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I prefer to add my colorants (Mica or clays) to the melted oil and stick blend a few seconds to disperse the color and break up any lumps (clays especially). Then I proceed - add lye etc. For a beginner, this can eliminate headaches if they wait too long to add their colors and the soap has...

Highly recommend buying from Newegg.com. It's common for manufacturers to make variations (ahem, cheaper versions with less performance) of the same model depending on which reseller it will go to. Their website if probably just cycling through all the stock photo's they have. That's why I...

I use salt. Much cheaper than SL, and same results IMO.

Thanks @Dawni ! Early indications point to them being great soaps just based on the washing up :)

Made two batches of soap this weekend. I made a one pound batch for a co-worker that's been bugging me for some lavender scented soap. Divided the batch in half and did a ghost swirl. Turned out less ghosty than anticipated, but I like it. The other batch was almost a disaster. I had a...

IMHO I think that anytime you are making shaving soap either with SA or SW you should consider it a HP process due to the higher temperatures required to keep your hard oils melted. When I make shaving soap, I essentially make two soaps at once, and combine them. I calculate one batch using...

I made a test batch of soap using 15% red palm oil I got on clearance from BB. beautiful goldenrod color! Will use this in a “pumpkin spice” recipe this fall. Forgot to turn on the heating pad, so did not get a full gel. No worries this batch is just for me !

With that much SA it's never going to be easy to work with and getting pretty sides in a glass container is, in MYO, almost impossible. There always seems to be some air bubbles on the sides that you can't get out! That's why I've switched to using small plastic storage bowls that have a lid...

Update: I re-batched this and added in the Jojoba and Glycerine. Much better slip. I also think that the clay makes for a very dense foam that "sticks" well to your face. All in all I like this recipe - it's a keeper.

So I decided to play around with this recipe yesterday. I don't think Jojoba oil adds anything to the party besides name recognition, so I substituted PKO flakes instead. Batch in two parts: KOH + SA, NAOH/KOH + everything else. Part 1) 200 g Stearic Acid melted in mini crock pot. Added...

Guilty - That's what I get for not paying attention! We use Sodium bicarb to regulate the availability of Ca and Mg in the aquarium by balancing PH and CO2 availability. Serve me right for trying to sneak a few posts while at work :lol:

Thank you! Typo :oops:

For the most accurate advice, please post the recipe you used. Your soaping temperature is usually determined by what oils you are using. Hard to melt oils need higher temperatures to stay melted during the saponification process than room temp oils. Also, the higher the temp, the quicker...

Boil it for 20 minutes in 4x it's volume of water, change the water, and boil again. That should remove the majority of the baking soda. You could also add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the second boil. I use activated charcoal granules in my second boil to deodorize my tallow (check your...

I have a saltwater reef aquarium, and as someone who's mixed up 100's of gallons of saltwater I can confirm that it does contain both Calcium, Magnesium, and carbonates in addition to table salt (Sodium Chloride). The baking soda adds Calcium and carbonates to the batch. Sea salt, while...

How large a workspace are you planning on? Have you considered concrete countertops? I put in a row of 3 36" cabinet bases I bought from Ikea in my garage and built a mold to cast a 1.5" deep countertop for each. Stained and sealed them - virtually indestructible. Cost about $25 per 36"...

I think your recipe is fine as is. Where you will get the most "conditioning" effect is to have a high superfat percentage. I would go with 7 or 8%.

If I want my individual molded soaps to gel, I put them in a cardboard box with a heating pad. Turn on the pad, close the box up, and check every hour until I see complete gelling. Then just turn off the heating pad and let set until ready to remove.

I love Newcastle! Also Boddingtons Pub Ale. Great on a hot Texas summer day. :) One thing to watch out for: the darker the beer the more sugars it contains therefore the more likely it will accelerate and or gel. As for getting a green EVOO, just cheat and add some green coloring ;)

I've had success coloring beer soaps two ways: For a light green color I use an IPA beer with extra virgin olive oil (a nice dark green brand). For a tan I use a brown ale, and a stout will give a rich brown color. I've also made a Black & Tan by adding some Charcoal to 1/2 the batch.