Soap Makers Help!

[MullersLaneFarm]

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I suspect it was glycerin attracted moisture to the bars then turned rancid.

All that to say that shelf life seems to be greatly affected by the conditions in which it is stored. Plastic bags seems to be a bad choice as does exposure to heat and humidity.

I concur. Storing in plastic is a bad idea. CP/HP soaps need to breath. High heat and humidity will attract moisture because of the glycerin in the bars.

I just had such an awful time getting the cut straight.

<---- Cutting impaired ... has Kelsei molds, no cutting required

 

[BirdBrain]

I guess I am too cheap to get a lovely mold like that. My DH said he could make me a loaf mold for nothing using scrap from the garage. In my dreams I have molds I don't have to cut.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Every once in a while you can come upon a deal. I just got another 42-bar Kelsei from an old soapmaker friend that has found the world of fiber (spinning, knitting). I was able to trade her a bunch of fiber to spin for the mold.

 

[Don]

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This is very strange. I just made a second batch yesterday and it appears to be doing the same thing. Was very slow to trace as well. Although no ingredients have changed from the first couple batches.

I'm gonna have to try that method of adding coffee. Since my wife manages a store that I can't name (but rhymes with farducks) I have a fairly good supply of varied coffees available for addition. From mild to wild. LOL

 

[Don]

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Ya know, I'd like too but the breakfast soaps are more like breakfast jells. I think I'll probably end up having to scrap them.

I do have the ones from the silicone molds but my lovely bride wanted scents and all I could find was fragrance, not oils. So the flower soaps are a vanilla almond scented oatmeal.

The first batch I made, from the mini-loaf pans, are unscented oatmeal soaps.

I just wouldn't feel right trading blah soaps like that for some of the nice ones y'all make.

 

[Don]

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LOVE LOVE LOVE the chocolate soaps! Those look so nice!!!

Dont get me wrong, they both look really nice ... but those chocolate's just look so smoooooooooth. Hehehehehe

 

[smom1976]

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Ya know, I'd like too but the breakfast soaps are more like breakfast jells. I think I'll probably end up having to scrap them.

I do have the ones from the silicone molds but my lovely bride wanted scents and all I could find was fragrance, not oils. So the flower soaps are a vanilla almond scented oatmeal.

The first batch I made, from the mini-loaf pans, are unscented oatmeal soaps.

I just wouldn't feel right trading blah soaps like that for some of the nice ones y'all make.

ha ha mine are unsented..

 

[Don]

OK, so it appears that my molds are going to work ... once I can get my recipe issues figured out. So here's what I did:

I went to Lowes and got a 10 foot length of pvc rain gutter stock and 4 snap-on OUTSIDE fit end caps w/gaskets. (They have inside fit ones, I don't think I'd care for them.)

I brought them home and figured what size log mold I would need for that recipe I posted earlier ... turns out to be 8" long.

I cut it at 8", snapped the end caps on and poured my soap. No liner ... nuttin like that at all.

The end caps keep it sittin level. The soap, once it cured enough to unmold, came out VERY easily leaving little to no residue in the mold itself and only a thin layer in each of the end caps.

I rinsed the mold with hot water and it came right off ... didn't even need to wipe it down. I took one gasket off 'cause I thought I would have to, I didn't need to .... just rinse under hot water.

So, here's the pic's for ya. The end caps can be tricky to get on and you want to slowly slide them backwards to get them off ... but I think it's a keeper for me. I really dont mind the lines or odd shape .... it fits my personality.

Here are some pic's to ponder:

And yeah, that's a ShamWow under them as they drip-dry. LOL

If anyone is interested in doing this themselves, I'd be happy to take a few more pic's showing installing and removing the end caps. It's easy once you get the hang of it ... but first time can be a bear.

Peace!

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

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Can you calibrate your scale?? or maybe it's time to pony up and get a digital

I think those soaps look wonderful Don!!!


now about that scale .....

 

[Don]

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Can you calibrate your scale?? or maybe it's time to pony up and get a digital

I'll end up getting a digital I'm sure ... unless I can find a nice balance beam somewhere. LOL