PVC Pipe Soap Experiment, Part 2

August 19, 2011 by | 20 Comments

You will want to read Part 1 before continuing to read Part 2…

Yesterday, I was all set to embed the smaller logs into a 3″ pipe. I had ordered a teflon liner from Soapequipment.com when I ordered my new soap cutter. At the last minute, I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some glycerin soap to glue the embeds in the bottom of the pipe:

Yes, that says $6.99. My first melt-and-pour purchase!
Yes, that says $6.99. My first melt-and-pour purchase!

Prep work: I put a small rubber band around the bottom of the 7 small logs so they would stay in the shape of a flower. Doubled over a piece of plastic wrap for the bottom of the 3″ pipe, and slid a cap over it. Then I melted some of the glycerin soap and poured it in the bottom of the pipe. Stuck the 7 small logs into the glycerin and then said, “Huh.”

View from the top of the pipe
View from the top of the pipe

Not only was the rubberband around the bottom of the soap logs stuck in the bottom of the pipe, there was absolutely no way my hands could gather up the logs at the top. I had told hubby to cut this pipe to the same length as the teflon liner, not remembering when I originally planned this out (too many sleeps ago!) how the smaller logs needed to be longer than the 3″ pipe.

So I called Hubby, who was on a job site installing new windows and had his saw with him. My oils and lye water were ready to go for this soap, AND the girls would be home from school in about 30 minutes! I had no choice but to get directions and drive over there so he could cut it for me. I pulled out the 7 smaller logs (turns out they weren’t stuck very far into the glycerin soap since it was too cool when I poured it), removed the glycerin soap out of the bottom of the pipe, and was able to get the pipe cut and drive home in under 30 minutes – whew! (However, this soap is getting more expensive by the minute!)

When I got home, I also had the brilliant idea to attach some strings to the rubber band at the bottom of the smaller logs so I could pull it out once they were set in the glycerin.

Like my gold strings? It was all I could find in a pinch.
Like my gold strings? It was all I could find in a pinch.
Embeds are setting up in the glycerin soap
Embeds are setting up in the glycerin soap

You can see the strings hanging out – this actually worked very well! The rubber band came right out when I pulled on the strings. I had to leave the top of the bundle open so that the soap would pour in between each log.

Pink soap poured, tops are banded together
Pink soap poured, tops are banded together

This is how it looked when I put it to bed. Gorgeous. The cherry blossom fragrance is a little bit light, but very appealing. I mixed two parts bubblegum pink mica with one part ruby rose mica for the color and thought it turned out exactly right. Then I turned around and noticed this was still on the table:

This would be the teflon liner...
This would be the teflon liner…

Great. Now how am I going to get the soap out of the pipe? Check out how I did it here.

Posted in:
Tags:

Page with Comments

  3. Oh shoot … last time I soaped in a PVC mould I did that too! The freezer will work, or just wait a few extra days to push it out 🙂

  4. Uh Oh! Hopefully freezing your pvc will allow your soap to pull away from the side and pop loose. Yikes! So pretty though and what a plan had there. I’m glad to know I am not the only one these things happen to my dear.

  6. Amy,

    Oh dear maybe you can freeze this once it’s ready and hopefully it will come out. It looks so pretty.

    Michelle

  9. I so hope that comes out for you! Can’t wait to see them when they’re done. I’m having the same kind of night soap here too *le sigh*

  12. I run a little boiling (or very hot) water down over the outside of the frozen PVC pipe and usually my soap just pops right on out. Good luck! Looking forward to your next lot of photos of this soap!

  13. Oh my lord, it’s like reading a thriller! What a huge amount of effort for this soap … and the liner, oh my god! I’m DYING to see how this turns out!!!

  14. Boy…you can tell you love this kind of stuff! I bet it will turn out great after the visit in the freezer. Thanks for sharing.

  15. I have bad news, everyone. I’ve tried all the suggestions, and the soap is stubborn and refuses to leave the pipe. I’m waiting on hubby’s solution next. He needs to sleep first though. Will keep you posted!!!

  16. Amy,if mine are stubborn and they almost always are. I freeze them for several hours until I see they are pulling away-then take it out and let it sit until it starts to sweat quite a bit-then the husband is able to slide it out with a mighty push.See if that works. Don’t give up girl-all that work.

  18. Oh Amy!!!! talk about exciting! I so hope the sweating works for you. I really thought the hot water on the outside while being cold inside would have worked, isn’t that what they do when you put 1 glass inside another and they get stuck? or is it the other way around?? sorry, not much help:( don’t give up, I’m sure you or your hubby will think of something.

Comments are closed.