A controlled lather explosion is the ultimate experience for soap nuts like me. Drew23's recent lather bowl thread got me experimenting with ways to add ridges. This is my favorite way so far b/c it's quick, inexpensive & reversible-- Simply use a glycerin-base (melt & pour") soap like VDH to embed a ridged object on the bottom of your lather bowl. Melt soap in a microwavable mug for 10 second intervals. Caution: Never microwave tallow or non-m&p soap! Use enough VDH to have a foundation layer & to surround your object. Allow the soap to solidify slightly & press the object with a utensil to the desired depth. Since you'll slowly errode the surrounding VDH, choose an object with some depth or double-sided ridges to prevent sliding. Inexpensive soap dishes, candle plates, coasters & ashtrays are great options. Here are some ideas for things that would work (web images). ^^The clear plastic soap grips are double-sided & can be found at most dollar stores. Since they grip your foundation VDH layer, they don't slip around easily. They can be cut w/scissors but are quite durable. Ceramic soap & candle dishes are also good options. (The weight helps them stay in place when the VDH begins to errode.) They're popular at craft fairs, dollar stores & thrift shops...I also use one for "palm" lathering. So that's what works for me. (I don't shave daily, but I've been lathering often for various soap & bowl projects). Please feel free to post suggestions or add your favorite way to max lather... May your lather last long & be MAHOOSIVE!
This got me thinking. What about taking a regular bowl and running a bead of caulk around in a swirl like some lather bowls have.
Your giving me ideas. I've been trying to figure out how to keep my soap from sliding around whilst loading the brush. If a heat conductive object can somehow be affixed to the bottom of the metal bowl, which will serve to anchor the soap..
There are epoxies that come are kinda like play-do. You pinch a piece off and roll it into a snake... or maybe more like a worm. Depending on the epoxy, it may or may not stick inside a given bowl. However, if you have a winning combination you could lay "epoxy worms" inside to form your ridges... lines, swirls, whatever.
I applied a few drops of water on the bottom of the container. It "glued" the puck in place and it hasn't moved around since.
