Soap Makers Help!

[savingdogs]

Anyone know of a good recipe using lard, goat milk and sunflower oil? I have a friend who wants to try that.

 

[tamsflock]

What is the difference in all of these and what one should I use for my first attempt at soapmaking, flakes, beads? Thanks for your help..

8 lbs of Lye (Red Devil Replacement) for only $14.49 - Click Here

8 lbs of Potassium Hydroxide Flakes for only $25.99 - Click Here

Technical Grade Sodium Hydroxide Lye Beads - Click Here

Food Grade Sodium Hydroxide Lye Micro Beads - Click Here

Potassium Hydroxide KOH Potash Flakes

 

[savingdogs]

Potassium hydroxide is for making liquid soap.

You want sodium hydroxide. I use the flakes........

I'd buy the first one on your list there....

 

[tamsflock]

8 lbs of Lye (Red Devil Replacement) for only $14.49 - Click Here

So this one.
Thanks

 

[NanaKat]

There is some new interest among my Okie friends to learn soapmaking...so I'm bumping this up so they can find this easier. There are lots of talented soapmakers on this thread ---

You will need a good recipe,
plastic containers for mixing the lye and water or liquid of choice (use water your first several batches to get the "feel" for the process),
a hand held wand mixer (I use a Hamilton Beach $18.00 at Walmart or you could get one at a garage sale)
A stainless steel pot for heating the oils,
a candy thermometer,
metal spoons (NOT Aluminum, the lye will melt it).
You can use a glass pan for your first mold -line it with plastic .
Tool for cutting your soap....could be a knife, a special cutter. I use a plaster tape bedding tool.
Oils for your recipe - all oils have a different figure for saponification (blending with the lye, liquid) or melting number.
Saponification chart - these can be found on line too.
essential oils for scent - You actually don't have to use a scent if you are going for the process....old-fashioned soaps had no scents.

Mold for your soap - These can be purchased molds, silicon muffin molds, a shoebox lined with plastic, a pvc pipe with a tube end and lined with freezer paper.

Added: A scale to measure the ounces by weight not by volume. This is critical. Accuracy is important to good soap.

 

[sjarvis00]

What type of plastic to line the pan, an insert or wax paper?

 

[NanaKat]

Hubby needed a milk pill.
Yes, the essential oils come in different price ranges. I've ordered on line and bought some at health food stores.

 

[sjarvis00]

How big of a plastic container for mixing?

 

[Sooner]

For Robin, the only place that you can get the lye here in town is at the Tractor supply & they told me if it isn't on the shelf to ask for it. They were considering keeping it in the back.

 

[Sooner]

My first mixing bucket was a plastic mop bucket from walmart for 2.00, I found the wand mixer at the good will for 2 or 3.00.

I have used wax paper to line with & only had trouble once when the mix got really hot.