Making a Soap Cutter Slicer from Scratch - Hoping it will work for Melt & Pour MP Soaps - DIY Soap

I make both cold process and melt & pour soaps - so I have lots of various tools and cutters depending on my finished product. One thing I have been wanting for a long time is a wire cutter/slicer for the MP designs that are made using loaf molds. I love the designs of these and how you can get the really cool images on the inside. What I don't love is the cutting. I can get great straight cuts with my multi-bar cutter for CP or my single one, but these cannot be used for MP. MP is WAY harder to cut than fairly fresh CP or HP. And the cutters made for CP will not work for MP. So, I've been sticking to using a knife or crinkle cutter; however, I can never get uniform bars. Some are thin, some are thick, and some are lopsided. I've tried lots of things!
Since we are in the process of building our home, we have a lot of extra scraps laying around plus easy access to our tools. I made this right before Valentine's Day because I had a special soap that I had made that I wanted to get cut to take to two consignment stores. (I'm currently making soap at our office for the time being). Since I had done this during the build, there's obviously now landscaping, drywall, siding, etc!! (Check out our sister channel The 5th Journey Off-Grid)
I made this over the course of two weekends since I did have to get a few bolts. All in all, I spent around $10 for the bolts and the guitar wire tuners ordered online. In the end, if you have the equipment to try it out - Do it! See what I did and design from there. However, if you do not have the equipment, it would be far cheaper and easier to buy one specifically made for MP.
I do want to make a very important note about using wire cutters for MP. I did not know this prior to going down this road. Wire cutters do not leave a smooth finish like cutting with a knife gives you. I noticed this when I was attempting to cut the heart soaps (as mentioned and shown in the video). I also reached out to a few fellow soap makers who do have the more expensive cutters, and they confirmed that they DO NOT get a smooth cut. So they have changed their designs accordingly. So if you are wanting this for designs to see the embeds, this type of cutter will not work. I almost feel like it gives a similar slightly bumpy look to them like a salt bar soap would. Also, I was told by the other soapers that the wire in the purchased one has to be replaced about every 100 bars or so.
I hope you have luck with whichever option you choose!

[@dineshbhardwaj195]

Soap is very beautiful

[@The5thJourney]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@datbat1]

If you can build this, you can build a guillotine-style MP cutter like an Uncle Andy's. You just need to abandon the wire. Honestly, I think a purpose-made MP cutter would be easier to build than this much more complicated wire cutter. Give it a try. You're innovative, resourceful, and determined. You've got this!

[@The5thJourney]

Actually, thank you for commenting about that! I made this 4 years ago and it is still sitting there in a cabinet. I still use the box part for MP but just with a knife again (still hate doing it that way, but gives the cleanest cut). I was just looking at the uncle Andy's a month or so ago on a destash group and was thinking of maybe setting aside some money this year for one. Thank you SO much for the suggestion because I could totally do that!

[@samanthanicholson9015]

Some wire cutters can't cut melt and pour, I heard 22 guage wire works. Thanks for the video and nice looking soap

[@The5thJourney]

This coming winter, I may take a look at it again. I don't remember which gauge of wire I used, but I tried two different ones. I'll make sure to check on that 22 gauge (it is in storage at the moment). Sometimes, you just have to set projects like that aside and come back to later! lol

[@Elizabur]

Hi, Can you make me one and buy it?

[@The5thJourney]

Hello! I am not set up to make them for others at this time - still tweaks to do! However, if you are in the US, check out Bud Hafner on etsy. He makes them for both MP and CP.