Soap Makers Help!

[ParadisePoultry]

Hi Everyone! I recently purchased BrambleBerry's Color with Confidence Starter Kit. http://www.brambleberry.com/Color-with-Confidence-Starter-Kit-P4682.aspx since the kit was so expensive, and the e-book is mostly what you are paying for, I though I would offer to send anyone a copy who would like one. Its an OK book, but not what I was expecting, and I don't think it was really worth the money. I'm still glad I have it, and if anyone else would like to see it, just email me. I can send you the file..it's in PDF form. Please put "Color Book" in the subject line so I will know who the unfamiliar emails are from and not delete them.

 

[Morgaine]

mom'sfolly :

I'm going to ask my question again...

Do you change the amount of lye you use when you use an acidic liquid like apple juice, vinegar or oj instead of water? If you do, how much do you change your lye values? Do you have a soap calculator that takes into account the acidity of the liquid? Or am I overthinking this? I want to use apple cider vinegar for a recipe, but I don't know how to modify it for allow for the acid content. I'm afraid that if I do this wrong I will end up with a batch of slimy unsaponified soap.

I have no experience with anything like that so I can't really help. Why do you want to use ACV?​

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Quote:
8 oz of Water to 5.42 oz lye is okay, but I wouldn't recommend using 8 oz of Milk with that much lye! More in the 11 oz range of frozen milk

Do you change the amount of lye you use when you use an acidic liquid like apple juice, vinegar or oj instead of water?

I've not subbed out any type of acidic liquid for water so I can't give you a first hand experience. I've heard of other folks doing it with no problem. Will you be using store bought ACV where the acidity is controlled or your own ACV? How large of a soap batch will you be making? Will you be subbing all or part of the liquid??

I think at worst, your soap will be a bit more superfatted than normal, but I don't think it will be slimy.

and the e-book is mostly what you are paying for, I though I would offer to send anyone a copy who would like one.

Do you really think you should be giving away copyrighted material for free??​

 

[Morgaine]

Why not Cyndi? I've made all milk soaps using a 45% lye solution and they have all turned out fine.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Quote:
Only because she's new in soapmaking and that is a very deep discount. You, girlfriend, are a master soaper and can handle it!

 

[Morgaine]

Lol thanks!

I've gotten so used to a steep discount I thought that seemed like a normal range lol. If you are new to soaping and haven't dealt with any fast moving soap before, do like Cyndi said and go with 10 or 11 oz you first time. As you get more experienced with it you can go lower.

 

[ParadisePoultry]

and the e-book is mostly what you are paying for, I though I would offer to send anyone a copy who would like one.

Do you really think you should be giving away copyrighted material for free??

Yeah, you're right. I though it would be more like sharing. But probably not a good idea. Sorry.​

 

[ParadisePoultry]

You know, my problem is, there are SO many good recipes out there, that I just can't pick one and just DO IT ! Cheeptrick, you posted your GM recipe on post # 78. I think I wil use that one, except I will cut it half. Will let you know how it turns out.

 

[Morgaine]

Brandy (cheeptrick) makes a great soap! You also can't go wrong with the trinity, Olive oil, coconut oil, and palm or lard. 50% OO, 25%CO and 25%PO is a good starting point.

Is this your first batch? If so I totally missed that. I think I was confusing you and Dipsy who I know has been making soap for a little while, right?

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Quote:
Oh you can use way less liquid that, lol. A fan is not going make the soap loose that much water and the dessicants will help with the moisture already in the air but isn't going to pull it from the soaps faster. Really the only way is to use less water. next time try 8oz of water as long as the fo is well behaved.

Thanks! I cut the goat milk back to 8 oz for this batch --- no color, no scent, just oatmeal. Y'all scared me saying it would move fast. I've made a lot of soap, but I'm new enough I still get very nervous handling lye and raw soap.
I mixed slushy frozen milk and lye IN an ice water bath and my oil was around 85*. Let me tell you, I stirred / stickblended that rascal for 1 hr 10 min before I finally got it to trace. I was about to think it wasn't going to happen. Lesson learned.
Thanks for the advice! I'll be 'discounting' the next batches.

Lisa