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Is there any negative to curing them on paper or cardboard? Just wondering if any of the remaining oils may be drawn into the paper.

DeeAnna, those are all good tips. After removing from the mold today, I see that nothing has separated, but the soap is softer than normal. I also found that the first few hours after going into the mold, the mixture did not get as hot as usual - not sure if that's because it started from a...

Okay, I made a batch working with temperature and adding everything before the lye. I had the lye water at 64F (room temperature) and the fats at 76F. I also had water at 40% of fat weight. I put the additives and EO in before the lye. Trace slowed down considerably. I had to use a stick...

Yes, I have tried hand whisking, but it doesn't matter much. It's going to trace within a minute or two without a stick blender. With a stick blender it's almost instant. I don't use FO's. I realize that I can slow this by changing the fats, but I was hoping that more water or a natural additive...

Some of my formulations trace so quickly that I can't get the additives or EO in before it gets too thick to put in my molds. I know I could use more oils and less butters, but I like how the soap turns out, and would like to delay the trace long enough to get everything in without changing the...

Where did you get the impression that I was offended? I was simply trying to figure out a way to join the group. Anyway, all's good. I learned the secret handshake and I'm in.

I'm really quite new to facebook and just noticed I have a note (chat) from the admin of the group, saying that since I don't have soap on my facebook page that there is no evidence that I make soap. This is the first group that has not let me join.

Yes, shaving soap makers. I've tried everything from refreshing right away to waiting a couple days to revisit the page. How does one contact an admin?

I've been trying to join this facebook soap making group, but I'm not familiar enough with facebook to know if the group isn't accepting members or if something is not working right. When I click to "join group", it is pending for a few minutes and then if I refresh the page, it no longer...

Cardboard comes in many different weights. You can definitely find cardboard that will not bend. Cut any thick cardboard it to the size you want - hold together with tape or glue. Line it with thin plastic bag or cellophane wrap. You won't need anything too thick for a small box. Go to a...

I'm very different from most people making soap. I don't want color, fragrance or anything else in my soap unless I know what it is good for. It has to be a completely safe, natural ingredient or I'm not putting it on my skin. I don't look to color a soap, I look to add a useful ingredient. I...

The original design is a good one. An improvement can be made to secure the bottom by simply cutting a dado in the side pieces for the bottom to set in, or you could cut a half dovetail in the bottom and the sides, that would mesh to together to secure the piece. These can be cut by hand if...

I'm a beginner and have experimented a lot and I've found a couple things helpful. First, I make every recipe in the range of no more than 8oz to 16 oz total fat weight. This way, if it doesn't suit me, I'm not wasting much. Just give it away to a friend with a different skin type. I...

I've been using the pvc pipe with the plastic shelf liner and it works great. Just carefully cut it to length to fit the mold tight without an overlap and the soap will be round and smooth. It pushes out easily and the plastic peels readily. It is quite durable and will likely last for a long...

Everyone, thanks for all those great recommendations. It's funny, but I've hated shaving my whole life and now I know why. This soap has given me my first, not only comfortable, but enjoyable shaves ever. Who knew soap making could have such an effect! I look forward to shaving each day now...

LOL, not just yet, but I'm a knife guy - got lots of them, so I imagine one of those might just be somewhere in my future.

Thanks for the recommendations. I have no clue what's local, but I'll have a look around before I order anything. I actually ordered an Edwin Jagger DE89bl. I think the literature said it wasn't too aggressive and I figured I'd start out with something that looked nice but wouldn't leave me...

My KOH came in, so I made my 2nd batch. I like experimenting, so I changed things a bit. Oils were 25% CO, 20% PO and 5% Shea Butter. I brought the oils to trace without the stearic acid and then added the melted SA to the thick trace. I cooked it at about 180F for an hour and then added 1.5...

Maybe I'm too easily pleased, but I have less experience than you and haven't made much that I disliked. My first couple batches had no color and no scent - I not only liked them, but found out I had several relatives already buying a similar product from another soap maker. They tried mine...

That amazed me too, but unlike you I'm not lickin' no soap! When I was a kid, that was punishment. What really amazed me the most was the million possible combinations of different oils, superfat levels, additives, etc. Now, I'm amazed at how far off my original estimation was. The...