I'm stuck on the math!!! Help!

[Ives]

I got my supplies months ago and am ashamed to say I still haven't made my shampoo bars! I finally calculated the volume and amount of oils my mold holds. It's 53 oz/1502g (it's a silicone bread mold). It sounds like a lot, could that be right?

Also, does that volume calculation (l x w x h x.4) take into account the water and lye? Or will my mold be overflowing?

And, if I cut the bars and they seem to big or high, I can cut them in half or whatever shape or size I want, right? They're just for washing my hair (or giving away or using as soap if I don't like it for my hair!).

 

[carebear]

it only takes into account oils. and that's 3.5# which seems a lot for a bread pan. but I don't know for sure. I'd think closer to 2# oils, but it's just a guess!

what are the dimensions of the pan?

and remember, you needn't fill it to the brim! measure how HIGH you want the bars to be!

 

[Ives]

The dimensions are written on the bread mold and are 9.25x5.25x2.75 inches. Do you think I did the math wrong? Also, I could figure out which one is the height and then figure out what I want the height to be and put that in instead.

 

[Jerry S]

figuring soap for a loaf molc

Ives…..
Your loaf mold is 9.25x5.25x2.75 inches. Length x Width x Height = 133.54 cu. inches.
Take 133.54 cu. inches times 40% (133.54 x .40) …that equals 53.42 Total ounces of oil for you soap. SoapCalc uses 38% water as a % of oils. YES…this takes into account the total amount of lye water (lye + water) that you will add to make your soap.

From here just figure the amount of each oil your going to use in % of each which will total 53.42 total ounces (use SoapCalc). When your finished mixing your soap there should be enough to fill your loaf mold. (using the 38% water as a % of oils that SoapCalc. Suggests).
If you use less water then you will be a little shy on filling the loaf mold fully. If you use more water, you may have a little more than the mold holds. I wouldn’t recommend doing that because of shrinkage, but since your going to use these just for shampoo bars I guess it wouldn’t matter. You can cut your bars any thickness you want for handling convenience after your ready to un-mold.
I hope I haven’t confused you…
Jerry S

 

[Jerry S]

figuring soap for a loaf molc

............and that I haven't made a mistake in my above calc's.
jer

 

[carebear]

LxWxHx0.4 I'd ounces of OILS only.

 

[see]

check out these spreadsheets. lots of goodies, like volumes.


http://www.millersoap.com/worksheet.html