Grating Soap

[wolfmanxiii]

I've seen discussions on how to fit soap into your desired container. I know some prefer melting, my preferred method is grating. I've seen pictorials on this, but never a video so I decided to make one. I've posted this on the other two forums I'm a member of so I figured why not share here as well. I hope this helps out anyone who is interested. If you have questions let me know!

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1k-9kZmJrg[/YOUTUBE]

 

[WhoRu]

Dude, nice video.
I have been planning on grating some soaps (as soon as I get them).
The video is better than the pictures I have seen of the process.
Thanks!

 

[DFrancis]

Thanks for sharing, great to see people adding to the info available on the boards.

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

I didn't think you could melt a soap like Trumper's anyway... I thought that was limited to high glycerin soaps like VDH.

By the way I think it is interesting, the different sorts of people this hobby attracts. No judgement attatched, but if I met you on the street I'd never have pegged you as a traditional wet shaver. Very cool.

Thanks for the video!

 

[rvargas]

Well done. Very informative and great idea. If you want to do it even easier, freaze before as you mentioned and use a food processor with the grate attachment if you have one. It will grate a soap in in seconds. Also, I've heard that some soaps can break the rotary cheese graters.

P.s. those are cool bowls.

 

[dmachine]

Well done, sir.

 

[wolfmanxiii]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! I'm glad to help.

I didn't think you could melt a soap like Trumper's anyway... I thought that was limited to high glycerin soaps like VDH.

By the way I think it is interesting, the different sorts of people this hobby attracts. No judgement attatched, but if I met you on the street I'd never have pegged you as a traditional wet shaver. Very cool.

Thanks for the video!

As for the soap, I didn't think so either, but there are guys out there that swear you can and wouldn't have it any other way. They use the double boiler method (which is a very slow process). I however like my soaps too much to risk it, knowing my luck I'd do something wrong and ruin 'em.

It's funny you mentioned my appearance; about a month or so ago I cut all my hair off (somewhere over a foot and a half, it was down to the middle of my back) so that would have added to the confusion
Yup, I have tattoos and piercings and I'm in a local rock band, but most of my friends say I'm the oldest young guy they know. I use a straight razor, I smoke a pipe, and I love to sit back and relax with a cigar and a good single malt with a splash of water. Actually other than my band mates and a few drinking buddies, most of the guys I associate with are about twice my age if not older. It's always been that way; when I was a young kid, some of my best friends were elderly people. I don't know why, I've just always gotten along better with them.

 

[Mr. Imperial]

it back and relax with a cigar and a good single malt with a splash of water. Actually other than my band mates and a few drinking buddies, most of the guys I associate with are about twice my age if not older. It's always been that way; when I was a young kid, some of my best friends were elderly people. I don't know why, I've just always gotten along better with them.

Great video!

I feel ya. Growing up I always associated with people older than me. I think I felt that there was less "drama" the older you got. I now know that's not true, but it sure felt that way.

 

[shmeegs]

I prefer grating to melting as it doesn't damage the soap in the same way melting does. Melting wil physically change the chemical components of the soap and could change some of the qualites in the soap that we don't wanna change (smell, lather, thickness). Grating soaps won't change that. It just makes it easier to lather and often makes for a better lather.

Grating also allow for mixing of soaps. If you like particular aspect of a certain soap; such as lather ability (as will Tabac or VDH) but the smell is not right, you can add a better smelling soap or fragrence to it (Williams) and make a more personalized soap.

 

[coolbluewater]

Nice.

I've been using a cheese grater to mill MWF pucks and Speick sticks.
I started doing it after seeing someone here (I think it was Jim) grating Speick sticks in a pictorial thread. Works great

 

[knightrw111-]

I've now seen a few posts regarding mixing Williams and VdH and getting a great soap as a result. Has anyone tried mixing the Luxury VdH soap with Williams?

 

[sleekandsmooth]

doing this with any kind of soap is a great technique...it makes the soaps produce a much greater lather!

 

[wolfmanxiii]

I've now seen a few posts regarding mixing Williams and VdH and getting a great soap as a result. Has anyone tried mixing the Luxury VdH soap with Williams?

I've not tried this, but have thought about it.

doing this with any kind of soap is a great technique...it makes the soaps produce a much greater lather!

I have noticed this as well. I think it has to do with the soap no longer being packed as densely or having a perfectly smooth surface.