparation
The mixing components must be kept at room temperature for several hours. Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully. A silicone mold for soap can be ruined by stagnant material, so before working it must be kneaded for several minutes, slowly turning the container over. When using dye, it is better to stir it with a wooden stick so that the pigment does not settle on the bottom.
Creating a silicone mold
The manufacture of silicone mold consists of the following steps:
- We glue the model to the base with a glue gun.
- We make the formwork for pouring using cardboard or thick paper: leave a gap between the model and the walls of 5-10 mm, depending on the size of the model, and glue it to the base, then connect the edges.
- We pour the main component into a separate container, measuring the right amount, according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Add some dye.
- Zeroing the scales, measure the catalyst and connect it to the base.
- For a minute, thoroughly mix the mixture until smooth.
- Evenly fill the silicone into the mold and wait for it to completely harden.
A simple model can be removed a few hours after pouring, separating the form from the base with a sharp knife. Then the formwork should be disassembled. Complex models are best removed after a day. It remains to carefully trim the edges - and the form is ready. Now you can start making unusual soap as a gift or for sale.