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I don't overheat it anymore. I also don't get separation, sponginess, or off flavors anymore. Huh... In Scientific Soapmaking, there is a lot of emphasis on trying to get a full gel, and all sorts of chemistry behind the sentiment. But as K Rex points out (hi Kev), and it has been my...

Regarding the Squirrel cage mixer: Do NOT use galvanized metal in the presence of strong acids or bases (i.e. NaOH). The coating may dissolve, and the zinc is toxic. This is more of a concern with food, but don't take chances. Your skin will readily absorb chemicals. Stainless steel (food...

I make only goat's milk soaps (for now), and my experience with gelling has been mixed, at best: If it DOES go to full gel, then about 50% of the time, it comes out fine. About 30% of the time, it gets spongy/crystallized in the top 1/3 of the log, toward the center. The remaining 20% of...

You can make about a 52.6% Sodium hydroxide/water solution at room temperature (111 grams NaOH in 100 grams of water at 25C). As with all solutions, the warmer the solvent, the more solute you can dissolve. If you were to add 250 grams of NaOH to 1000 grams of water (for a 25% solution), then...

Although I have not experimented with TD, I do have a suggestion for an approach to breaking up the lumps. Sounds to me like there is a similar problem when making soups or sauces when you try to incorporate the flour. If you just dump 1/4 cup (or whatever) of flour into a few quarts of...

OK, so the brown dot is milk. I can live with that. But the black speck bothered me, so I did an investigation, and here's what I found: I put oils from two of the three vendors I buy from (two from New Directions, one from Essential Wholesale) through a coffee filter. All three had...

Thanks for the selling advice everyone. I have the same concerns. But I'm also much more comfortable with my older batches. You're supposed to get better with experience, not worse... I planned to do two, but I've done only one show, it was a marketing research test. Not only was I...

Eye protection is absolutely MANDATORY. Whenever there is lye present, including splash-able raw soap (and including the dirty soapy pot in the sink), I use a full-face shield, tucked close to my chin. They are cheap, and provide protection for your whole face. I use it instead of...

so, now I need to identify the source of the contamination. I do keep good records of my suppliers, orders, and what materials went into which batches. Right now, it's looking more like one of my oils or my lye, and not any of the EOs (or maybe all of my EOs). Does anyone have any...

After I cut into it a second time, to check a spot on the other side, I noticed another contamination, this time a black speck in the middle of the bar (on the left). The original surface defect is removed and is lying on the paper in front of the bar. That one was a light brown speck...

before cutting:

Hello again, Thanks for the replies. Lots of info here, but you asked a lot of questions! I get my olive oil at Costco (the grad A stuff). The rest comes from Wholesale Supply Plus, so I'm expecting it is cosmetic grade. My 5 lb. recipes have contained roughly: 8% coconut...

Hi everyone! I've been making CP goat's milk sop for about six months now, with pretty good success. Out of about 300 pounds of soap, I've only had to toss about ten pounds due to an incomplete mix of superfatting oils. Yes, I have been a victim of the superfat-after-trace myth, and it is...

I do this with my scraps and waste cuts, about half soap and half water in a little squeeze bottle. Yes, it's a little slimy, but not any more than a commercial liquid hand soap. I use it as hand soap at the kitchen sink only. I wouldn't try to sell it, nor would I bathe with it. But...