Soap Makers Help!

[ChicksterJo]

Yes I haven't had a botched batch yet (knock on wood

)...and I have made 6 so far in the same wood mold. I've made a few versions of this recipe, with variations like adding turmeric or annatto powder but this recipe just gets to trace fast.

I kind of freaked out yesterday because I hadn't even put in the colors yet and it was already getting thick so I just hand stirred and pulsed for only a few seconds at a time. It never seized though, phew!!

 

[Morgaine]

Ok, I am thinking there could be two things making things trace fast.
1. If you are using the same oils and every batch is tracing fast, it could be your oils. Maybe the OO isn't pure OO.
2. You maybe overusing the stick blender. The stick blender really gets things mixed fast so if you need to buy yourself some time, you should pulse it for the 3 seconds, the stir with it off two or three times, pulse then stir, ect.

Really, you should have 5-10 minutes from the time you mix your lye into the oils to pudding trace as long as you don't over mix.

 

[ChicksterJo]

The first OO I bought was from Walmart and it said pure extra virgin OO. This OO that I have now is from Costco and it also said the same thing. The trace isn't like pudding by 3 minutes, but it does get to light trace at that point. I will keep doing what I did yesterday because it helped a little and it didn't get to the pudding consistency. I was still able to pour the soap and not glop it in the mold. (It might be the coconut oil? It's the Lou-ana brand from Walmart. I could get pure coconut oil from the philippines but I would have to get 50 lbs at a time, and I don't know how that will do through the airport security lol)

 

[itsy]

Hey soapy peeps! Where can I buy soap making supplies online? I'd like to buy in bulk. I think we're going to start with melt and pour, just to get the hang of it, but I'd like to do cold pressed.

Thanks!

 

[itsy]

Wait - not cold pressed... cold processed? lol. I have olive oil on the brain.

 

[ChicksterJo]

If you want to get started with cold process right away you can find some stuff around thrift stores or around your house already. I got a cheap stick blender from wal-mart and I had most of the other supplies. I got my lye bulk from essential depot because they were having a sale, 10 lbs for $32 & free shipping but I checked aaa chemicals and I think they have cheap lye too. Or you may be able to get lye from a hardware store.. I buy my oils local because it is pretty much the same price and the shipping really gets me. I ordered some colorants from Brambleberry and I think they have melt and pour but they were great to deal with.

 

[ParadisePoultry]

Bramble berry has great customer service, and links to on-line tutorials and soap blogs.....I love them.

 

[MSDeb]

Quote:
X2

 

[Morgaine]

There are a lot of links in the soap makers reference thread to get you started.

 

[MSDeb]

Also, if you join the soap makers guild you can get discounts with a number of suppliers, including BB.