Ok for those that may have read other posts I have recently posted I have purchased a bunch of shaving stuff off of WCS including tins for my soaps that came either in a plastic holder or in cellophane etc. the question is this specifically and I ask this after the fact as I already have done it and it seemed to work just fine but I wanted to get other B&B users input. ironic as it may be one of my favorite soaps is VDH deluxe and it comes in a plastic holder so to speak but I hated lathering from it so I put it in one of my new tins. Unfortunately it was way to small compared to the size of the tin so it just sloshed around the tin. In reading other posts I read about the grate method. DO not do this with VDH deluxe all it did was make a mess. So I had a idea as I know glycerin has a low melt point. I put the puck in a small microwave safe bowl and it literally melted at 700 watts in about 10 seconds actually less that's just when I caught it. My question is this was it ok that I melted it in that fashion ? did it change the composition etc. ? is there a better way or is this pretty much a accepted way to melt and refit into a different container ? thanks for any input. I already ordered 2 more pucks just in case. FWIW it looks great in it's new tin and if this method is ok I will melt another puck into the tin to fill it up a bit more. thanks !!!
melting glycerin soaps in the microwave
- Thread starter Aschecte
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I haven't used VDH, but I've melted Mama Bear's and Ogallala soaps in the microwave and they seemed to work just the same as when I tried them before melting. If you don't want to use a microwave, some people use a double boiler to melt soaps.
I microwaved a VDH Luxury last night into a glass Anchor Hocking container and as long as you just do it in 10 second intervals and let it rest a few seconds in between you should be great.
I melt all of my meltable soaps in the microwave to get them to fit the container right. I've never had a problem afterward. Just give them time to cool and solidify again.
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- #5
excellent that makes me feel much better !!! So in that case when the other VDH arrives I will microwave and pour on top of the VDH I already melted into the tin to top it up. I also ordered both Mama bear English leather and Ogallala Bay Rum and Sage and cedar but those pucks are both 4.5 and 5 oz. pucks opposed to the VDH which are only 2.5 oz. pucks so the others will probably fit out the gate. thanks for all the input !!
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- #6
On another note is it just me or is VDH just really great soap ? I'd put it up against DR Harris or TOBS any day as far as results ... why do I feel it has a stigma attached to it as it is sold at rite aid tc. or is this just me ?
Glycerin soaps are fine as long as you don't "cook" them in the microwave for long period of time. Short 10 seconds shots are fine. If the soap is something else than glycerin (triple milled, tallow), you need to grate it otherwise it will burn in a microwave.
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- #8
yeah that's where I made my mistake. I watched a video on youtube about grating a puck they never mentioned the fact that not all soaps are best grated. I cant believe what I saw when I tried to grate the VDH it was just like goop everywhere !!! I was pissed I thought I ruined my soap so, I collected my goop and put it in a microwave safe glass bowl and had no idea of the 10 second rule so I put it on for a minute luckily I was there and saw it start to melt at about 10 seconds so I quickly stopped it and the stuff was HOT !!! poured it into my 5 oz. tin and it looks great !! only one thing I need to melt a second puck to fill the tin but that is happening later today so I will have a full tin of one of my favorite soaps !!!
It's a really good soap, great for shaving.
Some people talk about soap like its fine wine. It's not.
I melted two pucks of VDH Deluxe into an empty Mama Bear container. I like that soap too.
I don't think I would go that far. D.R. Harris is top tier. VDH is a good soap, especially for the price.
Inspired by this thread, I just put my ramekin of Provence Sante in the microwave. I wanted it to fit a bit better than it did. Three turns of 10 seconds each did the trick!
Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for the tips.
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- #14
No I agree they are two different soaps but as far as moisturizing building a stable lather and over all efficacy of VDH I would compare it to DRH ..... but your right we are talking apple and oranges VDH is glycerin based and DRH is tallow IMHO I think they are both great I just find VDH a but easier to lather. I haven't fully decided yet but I may be a glycerin guy.
If I get a block of hard soap that I want to mold into a tin, I put it in the tin and place it on a coffee mug warmer. It won't fry it but it'll get it a bit warmer and softer so I can mold it a bit. Has worked well in the couple of occasions I've tried it and hasn't killed the soap. It'd be like leaving it in a car with the windows up in the middle of July.
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- #16
That's a great idea too !! reminds me of those oil wax things my wife melts to make the house smell nice . Kind of the same principle, maybe even gentler on the soap itself. thanks for that tip one question does this only apply to glycerin based soaps or will this also work with ie. truefitt and hill , DRH, or MWF ? tallow and lanolin based soaps ?
ive used it with a sample of mikes and a sample of klar Kabinett. So I'm guessing tallow or veggie soaps are fine. With glycerin (mama bears) I give them the 10 second nuke treatment and it's done. FYI, I actually use my wife's candle warmers now. Leave it on there for about five minutes after the plate gets hot. Should be very pliable
In the case of VDH the soap will melt more completely and faster if you cut it into little chunks first. If you use a microwave make sure to keep a close eye on it, I melted two pucks into a container and it only took 17 seconds in my 1100 watt microwave. A double boiler would likely only take a minute or two once the water in the lower pan heats up. Of course soaps that aren't melt and pour can only be softened in a double boiler.
I don't like melting. To me it just seems like it changes the soap and kills the scent. I've done it to some glycerin sticks before only to wind up tossing them. I'm currently working my way through samples of SRD soaps. One I microwaved into a bowl and one I mashed with a hammer and pressed it into the bowl. The one I flattened and pressed had more scent and lasted more shaves than the one I microwaved. Granted the fact that they were different samples and scents may have been the real reason, but from here on out I'll be mashing or grating mine.
I've microwaved VDH Deluxe with no problems. However, one time, I wanted to mix it with another soap, and by all accounts, that soap did not like being microwaved. The easy solution would be to grate them both. I understand your comment about how messy VDH can be if you try to grate it (the shavings are very sticky and gooey). Here's a little trick: put it in the freezer over night. Grating the frozen puck is easy as can be.
