I am new to soapmaking and have bought wood/silicone molds with covers at Amazon and this clear tall & skinny mold. I had better results using the Custom Craft mold – soap turning out smooth on the sides, no ash, and no gelling. Just make sure the screws are tight so there are no gaps for the soap to seep in to. I did not get the liner. The materials used are top grade, thick and sturdy. It is a breeze to assemble, a breeze to disassemble, and a breeze to clean. You may have to wait for a while for your order to arrive (mine had custom dimensions), but it was certainly worth the wait for me!