1st batch poured, whew!

[Mindyw86]

Ok, so I just poured my first batch.....it went really well, I think... A little stressful though, lol. The only stressful part really was the stick blending. I had never used one before and it was more powerful than I thought it was gonna be, it kept trying to suction to the bottom of my pot! At least that's how it felt to me! I guess I just wasn't expecting that pull! All in all though I think it went smoothly, I kinda don't think it's gonna gel either. I just left it alone to do whatever it wants. Can't wait to get it out and see what the outcome is!

 

[hlee]

Congrats!
The stick blender surprised me also.
It gets less stressful and have fun waiting... and waiting... to get that out of your mould.

 

[ruby61]

Congrats! I am sure it won't be your last!

 

[Badger]

Congratulations!! Looking forward to seeing pictures ;-)

With me, I keep being paranoid that I am going to hit false trace and then I over mix my batch so it is really thick when I am trying to pour it into the mold. I am still getting used to using the stick blender myself, and being a little paranoid about it, because someone mentioned that they had one like mine and it died after only a few batches, so I am trying to baby it

 

[melstan775]

I wasn't expecting the pull of the stickblender either, but there you have it. Like badger my stuff gets thick too quick. I just can't trust myself to know what thin trace is yet. However, I have discovered that I trace quickly so I am going to just go for it next time and see what happens. Don't forget to burp your blender and only run it in small increments at a time, say 30 seconds, to increase the motor's lifespan, and to just stir in between. I generally let it go for about 10-15 seconds at a time, and use the lower speed. From one newbie to another, that's my 2cents. :-D If my blender does burn out, I'm going to get the cuisinart. I paid $20.00 for mine, for $12.00 more I can get the good one, in pretty pink from brambleberry, so might as well. :-D

 

[Mindyw86]

Thanks y'all! The waiting is probably gonna be terrible because I am highly impatient usually, lol.

Melstan, thanks for the advice. I will try to remember, I did do short increments I think I poured at a medium trace....it poured nice with no need for slopping it in.
I paid 20 for mine too, I got a Hamilton beach from Walmart yesterday....I am glad to know y'all's seem to pull too and it wasn't just me! Lol

 

[Lindy]

Congrats! To keep it from attaching itself to the bottom of the pot angle it a little bit... Looking forward to seeing pics....

 

[christinak]

Oh I think that's the one I have! So far so good!

 

[Smee]

MINDY!!! Hey Mindy!
Wake up!
Go check it!
.
Is it soap yet?
Is it soap yet?
Is it soap yet?

 

[lsg]

My first batch was also stressful, but here I am years later still soaping.

 

[Mindyw86]

I'm up, I'm up! I have a 2 year old who never let's me sleep in! Lol
I already checked on it and it is still soft....I don't think it gelled, but I hope I can unmold it tonight, but I guess I will have to wait and see! I hate waiting..........

 

[lsg]

You might pop it into the freezer for a couple of hours. That should make it solid enough to unmold, then it can cure for several weeks.

 

[Mindyw86]

I just popped it in the freezer! Hope in a few hours I can pop them suckers out!

I am using the 4 cavity 1 lb loaf from NG and even though I only made 1 lb it was too much so I put half in 2 loafs side by side.....one seems to be a little harder than the other, is there are reason for that? Or can that just happen sometimes?

 

[Lindy]

I find loafs actually firm up much faster than the small multi-cavity ones, it because more heat is generated when it is concentrated together like that allowing for gel.

 

[Smee]

"...I already checked on it and it is still soft....I don't think it gelled, but I hope I can unmold it tonight, but I guess I will have to wait and see! :sad: I hate waiting.........."

Spoken like a true soapaholic :mrgreen: