Search results

Soapmaking Forum

Help Support Soapmaking Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
  1. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Thanks, that makes me feel better! I think I may have figured it out. I used 100% goat milk instead of water. I bet the little dots are milk fat globules that soponified before the lye solution was mixed with the oils. Also, I tried to force gel on a heating pad. I don't think it gelled, but...
  2. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    I cut my soap this morning, and oh my land, it looks amazing to my beginner, untrained eye! But it fell victim to a terrible, uneven cutting job, and it has some mysterious little orange dots in it... I checked all the oils I used and none of them are even close to their expiration. It couldn't...
  3. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    I guess I'm still new enough and addicted enough that the mistakes didn't dampen my enthusiasm one bit! I have too much outside work to get done today to have time to make another little batch, but maybe I'll have a chance to play tomorrow!
  4. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Oh dear, I am sorry! The soaps I've had to glob into the mold ended up looking a lot better than I thought they would. I'll bet yours smell wonderful! I'm using all natural colors and essential oils, too. That adds to the challenge of the challenge! Did you use beef tallow? I have only ever...
  5. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Have you cut your soaps yet?
  6. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Lots of learning happened today! Mostly I just made a bunch of dumb mistakes. First, I failed to remember that the lye solution would affect the total amount of soap, so when I divided the soap for colors very carefully by weight, I had a lot of batter left over. Had to scramble to find bigger...
  7. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Lovely fail! I still want to try another time or two before I decide which soap to enter. Lots going on this spring, but I should still be able to make time for a couple small hanger swirl batches before the deadline.
  8. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    I hope we get to see all the non-entered attempts after the challenge ends. I think that would be fun and educational!
  9. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    CLMP, I hope you're feeling all better now. I'm glad your soap turned out pretty!!!
  10. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Looking forward to hearing how your soap turned out, and hoping that you're feeling better soon!
  11. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Same here. My soap only had holes in the end pieces from being to stiff to pour. The swirl turned out almost exactly like I hoped it would! I want to try again to get more vibrant colors. Also, I made a pair of hanger tools with a coat hanger and silicone straws. The one I originally used was...
  12. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Did your soap ever harden? How did it turn out?
  13. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    I don't think the fragrance sped up trace. I used lavender, sage & rosemary essential oils. I've made this blend before without a problem, but I also added extra water last time to slow it down. I'll try that again, and use a different recipe with lard instead of tallow. I'm almost positive my...
  14. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Some people are slow learners. I over-blended my batter *again*, and the soap set up too fast. By the time I "swirled" the soap it was so thick I had to hold the mold down while I pulled the hanger up. My guess is that it's full of holes inside. Should be able to cut it tomorrow morning. It'll...
  15. A

    May 2024 SMF Challenge: Hanger Swirls!

    Sign-up list: 1. Justsomeguy - it's gonna be nerve wrecking but I'm in. My first venture into multicolored soap😬 2. Ackosel - I need to get a hanger and learn how to use it. Expecting to enjoy the learning process, submit a very unimpressive entry, and have fun doing it!
  16. A

    Gel phase success!

    It smells a little like car tires at the moment.😄 I've made this recipe before and the scent goes back to subtle vanilla as it cures. The cardboard box I found to use for an insulator was 1/4" too short to fit over my mold. I'll keep looking out for one so I can eliminate the towel, too! Thank...
  17. A

    Gel phase success!

    I am starting to experiment with gelling goat milk soaps. This is a goat milk and vanilla recipe using benzoin resinoid as the only additive. I used a heating pad on low for about 3-4 hours, and had what looks like a successful gel. Pictures are partway through and coming out of gel phase. I...
  18. A

    Wound care @ home

    Correct, do not put arnica cream or gel on broken skin. But you can take arnica in pellet form by mouth. My mother used to bite or snip open vitamin E gel caps and squeeze some onto cuts a few times a day to reduce scarring.
  19. A

    Benzoin as scent fixative

    It was resin, and all I did was warm the bottle in a warm water bath before adding it to the batter at trace.
  20. A

    Benzoin as scent fixative

    I used 1/2 oz Benzoin Resinoid in 16 oz of oils as the only scent/color in my batch of goat milk & vanilla soap. This is how it looked at cutting, and again 2 1/2 weeks into curing. The scent isn't strong, but very pleasant. Edited to add the second picture that didn't stick the first time.
Back
Top