Establishing Your Own Dedicated Casting Department
We suggest purchasing a couple of sheets of Melamine particle board, 3/8 or 1/2 (preferred) inch thick, commercial grade, from your lumber supplier. Ask for Melamine particle board finish, not to be confused with white spray-painted particle board. The Melamine particle board is exceptionally durable, resists scratching and staining, and easy to maintain and clean.
Measure the dimensions of your silicone mold, length, and width. In this example, our new silicone mold measures fifteen by thirteen inches. The Melamine board should be a couple of inches larger than the mold itself. In this example, our board would be seventeen by fifteen inches.
Next, place your silicone mold on one of the Melamine boards. Then check the level of the top of the silicone mold on the board. Remember to check the level of the top of the silicone mold on the board and not the level of the board.
Adjust the level of the silicone mold by placing plastic or wooden shims under the board.
Leveling the mold on the board is a whole lot easier than trying to level a large working table.
At this point remove the silicone mold from the board. To form an air-lock to secure the mold, spray or spritz water on the surface on the Melamine board and place the silicone mold back on the board
Let the mold 'free-fall' onto the board -- do not touch or move the silicone mold -- as the silicone mold is in the correct alignment.
You want to avoid the mold from 'snaking'. Snaking will produce distorted soap bars
Draw a straight pencil line, one inch from the edge of the board along the length and then the width. Position the silicone mold manually along the length and width. Use the two pencil lines as a guide to ensure the silicone mold is sitting square.
Start fill each mold cavity slowing and evenly beginning in a corner and continue filling all twelve cavities. After the soap bars have had enough time to set, gently pull away the sides of the molds to break the air lock formed during the casting.
Next, place the second Melamine board face down on top of the cast mold. Then holding the bottom and top boards together with both hands, flip both boards together at the same time. Once the mold is upside down, remove the top board. Then slightly lift the mold to separate each soap bar as they release from the mold onto the board.