Soap Pucks and Bowls

[john parker]

Just as background, some time ago a kind soul PIFed me a C&E refill sized puck of almond soap. Because of my brushes I used it only once - until this morning when I tried it again with a new soap brush. And I am tempted now to get more soaps.

But I have questions on soap pucks and bowls. Some soaps (TOBS, GFT, etc.) can be purchased in wooden bowls or as refills only. Some vendors offer wood bowls, aluminum bowls and glass bowls without soap. Is there a standard size to pucks and bowls (both those with bowls and refills) such that any puck will fit in any bowl? Or are there different sizes? I bought some multi-purpose Corning bowls for the C&E puck I have, but it doesn't fit very perfectly.

Would like the puck to fit well, so that the puck doesn't spin and water does not build up underneath. Or am I over-engineering the situation?

 

[Schwert]

Way overengineering.

Trim a soap if needed to fit, or grate it and press into any container.

 

[kg4ghn]

http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23892

 

[john parker]

Just trimming is okay? What is the point of grinding the entire puck up? Is that better? Thanks

 

[Greybeard]

Just trimming is okay? What is the point of grinding the entire puck up? Is that better? Thanks

Trimming is fine. Wet the trimmed puck and press the shavings into the top.

As far as milling goes, it's usually done just to get the puck to fit the container. There have been a couple of posts claiming that it hydrates the soap better. I've only done it once to fit a couple of shave sticks into a ramekin so I have no first hand experience.

 

[kg4ghn]

No need to mill the entire puck, I usually do to make it nice and even when I put it in my bowls.

At the end of the day it is just soap so whatever works best for you.

 

[PatrickNewing]

My MWF isnt anywhere near a good fit for its own ceramic bowl but has welded itself to the bottom so not a problem.

Surprising how bad the fit is though.

 

[The Last Chimney]

Melting is a great way to fit soap into any container. It's also a good way to add some glycerin or EO's, and you end up with a nice smooth surface, too!

If you double-boil it, you don't run the risk of scorching. I put the soap in a Pyrex glass measuring cup, and just set the cup inside a pot of boiling water. Watch it, stir it, glyc/oil to taste, and pour!

Just DON'T MELT A TALLOW SOAP! It can ruin your soap if you do it wrong.

 

[masonjarjar]

I bought some multi-purpose Corning bowls for the C&E puck I have, but it doesn't fit very perfectly.

Here's what I did, and one day I'll post a picture.

I took a glass bowl with a flat bottom (it's a cheap glass bowl you'd use to warm things up in, and not really deep, maybe 2 or 3 inches at most).. Then I flipped the C&E puck flatside down. Then I applied a TINY amount of heat to the bottom of the bowl via my gas stovetop. I let the soap get a little warm so that it slightly melted, then I removed the heat, and sort of pressed down, turning the puck slightly side to side until I felt it sticking. Then I let it cool. The puck hasn't let go of that glass bowl since, and I fill it with hot water every time I use it.

Works great for me. I'm sure one day I'll get to the bottom and will do the same with the next puck. But C&E goes so slow it could be another year or two with my rotation.

The bowl is deep enough that I can lather on the puck, or I have the option of loading the brush and lathering in another bowl.

 

[john parker]

Great info, all! Appreciate the help!

 

[DESkydiver]

…I have questions on soap pucks and bowls. Some soaps (TOBS, GFT, etc.) can be purchased in wooden bowls or as refills only. Some vendors offer wood bowls, aluminum bowls and glass bowls without soap. Is there a standard size to pucks and bowls (both those with bowls and refills) such that any puck will fit in any bowl? Or are there different sizes? I bought some multi-purpose Corning bowls for the C&E puck I have, but it doesn't fit very perfectly.

Just trimming is okay? What is the point of grinding the entire puck up? Is that better? Thanks

I have purchased soaps with the wooden bowl and just as a refill. The wooden bowl are ‘nice’, but have a tendency to become warped over time. I really like the aluminum twist top tins/cans for placing soap into as well as for storage and travel.

If the soap does not fit, in that it is too large for the container, I will trim the edges until it fits the container I am using, moisten the soap and add/attach the shavings to the rest of the soap. Sometimes I may get a small slice of soap on my brush, so I just put it back on the soap.

My MWF isnt anywhere near a good fit for its own ceramic bowl but has welded itself to the bottom so not a problem.

Surprising how bad the fit is though.

I agree that the puck of MWF is a much smaller diameter than the ceramic dish for it. I have heard that over time it will expand and push itself to the edges as it is used, but have not experienced that. I was too impatient and I milled the entire puck into its ceramic dish. Milling the whole puck and pushing it all into place almost filled the dish entirely. I am still working on it and have started to experience the expansion, in that the soap is rising / growing in the container so much I can barely fit the lid!