Source of good pine tar soap?

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Stew

Bushcrafter through and through
Nov 29, 2003
6,446
1,284
Aylesbury
stewartjlight-knives.com
My stupidly simple block of the above will run out soon and I don't think it's being made anymore (happy to be wrong!)

Does anyone have a recommendation for another supply in the uk or warnings of ones to avoid.

I don't have any desire to make my own.

Thanks!
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,664
McBride, BC
Have you got any artisans' markets close by? I'd be looking for a hobby soap maker.
Best I ever bought was one with espresso coffee in it!
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
@Stew
I'm pretty sure that Xylaria said she's still making stuff though. If you can find one of their old threads on the van called red (now blue iirc? ) then there might be a link.

I make soap, but I'm not volunteering to do this one, it's Fi's really :) or, I'm pretty sure British Red made pine tar soap too....might be worth a pm if he doesn't see this thread.
It goes from liquid to thick-can't-stir so fast :sigh:

M
 

Stew

Bushcrafter through and through
Nov 29, 2003
6,446
1,284
Aylesbury
stewartjlight-knives.com
@Stew
I'm pretty sure that Xylaria said she's still making stuff though. If you can find one of their old threads on the van called red (now blue iirc? ) then there might be a link.

I make soap, but I'm not volunteering to do this one, it's Fi's really :) or, I'm pretty sure British Red made pine tar soap too....might be worth a pm if he doesn't see this thread.
It goes from liquid to thick-can't-stir so fast :sigh:

M

I assumed as they were travelling that they would not be making. I'll have a check! Really like the stuff.
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
I assumed as they were travelling that they would not be making. I'll have a check! Really like the stuff.

From what they said, they seem to settle in an area for a little while and then move on. Maybe she'd have the opportunity to make more than the Stupidly Simple stuff then ?
The soap was very popular, it's got to be worth asking :)

M
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
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Vantaa, Finland
Pine oil soap can here be bought at most stores that sell soap of some kind. It does not have the smell of pine tar but slightly pinish anyway.
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
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1,624
Vantaa, Finland
Can possibly be done, just have to make sure that soap is the one he wants. I'll look if it is sold by web order. The product is called 'Mäntysuopa' which roughly translates to 'pinesoap'.
 

C_Claycomb

Moderator staff
Mod
Oct 6, 2003
7,354
2,365
Bedfordshire
Hopefully the way they market/label soap is better than here. I was looking for coal tar soap and found something in the shops here that smells like it, but it is just added fragrance, the anti-bacterial action is provided by tea tree oil or some such. Not what I was looking for.
 

Stew

Bushcrafter through and through
Nov 29, 2003
6,446
1,284
Aylesbury
stewartjlight-knives.com
Can possibly be done, just have to make sure that soap is the one he wants. I'll look if it is sold by web order. The product is called 'Mäntysuopa' which roughly translates to 'pinesoap'.

Importing seems a bit daft for this, especially if it's not guaranteed the same quality, but thanks!
 

SCOMAN

Life Member
Dec 31, 2005
2,583
452
53
Perthshire
I’ve used the Granpas soap. Quite nice, smelt stronger than I remember, Dad used to keep a bar from his work. In use I found it helped clean really well. I’d use it at home but my wife doesn’t like it. I think I may have got mine cheaper than RM off Amazon couldn’t swear to it though.

Edit - single bar £7.71 on Amazon, £16 for 4 bars on RM shop
 
Last edited:
Sep 11, 2014
418
33
Maidstone, KENT
I use Grandpa's
I have bought from Ray Mears and from various Amazon sellers (including one in the US), according to where
the best price is on the day.
It comes in two sizes 92g & 120g (3 1/2 Oz & 4 1/2 Oz)

Click image for full size :


 
Last edited:
Sep 11, 2014
418
33
Maidstone, KENT
Used in the shower, it cleans well, rinses off very easily & has great fragrance.
It leaves a slightly 'tacky' feeling of being coated in Pine Tar & if I'm going to be out
in rain this is awesome as I feel waterproofed. Recommended.

Stew - You organised the BB Urban ? And contribute much here.
If so, please PM me your details, I'll pop you a bar in the post.
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
1,624
Vantaa, Finland
Looked up some tar soap recipies, looks mostly like any basic soap with some tar in it. It seems like actually not all that much, might still have some effect and gives a nice smell.

The soap found here is made of pine oil and nothing else. It is an industrially produced soap from a by product of cellulose production.
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
Your soap sounds really interesting TLM. If you could possibly find an online link, that would sell and post to the UK, it'd be appreciated :)

M
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,092
1,624
Vantaa, Finland
Right, I'll look. Have to go to a proper computer and large screen, this tablet is incapable of any serious search, as much as I like it for couch surfing.
 

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