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http://www.durgan.org/URL/?LFDUQ 21 November 2010 Making Luffa Soap Cakes.

Experimental luffa soap cakes were made today. Pictures depict the process.
Ingredients are glycerin soap, isopropyl alcohol, dye, luffa, and various molds. Spraying the luffa with alcohol assists in binding the soap to the luffa. The ingredients are usually available in a craft store. I got mine at Michaels Crafts. Molds can be anything suitable. The process is simple, and only takes a short time.

I make loofah soaps for my shop Durgan. You don't need any alcohol unless you're laying down layers of soap - I just use an old biscuit tube with the end cut off, wrap one end in cling film, stand the loofah up in ti and pour the soap through. Let it set then push it out and slice (which is by far and away the most difficult bit!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26726673@N04/5197895571/

Green Aura wrote:I make loofah soaps for my shop Durgan. You don't need any alcohol unless you're laying down layers of soap - I just use an old biscuit tube with the end cut off, wrap one end in cling film, stand the loofah up in ti and pour the soap through. Let it set then push it out and slice (which is by far and away the most difficult bit!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26726673@N04/5197895571/

I am still experimenting with mixed results. But am making improvements. I am deciding upon the best mold. The plastic pipe seems to be leading. Also, packing the luffa into the pipe to increase the fiber seems to be advantageous, also one can use the slightly discolored luffa for the cakes, and keep the pristine white ones for scrubbers.

I am going to look for a rectangle or square pipe cross-section for a mold. This might facilitate cutting, since holding the round tube while cutting is a bit awkward. Of course, one could get serious and make a cutting board system, but the whole project is only of minor interest to me at this time. Something to play at, since the season is in the doldrums for several months.

Thanks for the alcohol info. I picked the information up somewhere, but really didn't know absolutely the reason for using.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZOVAE 22 November 2010 Luffa Soap Cakes. Rectangular Mold
The mold is a drawer organizer from the Dollar Store. It appears to be excellent for forming rectangular shaped luffa soap cakes, and is very easy to work with. Slicing is relatively easy, since the flat surface doesn’t roll when cutting to size.