How to Find Soap for Carving

Carving soap fun and easy

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Some carving tools
• Those for cleaning green ware ceramics are sufficient
• Table to work at with good light
• Cloth to smooth off the edges
• Soap in variety of thickness and sizes and colors

1. Choose a nice hard soap. Not brittle, but one that will hold up when carved, and soft enough to carve easily.
   
   French milled is more expensive but nice to use.
   I would just purchase some inexpensive soap at a clearence center. Then you will have a good supply for a modest price. Remember the shaving can be bagged into nylon drawstring bags for personal soap scrubbies to travel with or just hang into the shower for later use.
   
   If you screw up. Oh well it is just soap. Keep trying.
   
   A heart is easy. Make a square, cut the heart top curves into one corner. Whack off the other 3 corners and smooth off after carving with a damp sponge or cloth. Drill a small hole under the center of the heart to put it on a cord for hanging etc. Animlals like fish and bears are pretty easy too. Just sketch out a pattern on top and cut around. Practice and your own style will develope.

2. Read a book on carving soapstone and it will also help you to plan out a design.
   
   The art of carving is a lot different than other art media. It is relaxing and fun to see something you are doing take on a new life. Your friends will be amazed at something created out of an ordinary piece of soap. A fun craft for kids too.
   
   I plan a soapstone carving lesson for this site soon. So be sure to check often to my how to's.
   
   Keep a papertowel or cloth towel under your work. Tools standing in a small jar will keep your fingers from bumping into them when not in use. Go FOR IT!!!!

3. When you have a few carved items, display them in a pretty dish or lay them on a ledge out of sunshine for display. Remember if they get dusty you can wash them, BUTTTT they will melt eventually. Just carve out some more. Like a flower or two.

Tips & Warnings

• Sunlight fades colors fast. So a shaded place to display is best.
• Use multiple colors for a bright display, or just one simple piece that is themed to your colors.
• If you don't want them to melt, place them in some melted wax, not too hot, and seal the exterior. Wax should be about 2/3rd of the depth of the carving. Leave room to hold onto the piece to dip and not burn your fingers with wax.
• Melting wax should be done carefully, I put it in an old pan I don't want to keep except for that purpose, then place in the block of wax and melt it over hot water. Wax will explode if too hot!!!! BE CAREFUL.

[lquack]

on 11/13/2009 Great idea! My grandson has to carve soap for a cub scout carving badge so this should be fun.

[jpwriter]

on 12/24/2008 Sounds like a cool idea.

[librarylady]

on 8/26/2008 What a fun hobby.