Need tips for horizontal cut

[Aunt Polly]

Does anyone have any helpful tips on how to cut a 2 lb soap log straight in a horizontal fashion? I want to show the secret swirl in each bar.


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[kazmi]

I was thinking the same thing yesterday because I want to try the mantra swirl. Since my cutter from Bud and my miter box cutter won't work cutting horizontally I was thinking that I will have to use a knife. That's got me worried cuz with my hand cutting, it won't be pretty :crazy: I hope we get some tips.

 

[Aunt Polly]

I tried the knife.....not a good method for me, either. I am so afraid of messing up the whole log. Seems like there should be a cutter for this.


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[paillo]

After years of soaping, I still can't manage even consistent vertical cuts! :razz: Will be so grateful for any suggestions on consistency in cutting, any way up or down!

 

[JennH]

Just spit balling here...but I wonder if a hacksaw would work? The blades all have teeth, but I wonder if you could get one fine enough not to show on the loaf???

 

[Kansas Farm Girl]

DH made me a cutter that has a slice at one end at 1" and the other end at 1.25". I place the loaf in the cutter, butt it up against the end block and use a cutter or knife down through the slots he cut. Perfect cut every time. I'll try to post a pix of it but don't have one at this moment. I'm getting ready to go out and work on a batch so will see if I can get a decent pix of it

 

[Aunt Polly]

Kansas Farm Girl, is that a horizontal cut?


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[Obsidian]

Could you put something in the loaf mold to raise the loaf up to the height you want then use the top of the mold as a guide? You'd still have to use a knife but at least you would have a guide

 

[robtr31]

wire cheese cutter may work , I lay mine on the side my are flat tops

 

[Aunt Polly]

That's something to think about.


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[AngelMomma]

I haven't done this. But I have seen 3 or 4 cutting videos on youtube. The cutters were wire cheese cutters. They cut a piece off the end, then cut that piece horizontally. I don't know if that makes sense or not! But it looked pretty easy for them. And cutting a smaller piece in half horizontally seems easier than cutting the whole loaf in half all at one time.

 

[savonierre]

It is pretty easy to make a wire cutter to do that. I made mine similar to this one, just measuring my soap to get the wire at the right height.

http://jenorasoaps.blogspot.ca/2011/07/soap-log-splitter.html

 

[kazmi]

I think a wire cheese cutter would work. I'm glad Aunt Polly asked the question. Thanks everyone!

 

[Aunt Polly]

Could you put something in the loaf mold to raise the loaf up to the height you want then use the top of the mold as a guide? You'd still have to use a knife but at least you would have a guide

Obsidian, your idea worked great! I put 2 previously cut bars in bottom of mold, then placed new log on top. This raised log up 1". Then, using top of mold as a guide, I used a cake leveler to slice. After first slice, I removed log and added 2 more previously cut bars so that it was raised another inch. Sliced again. Beautiful!! Thanks!


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[roseb]

How about a long cake cutter. It looks like a serrated knife with legs that you can adjust. Most cake making places carry them.

 

[tryanything]

In this video she explains horizontal cutting starting at minute 6. She uses a cheese cutter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AqRcmQVnBg

 

[Barbara AL]

Here you go!! You cut off 2 1/2 inch sections and turn the soap on its side and cut in half. here is my video. My middle color didn't get all the way to the bottom.

[ame]http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mF9ie3NBhqc&feature=plcp[/ame]

 

[bodhi]

I made one like the one in Savonierres post too. Not too difficult.

 

[Aunt Polly]

Thank you, Barbara! Very helpful! What kind of cutter is that in your video?


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[Barbara AL]

Polly my DH made this single cutter for me he got the idea from a cutter on a website called Cumberland Acoustics a Guitar shop in Tennessee they sell this single cutter for $175.00 DH made it for around $45

the cutter is huge like 20 inches long and 12 inches wide

http://www.cumberlandacoustic.com/id9.html