Choosing the perfect size Soap Shapers for your mold

The size of your mold determines the size of the Soap Shaper. There are a couple of steps that we need to take to guarantee our measurements are precise. Fortunately these steps are easy and all you need is a ruler or a measuring tape.

How to measure your loaf mold

Step 1: Measure the inside width
When creating smooth-over or scraper-style Soap Shapers like the Mountain Soap Shapers the most important measurement is the inside width of your loaf mold. Some mold suppliers provide this measurement on the product listing webpage, however this information is not always accurate so it is important to always double check by measuring your mold yourself.

If you use a liner with your loaf mold be sure that it is in place before taking measurements. Using a ruler or measuring tape, measure the inside width as seen below. It's always best to measure the width close to one of the ends because some molds can bow towards the middle. 

Measure your mold in millimetres or inches – either is perfectly fine. Personally I prefer taking measurements in millimetres but I am happy to work with whatever is easiest for you.

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Step 2: Measure the inside height
To measure the inside height, place your ruler or measuring tape into the mold, lining it up along the inside wall at one end. Some rulers (like the one I am using here) have a section of extra space on each end. Be sure to factor that in when taking your measurements. To do so, simply take the height (67 mm) and subtract the length of the extra space (4 mm) as follows: 67 mm - 4 mm = 63 mm. Pair this with the inside width and we can confirm that inside measurements for this mold are 55 mm (wide) x 63 mm (high) or 2.165 in (wide) x 2.48 in (high) – I use google to convert millimetres to inches or vice versa.

When measuring the inside height of your soap mold be sure to measure the extra space on the end of your ruler and subtract it from the total height.

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How to measure your circular column mold

Step 1 (one step only): Measure the inside diameter
For pull-through Soap Shaper tools like the Kaleidoscope Soap Shaper the only measurement needed is the inside diameter of your column mold. Although some suppliers include the inside diameter on their website, any variations that occur during manufacturing can make these measurements inaccurate. Always double check by measuring your mold yourself.

To measure the inside diameter of your column mold place a ruler or measuring tape across the open end and line it up with the widest point. The inside diameter is the distance across the middle of the mold, not including the thickness of the mold walls.

Repeat these steps and measure at the point perpendicular to your previous measurement in a cross format. If the measurements are different, use the narrower of the two as the diameter of your mold.

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Look for the PVC pipe markings
PVC piping is often used as molds for soap making. The nice thing about PVC pipe is that the size is named after the inside diameter. This means that 3 in PVC piping has an inside diameter of 3 in (give or take 0.5 mm due to imperfections during manufacturing). One way to identify the size is to refer to the pipe markings which are printed on the outside of the pipe. The size is usually listed after the manufacturer's name and is measured in inches.

PVC pipe is named according to the inside diameter.

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Measure twice

Accurate measurements are essential in creating the perfect sized Soap Shaper for your mold. With this in mind the measurements you provide are always checked against the size you select and the other information you share during the order process, like website links and mold specifications. If any inconsistencies are noted we will be in touch to confirm the details before your order goes into production. That way we can be sure that the Soap Shaper design tools we create for you are the perfect size.