Carving test- Soap alternative

[CanadianDental]

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Hey guys,
As you know the CDA (or ADA) soaps are pretty expensive and I was wondering if anybody could suggest an effective and cheap alternative for me to practise on. I intend to practise ALOT so the cheaper the better.

Thanks! 👍

 

[Colos]

The only alternative I used was for when I was practicing drawing my lines. I used small pieces of woods that were nearly identical to the shape and size of the CDA soap.
The best way to get the feel for carving is to carve the actual soap though. It's not about how many you do, it's about how effectively you learn to carve using what you have.

 

[CanadianDental]

I see, so quality over quantity, thanks for the advice Colos

 

[timwatley]

Man, that sucks you guys have to carve soap on the exam. What kind of structures to they tend to ask you to carve? Heaven forbid it's the 3D model of glucose.

 

[Colos]

Tim the structures vary quite a bit for what we have to carve...but generally the two ends will have either a fluted, square, triangle, box or a combination of a flute/box...while the middle generally stays as a box cut. You never know what their going to throw at you though 😛.
I think doing that 3D model of glucose may take more than the 30 mins though =P.

 

[IWantSmile]

Hey guys,
As you know the CDA (or ADA) soaps are pretty expensive and I was wondering if anybody could suggest an effective and cheap alternative for me to practise on. I intend to practise ALOT so the cheaper the better.

Thanks! 👍

Check at ART store; they carry various cheap soft wood blocks for carving purpose.

 

[Colos]

I'm sure the wood blocks would be over-priced from an arts store...and since it wouldn't be worthwhile practicing carving the wood, probably be losing money.
Just go to a home hardware or something and buy a long piece of wood that has the general circumference and diameter of the piece of soap, and then cut that long piece into small appropriate sizes that would match the dental soap size. This would probably = cheaper imo, and is what i did.

 

[timwatley]

Tim the structures vary quite a bit for what we have to carve...but generally the two ends will have either a fluted, square, triangle, box or a combination of a flute/box...while the middle generally stays as a box cut. You never know what their going to throw at you though 😛.
I think doing that 3D model of glucose may take more than the 30 mins though =P.

What do you think of the carving section of the test? It seems like it would just be a hassle. I bet there is a type of fruit you could get that closely resembles the texture of soap (if the fruit would be cheaper anyway).

 

[Colos]

What do you think of the carving section of the test? It seems like it would just be a hassle. I bet there is a type of fruit you could get that closely resembles the texture of soap (if the fruit would be cheaper anyway).

I didn't mind the carving to much...it's extremely stressful while doing it though. I thought I had failed it miserably and knew I had some noticeable chips, but then it ended up being my highest mark on the test 😛. If you think on the bright side though...someone writing the canadian DAT will finish 45 mins earlier than someone writing the american DAT, due to the carving replacing the math and orgo sections 🙄...which = less hassle and less stress .
I'm sure there is some kind of cheaper substitute for the soap...I remember I tried some other type of soap and the soap ended up crumbling in my hand...needless to say the blade ended up cutting more than the soap that day lol.

 

[timwatley]

I didn't mind the carving to much...it's extremely stressful while doing it though. I thought I had failed it miserably and knew I had some noticeable chips, but then it ended up being my highest mark on the test 😛. If you think on the bright side though...someone writing the canadian DAT will finish 45 mins earlier than someone writing the american DAT, due to the carving replacing the math and orgo sections 🙄...which = less hassle and less stress .
I'm sure there is some kind of cheaper substitute for the soap...I remember I tried some other type of soap and the soap ended up crumbling in my hand...needless to say the blade ended up cutting more than the soap that day lol.

It takes place of math and O-chem? wow. I wonder how many bloody soap bars the canadian DAT organization has received.

 

[Colos]

It takes place of math and O-chem? wow. I wonder how many bloody soap bars the canadian DAT organization has received.

Yep, that's the difference between the American and Canadian DAT.
I'd guess they probably receive a few bloody bars, considering two people cut themselves in my section alone when writing the test lol.

 

[timwatley]

Yep, that's the difference between the American and Canadian DAT.
I'd guess they probably receive a few bloody bars, considering two people cut themselves in my section alone when writing the test lol.

lol! wow.

 

[CanadianDental]

haha 3D model of glucose, that would suck. Well thanks for the suggestions guys, I might just end up buying more CDA soaps thought, now that I think about it, whats an extra 100$ in dept when I know I'll eventually be hundreds of thousands in dept 😛

 

[boundok]

Hey guys,
As you know the CDA (or ADA) soaps are pretty expensive and I was wondering if anybody could suggest an effective and cheap alternative for me to practise on. I intend to practise ALOT so the cheaper the better.

Thanks! 👍

I have a source that makes these soaps for $15 per six-pack. The CDA charges $35 for the soap which is of the same shape and dimensions.

 

[bennijai]

I hope they donate all that soap being wasted.