Soap Makers Help!

[chiknwhisperer]

lol I should call his mother and tell her he was playing with poop

 

[redhead83402]

Quote:
BB ~ I actually used some old egg-dying plastic cups. I went to the D.I. (a second hand store thrift store) & found several small plastic items to use for molds. The thing with it is, though, ( as I trashed one of them & found out the hard way, lol) is that you have to let them dry for 2 days, as opposed to flipping them out of the mold in 4 to 5 hours, like with the big huge flat stainless steel pan I use (with a plastic bread bag cut open for a liner).

Also, I had to actually use several heavy washcloths & then an upturned pan over that to insulate them enough.

This was my first experience with individual molds, & I have to say, I too hit panic mode at a certain point of pouring. Next time, I will pour the individual molds FIRST ( I know, should have thought of that, lol, 20/20 hindsight,lol) & then pour the big slab mold.

I'm toying with the idea of getting some real molds, so I can make pretty soaps like chicknwhisperer ~ I might have to ease that purchase in, however, lol ~ hubby might not be THAT dedicated ~ lol.
~Red

 

[ChickenSmitten]

HI,
I have read the first 15 or so pages of this post after I had made soap for the first time over this past weekend. I think i misunderstood the term"trace". I mixed until the spoon left a color difference trail across the surface for 10 seconds, but it didn't feel like pudding or mashed potoes, just like very heavy cream. I poured it and it has been 36 hours. It keeps moving in the right direction, looks evenly mixed in the molds and changing from an evenly mixed oily paste to a more solid form, but still somewhat soft and a bit oily to the touch. I feel it would not seperate (in one piece) from the individual molds if I tried to demold it. Will it harden if I just let it be, or do I need to rebatch it?
It is an olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, beeswax and honey recipe

Any insight would be appreciated
Thanks

 

[redhead83402]

Quote:
Hi Chicknsmitten!! Welcome to the soaper circle!!! What were the measurements or weights of your recipe?

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
What a creative way to recycle! I love all the ideas that I get from you guys!

Do you think the longer curing time is due to less retained heat? I wonder if you could lay the individual molds into a larger container (like your pans) so that you could insulate the whole thing together, just as you would if you had used the pan in the first place. I wonder if that would work to shorten the cure time.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:

Yay! Another soaper! Welcome ChickenSmitten!

I would ask the same question as redhead83402 - What were the measurements?

I think I read somewhere in my soap reading that to create a hard bar, you need to have at least 40% of your oils come from saturated fats as these oils are solid at room temperature. Your coconut oil and beeswax would work together in making a harder bar.

Now, that's not to say that you have to use 40%. Plenty of people will make a Castile soap that is 100% Olive Oil. It just takes longer to cure which may very well be what you're looking at. Perhaps one of our more experienced soapers will come in and weigh in on this question.

 

[ChickenSmitten]

Thanks for the responses,
I am being naughty and checking out BYC while at the office and my recipe is at home, I will write back tonight or tomorrow with the recipe I used. There was a lot of coconut oil and less sunflower and olive oil and a small amount od beeswax.

 

[chiknwhisperer]

lol When I first started doing the soap and talking about it DH wasn't al lthat cracked up about it. Espeacialy when I melted my brand new snowflake mold

lol
I still get looks every now and then whe nhe comes home and I ell him I ordered something for my soap addiction lol. I check the bank account and see what I can afford. Although as far as ordering more molds I am holding off on that because I want to make some like I've seen on here. I think they are more cost effective.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
I know what chiknwhisperer will be asking for, for Christmas/the holidays!

Hey, do you guys think I have time to get one more milk soap done before Christmas or do you think it's too late? I would have to go to Costco tomorrow if you think there's time to pull off one more batch before then.

Then, I need to start planning on the Valentine's recipes! Any scent recommendations for Valentine's Day?

 

[ChicksnPacas]

Hi, I'm just jumping in after reading the 52 pages of posts twice, yes twice! I'm trying to soak up all the information. I've never made soap, but I'm hooked already.

I want to place an order, but I'm still very confused. I am close to Soapers Choice and can pick up directly from them, but each item has so many choices:

Olive oil - pomace, extra virgin, extra virgin organic, refined
Coconut oil - extra virgin organic, 76 melt point white, 92 melt point white, fractionated, organic 76 RFD
Palm oil - Refined bleached deodorized, organic
Jojoba - golden organic, clear refined, golden pure and natural
Castor oil - USP, turkey red
Beeswax Pastilles - yellow, white
Shea butter - refined, refined organic, unrefined

Would someone help explain how to choose between the types of each oil? Also, are these pretty typical items for most recipes to get started?

I've really enjoyed everyone's posts and pictures of their soaps. Thanks in advance for any advice!