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New comparisons of recipe's -shaving results. Without going into too many details I really like what the Mango as SF did for the suds- more of the silky feel we look for and noticeably easier to lather. Adding glycerin only made subtle changes to the conditioning/slip/cushioning elements- all...

What is the advantage of removing water from the soap? Especially in such a labor intensive way that surely this must be if we occasionally stir like a sauce? Wouldn't fans or freeze drying be easier and just as/more energy efficient- that requires little or no oversight? We could adjust the...

Great Lee!!!:thumbup:

That's going back to the one who loaned me the Synergy Soap I am using as one (vegan) reference. The XXX and 'for Chicago' were both recommended tallow recipe's from Italian Barber. It's just that price plus shipping goes higher than I would like- over my $3/ounce rule but I will troll around...

Please explain the difference- "mix...after the cook vs. at trace...more work"? Once the stearic is added it traces very fast there is no more cook time per se. I have been splitting up the cook to CO first then the SA last. Plus I thought adding after trace would insure it as non-reacted SF...

That I thought was Lee's suggestion and interpreted it as being used for skin conditioning as a superfat- correct me if I am wrong. The glycerine was added after trace on the second 1/2 of the same batch for experimental convenience. I just wanted the same recipe with more glycerin without...

Next Batch Complete! Mango was substituted for Shea butter (again after trace) - recipe was otherwise unchanged for one cup- Then I added 7.5% more glycerine to the next cup (1/2 the total) to bring it up to a full 15% glycerin as was typical with this recipe. The soap was getting harder to...

The temptation is always there to do too much and loose sight of the contributions each change makes to the whole and then how to correct or improve. :?: I get it. Ok- Mango substitution alone for the Shea next. Then I will try increasing the glycerin amount to 15% in the follow-up mix and use...

Not so sure Lee- I still have 2lbs of tallow to soap! (and thanks for the lanolin and butter advice after trace) Methinks I have much more experimenting to do. When supplies get low I may force myself to stick with something. Until then I feel like a kid in a candy shop!!:grin:

Well, since you have likely been there and done that already I will take the encouragement as good advice! (Like steering me to the original recipe/Songwind thread- Thanks again!!) I have been wanting to substitute the Shea for Mango and see what happens. Shea has been good for my skin but I am...

2nd Batch Pic's So my previous upload attempt seems to have failed- hear are the pics of the new batch (yawn)- not much different than before but with a yellow cast to them. The rear tub is the original recipe with foreground as newest.

2nd Batch results: So in the second batch I reduced the glycerin by half (to 1/2 tbl in 150g of soap) but added in 2-1/2% lanolin and 5% Shea Butter. This morning I shaved with it and everything was pretty much to expectations: Slip- Less slip than the original Songwind recipe but almost a...

Thanks Craig- I figured as much so I am saving all my cakes to try at various intervals. Shaved with the second batch this morning and the lanolin/shea butter combo helped- but seemed a step back on slip.

Thanks Lee- I have no problem using tallow- it just offends the vegetarians!:sick: I am sure that marketing aspect is more important to the professional soap makers than me.:think: I will do as you suggest- like I said, the tallow (2 lbs- best bang for the buck I could find) is on the way. I...

Newb does New Year w/suds! Thanks for all the help and support. It looks like my (our) first soap run is a success!! How do I know? Zap test- negative Shave test POSITIVE! Mix: 65/35 KOH/NaOH 55% SA 45% CO 1 Tbls glycerin after trace No FO 150 gram mix Before the soap had even cooled I went...

And it looks like they both use the basic recipe you like best: SA, CO, Tallow combination I went on line and purchased some tallow per your recommendations. I will let you know how the mixes turn out after I get all the revised ingredients/crock pot plus some extra time. And I appreciate your...

Thanks Susie- but that calls for a newbie clarification (:-o): So I can adequately blend in more scent as required later just by kneading in more like flower into dough? That just seems to confirm "simpler is better" when trying to do a recipe until I know how all the parts are interacting. I...

Thanks for the input! I realize scents are another complex challenge- one where we are often trying to please others as well as ourselves, should the scent linger much past the shave... Best for me to pass on that for now and keep focused on other characteristics of the soap until I have...

Great post Lee! That's why I am here and it is the right place to be.:clap: I will try the Songwind recipe first with a hydroxide mix, then when I get a batch that turns out well, I will use that as another control example to test your recipe against. Many thanks!!

Fun madness hopefully!:lol: I am thinking there was a lot of tweaking going on with this formula- which is based on another similar one- both well regarded by shavers. I have no desire to attempt it- I will just be using it as a "control" or "baseline" for evaluating my concoctions. Everything...