Soap Makers Help!

[TM Chickens]

I started selling there about the middle of last year. It opens this year on June 5th. I'm trying to whip up a e-store in time to have it ready, but I think I'm going to have to use the Google Sites page again.
I haven't colored any of my soap yet. Only time my soap is colored is when the FO discolors it. The Oak Leaves and Acorns turned bright pink.

I've been meaning to order some real coloring sometime.

 

[Morgaine]

There are a lot of natural stuff you can use to color your soaps that you might be able to find at a health food store near you. Yellow Dock Root, used at a small % will give you a light pink/peach color. A stronger % will give you a maroon color. Alkanet root powder will give you anywhere from grey to dark purple. Parsley gives a nice light green. Tumeric gives an earthy golden color. Coco powder gives a very pretty tan to brown.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

RE: Beer Soap
Bring the beer to a simmer to evaporate the alcohol, then freeze it and treat it like milk when soaping.

 

[Morgaine]

I might have to try that way next.

How have you been doing Cyndi?

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Doing okay. Missing my granddaughter a LOT! They live 4 hours away. DD is ready for me to come back!

 

[ChookHappy]

Hey all,
I've been gathering all the equipment to start soapin' and thought my cheap digital scale would cut it. I'm not sure if it will still but none the less I was curious what type of scale most of yall use. We got 50# in oils today and really looking forward to getting started.

 

[savingdogs]

It is fun! And everyone loves the soap I made, even on my first try.

We borrowed a triple beam from my husband's work each time we have a batch. Eventually I'll have to invest in something of my own. Triple beam worked excellent.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

My first scale in 2000 was an Escali. Worked very well but traded up about 4 years ago to a KD-7000 and passed the Escali to a new soaper

Word of advice .... put the scale in a ziploc bag, especially when using it. It will last much, much longer. As careful as you will be weighing ingredients, there will always be the chance of spilling something. The simple act of keeping your scale safe in plastic will save you down the road.

That Escali is still working well after 10 years.

 

[ChookHappy]

Hehe as if all the random chemical containers, buckets, spatulas and spoons didn't look enough like we are making meth... Add a triple beam and I might as well start picking at my face and peering through the blinds at nothing.... All kidding aside, where would I go looking for a triple beam? That type of scale would be awesome to own.

We still haven't poured our first batch. Scared lol. We have to get past the first pour then we should be good but it's kinda nerve wrecking to start this up. xD

ETA: Thanks MullersLane, I can easily see me making a mess of the scale. I think we are going to try to come up with a very basic recipe and go for it. We will give it a go with the scale we have and see how we do. I've seen some good prices online so we will probably upgrade eventually. Sooner if this "Biggest Loser" scale is a bust lol.

 

[savingdogs]

Chookhappy, my husband says that you should check a pawn shop for a triple beam if that is what you want.
He says you can check the accuracy by weighing a nickel, it should weigh five grams.