Clear Soap with a Distinctive Triple Swirl

thingiverse

My wife makes soap as a hobby, so I decided to combine it with my 3D printing passion. Using 3D software, I designed the soap, experimented with different colors and printed the pieces needed for silicone mold creation. After printing the dish, I sanded it and washed it with acetone for a smooth finish. A mold release or vaseline was applied to prevent tearing of the silicone when removing it from tight corners. I filled the dish with Smooth-On Oomoo 25 silicone, which cures in 75 minutes, allowing me to make several molds quickly. Once set, I removed the silicone mold carefully, being cautious of tight corners. In total, I made 18 molds. Using a condiment bottle, I poured melted colored soap into the mold channels naturally, filling them without overfilling. To save time, I sliced the bar print into three parts with varying perimeter and infill settings for optimal results. By copying and pasting specific G-code lines, I merged the files to change settings mid-print. To create a smooth finish on the bar print, I sanded it with 150 grit paper and applied Aristocrat Liquid Glass resin coat for a high gloss look. The ring mold was carefully cut open using an exacto knife, and any gaps were filled with clay. The soap was then placed inside the ring and surrounded with silicone for molding. Embeds of clear soap were added to the bar mold, followed by spritzing with alcohol to create a smooth surface for the swirl embeds. This process was repeated until five embeds were in place, and the mold was then filled with clear soap. In the future, I plan to experiment with resin or plaster molds using a homemade vacuform machine.