Refilling a shave stick

[woosorio]

Just came across Jim's informative thread on how to mill and repack soap into bowls (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23892&highlight=melting+soap&page=7) and a few members who posted in that thread commented on doing so with a shave stick. I've heard the traditional method of refilling a shave stick with a glycerin based soap is to melt it but I've also read that it can affect the strength of the fragrance.

Can anyone with experience in either method comment? My intuition is that melting the soap would produce a more uniform, stable result but I certainly don't want to affect the smell of the soap. I guess I'm just doubtful that the soap would remain in one cohesive piece once you start cranking it up if you were to use the milling method.

Advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[kingfisher]

I don't see the problem with milling. You cut the soap into pieces and then you put them back together again. It's soap. It goes back together nicely.

I think some soaps actually get BETTER after being milled and put back together.

 

[woosorio]

I don't see the problem with milling. You cut the soap into pieces and then you put them back together again. It's soap. It goes back together nicely.

I think some soaps actually get BETTER after being milled and put back together.

I think the problem I'm envisioning is that with the smaller surface area afforded by the shave stick (as compared to a bowl) that it would be difficult to sufficiently pack the soap into a solid piece and, moreover, that water (which people have suggested using while repacking the soap) wouldn't trickle down to the base of the shave stick.

 

[BROWNS]

I'd think that instead of filling the entire tube with grated soap then putting water on top, it would be a better idea to fill the tube in portions. Fill the tube 1/3 of the way with grated soap, wet the surface to bond it together, and use a skinny flat surface (I used a pencil eraser) to push the soap flat. Continue the process in portions until your stick is filled.

Or if it's glycerin and you do a melt-and-pour, I haven't experienced any significant or noticeable scent loss. Heat the soap in 10 second intervals, dump into your empty tube, and leave it in the fridge overnight to re-solidify.

 

[woosorio]

I'd think that instead of filling the entire tube with grated soap then putting water on top, it would be a better idea to fill the tube in portions. Fill the tube 1/3 of the way with grated soap, wet the surface to bond it together, and use a skinny flat surface (I used a pencil eraser) to push the soap flat. Continue the process in portions until your stick is filled.

Or if it's glycerin and you do a melt-and-pour, I haven't experienced any significant or noticeable scent loss. Heat the soap in 10 second intervals, dump into your empty tube, and leave it in the fridge overnight to re-solidify.

Outstanding point.