Cutting a 22.5 lb slab of soap using a slab cutter

[@ModernSoapmaking]

Great demonstration, Simi! Loaf splitters are a great intro to cutting slabs (we have a video on our Instagram using the flipped method you described), but slab cutters save so much labor! We actually did the math for our workshop and it'll save over $5k by the end of the year in labor cost because we're making one motion rather than four motions every time we cut a slab. 🤯

[@muddymintsoap]

Oooo! I love that you made that calculation! I agree that loaf splitters are the way to go at first, but we got tired of it pretty fast. Haha! So happy you are making slab cutters. :)

[@christeef6840]

You are a calm and awesome teacher Simi! Coming from a 20 year teacher that's a big compliment! 😁❤️ Thanks for such a great explanation. Can't wait to be able to afford one of these eventually!

[@muddymintsoap]

Aww, thank you! I really appreciate that!

[@EnnPeeCee]

I love your slab cutter! One day I'll get to where I will need a slab box and cutter. For now, I still am learning how to use Black seed oil in soap. I've been successful with other basic soap batches... it's just that dang black seed oil

[@muddymintsoap]

Interesting! I've never used black seed oil. What is your issue with it?

[@julianna8150]

This is a great video, thank you so much! I am currently in the market for a muli-bar loaf cutter. I know you use one that is from a company no longer in business so I'm wondering if you know of any other companies making them now, that are of similar quality? Thank you!

[@muddymintsoap]

Hi there! I like the multi bar cutters from Bud’s Woodshop on Etsy. I hope that helps and thanks for watching! 😊

[@NurturedbyNatureStudio]

I’m so glad I got my slab cutter from For Craft’s Sake, I have two tanks too and have had them for over 10 years. Thank you for sharing. I plan on making some soap this weekend, I’m going to try out some of the recipes I bought from you recently. :) Thank you for sharing! ❤

[@muddymintsoap]

I love our For Craft’s Sake cutters! Glad you have some! I have recently used the cutter from Modern Soapmaking and it was fantastic - pretty much the same as the For Craft’s Sake cutter. I also used a bar cutter from Bud’s Woodshop on Etsy recently and it was also fantastic, so luckily there are a lot of good options out there! 😊 I hope the recipes go well! Thanks! ❤️

[@storybooksoapothecary1310]

It's too bad For Crafts Sake closed up. I bought their hobby soap cutter back around 2004 and it is saw me through 5 years of my soap business and even though I just make soap for fun now, it is still going strong. It has never even broken a wire despite cutting thousands of bars of soap over the years. I always thought about getting their "tank" soap cutter, but the hobby one worked so well I figured why spend the money. You will have that splitter for many years.

[@muddymintsoap]

Totally agree! We have The Tank as well and have never lost a string on either one. Love that you have a cutter going strong since 2004! Thanks for sharing! ❤️

[@soniaresnikoff6646]

I am making your mountain man soap recipe now! 😁

[@muddymintsoap]

Wow! That was fast! I hope it goes well! 😊

[@AmericanManufactury]

Where did you get the slab molds? I've found a couple options, but haven't seen those anywhere :)

[@muddymintsoap]

Hi! We made these ourselves. 😊

[@CajunMedTrans]

How do I go about ordering some soap?

[@muddymintsoap]

Hi there! We are currently only doing two soap releases a year, as we've mostly shut down our soapmaking to make more time for education, as well as time for family and friends. We did a soap release on July 3rd and our next one will be on November 15th. Make sure to set a calendar reminder, as the soap sells out extremely fast. Last time it was all gone within 10 minutes. Our releases are typically at 9am mountain time. Thanks!

[@jillhayes6704]

Great video, thank you! Can you do a video on how you tracked inventory and COGS? Soapmaker3, inventora, or something else? I love your down to earth teaching style!

[@muddymintsoap]

Yes! We’ve been meaning to do this. We used Soapmaker 3 and a spreadsheet and it worked great for our business size. Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@tassiegirl1991]

Simi please excuse a non related ? But if you have time, the jugs for 50:50 lye solution you use have just arrived and I can’t get the tops off. Any tips on how you managed to get them off on first use. Looking at reviews many have same problem Thanks Simi

[@muddymintsoap]

Oh no! I haven’t had that issue. Are you saying the tops don’t screw off or the spout lid won’t open?

[@ctatro518]

Love watching your videos.I hope you have more! Do you use regular Olive oil or EVOO?

[@muddymintsoap]

Hi and thank you! We use refined olive oil for our soaps, but you can use any kind! Extra virgin is more of a greenish oil, so it may affect the final color of your bars, but it’s not a huge difference.

[@ctatro518]

Where do you get your butters? I have your book and I'm a little confused when it comes to mango, shea and cocoa butters. There are so many types lol. I went to Soaper's Choice but not sure which ones to buy. Thank you!

[@muddymintsoap]

Hi! We get our butters from Bulk Apothecary or Soaper's Choice. We use refined shea and unrefined (prime pressed) cocoa butter. We often get organic cocoa butter, as the price difference isn't much. The reason we use refined shea is to get a whiter bar and to avoid the scent of unrefined, since we use shea in products other than soap. I hope this helps!

[@ctatro518]

@@muddymintsoap Thank you.This helps so much!

[@JBeckert]

Simi - I love your green apron. where did you get it?!

[@muddymintsoap]

Thank you! Cathy, one of our employees, made us all aprons for Christmas a couple years ago. They were all so cute! I hardly ever wear it because I don’t want to ruin it, which is silly.

[@angelsandfaes]

Slab cutter is great, mountain man soap looks great. I was really hoping to get to see the honey soap in the thumbnail 😢

[@muddymintsoap]

Oh, I know... a little misleading perhaps. I had such a hard time with this thumbnail for some reason! This is what I ended up going with. The soap in the photo is our Honey Lemon soap. :)

[@angelsandfaes]

@@muddymintsoap no worries. I just got excited. Lol. I bet it smell devine.

[@ExtraterrestrialGirlNL]

I thought you quit? 😳

[@muddymintsoap]

Haha! We stopped making soap most of the time, yes, but we’re still making soap for KZbin videos and education purposes. We’ve decided to do two soap releases a year, just for our online customers. We did close down and move out of our space and we no longer have any employees. We don’t do wholesale anymore, which was the bulk of our business. We used to make 50,000 bars per year and so far this year we’ve made 400, so it’s a big change! 😊

[@ExtraterrestrialGirlNL]

@@muddymintsoap that actually makes me happy! I was sad the KZbin channel would end as well. Great to see you “back” 😊

[@muddymintsoap]

Nope! This gives us more time for our KZbin channel! Woohoo!!

[@janetaleman8592]

You talk to people as if they were all idiots. Please stop.

[@muddymintsoap]

Wow, really? I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm just trying to explain everything clearly and to the best of my ability. You are welcome to watch another channel if my style of teaching doesn't work for you.