1st go at CPOP

[Soapy J]

So yesterday I figured that since my new silicone loaf mold had arrived from Brambleberry that I'd go ahead and give CPOP a try. I used a recipe that has been speedy to trace so I thought I'd work fast but after adding my cucumber melon cybilla FO to the batch things kind of slowed down. I still went ahead and poured half in to my mixing bowl to throw my green in to and mixed. I feel like however that I poured my uncolored at too light of a trace. See first picture below to see if anything looks out of the norm. I then poured my green in the middle and did a simple hanger swirl. I'm worried because I have quite a few little bubbles this morning after taking it out of the oven that I've ruined this batch somehow. It also looks oily?!? Not sure if this is the way it's simply supposed to look or what. I may unmold this afternoon at the 24 hour mark but thought I'd see what you guys thought. I've read that silicone can keep it soft longer than normal... Thanks for the feedback.

 

[shunt2011]

I like your colors. It looks like it may have overheated some. I would just leave it and see if the oil reabsorbs. I don't usually CPOP but the first time I did it it turned out looking like yours. Just give it some time to see what happens. Also be sure to zap test it to make sure it's safe once you unmold it.

 

[seven]

i think your cpop is a success, seeing that it's all in 1 piece, no bubbles, no soap climbing out of the mold, etc. cpop-ing with silicone molds can be tricky, i ain't a fan myself. i would not worry too much about the oily part at this moment. give it some time to cure and see if it will absorb back into the soap. i had a seizing FO once, and when I unmold it, it was oily as hell! i just left it there, and after 2 weeks it is as dry as can be.

 

[Trinity]

I CPOP all the time and had the last 2 batches turn out that way. It overheated a little but it should be ok just wait a bit and the oils will reabsorb into the soap but I CPOP with wooded molds instead I heard that you get bubbles with silicone so I stayed away from them just to be sure but yours looks great and it should be fine

 

[Soapy J]

The CPOP was kind of a last minute decision... Not usually the way I work (I like everything to be well planned out) but I think next time I CPOP it'll be in a wooden mold after all that I've read over the last 24 hours. Glad it's not ruined and I just need to be patient before unmolding and cutting. I am however looking forward to seeing what these look like once cut and this patience thing with soaping really is working on me today!

 

[seven]

i remember my first silicone cpop. was in the oven for only 15 mins. freshly poured at thin trace, oven had just been turned off. bubbles... **** fakin' bubbles. i tried to push the top down but it was ruined already. dump it in the crock pot all at once. you got lucky, soapyj

 

[Soapy J]

I think I checked the oven a hundred times yesterday... We rent our house and I just knew somehow I'd be ruining the oven AND my soap shortly after popping it in there... Slow cooker was also on hand for any emergencies! Kind of makes me want to go try HP today since it's a snow day here...

 

[Tienne]

I had a Taiwan swirl that overheated and looked just like that and I just planed the top off and the inside of the soap was fine and just as smooth as a baby's bottom and none the worse for wear.

 

[Soapy J]

Well, still a little oily this morning... Not nearly as bad as yesterday though. Here's a pic of the spearmint eucalyptus with funnel swirl I did yesterday while waiting (no CPOP this time, everything at room temp)... Now the wait to cut!

 

[Dennis]

Not to worry. Looks ok. See my post on The Ugly Truth. :smile:

 

[Soapy J]

Not to worry. Looks ok. See my post on The Ugly Truth. :smile:

Thanks, Dennis. I've seen on here that some cut while oily, some wait it out. I'm not in a huge rush, just would like my mold back! (It's my only silicone loaf) This forum is great for bouncing concerns and ideas off of. I appreciate the comment and did check out your thread. -J

 

[Dennis]

You could take it out (ewww!) and put it on some wax paper or freezer paper to have your mold again. It might be soft and slick but not runny.

 

[grayceworks]

If you can carefully unmold it without mushing it -- or having it slide off the counter! -- then I usually unmold on some parchment or freezer paper, oil and all, carefully cut it, and lay all the bars in the oil, so there's more exposed sides absorbing the oil, and more exposed to air. I turn them on the other side the next day. And I run a fan, and it seems to me -- mind you, I'm not an expert, but it seems like as the fan helps the water evaporate, the bars suck the oil up quicker. Might be an illusion, or wishful thinking, but it works for me!

 

[neeners]

I think they both look great. now....the LOOONNNGGGGG wait to unmold and cut!

 

[Soapy J]

Still a little oily but popped right out this morning. I've been using our second bathrooms shower as a curing station so I'm going to sit the loaf in there with the exhaust fan on and see where it gets me.

 

[Soapy J]

Just a quick update with cut pictures. The cucumber melon CPOP is still a little oily but only on top. The rest of the bar seems to be fairly dry. I'm assuming by 4 weeks this will be gone? Or I'll just wipe it off?

The Eucalyptus Spearmint with funnel swirl turned out ok. I think it's got a little ash on top but will let you guys give me a second opinion.

 

[Dennis]

Looks great! Nice soap. Oily top will probably be gone by four weeks. Or not. Not a big deal. Leave it longer or wipe it off. Mine either reabsorbed or slowly but surely was wiped off by kitty cats wandering around. It was oily on the top and sides and bottom. Ugh! I suspect it was reabsorbed as no cat hair was found stuck to the soap. :-D
You'll find that the more soap you make the longer your curing times will be as there will be soap everywhere and you won't need the new batch immediately.

 

[Soapy J]

Looks great! Nice soap. Oily top will probably be gone by four weeks. Or not. Not a big deal. Leave it longer or wipe it off. Mine either reabsorbed or slowly but surely was wiped off by kitty cats wandering around. It was oily on the top and sides and bottom. Ugh! I suspect it was reabsorbed as no cat hair was found stuck to the soap. :-D

You'll find that the more soap you make the longer your curing times will be as there will be soap everywhere and you won't need the new batch immediately.

I hear you on the hair, our labs can put out a poodle a week it seems. My very first unscented batch went over so well that I may be out of soap very quick after this next week or so (white tea and ginger soap I made will be at 4 weeks this weekend). The requests are rolling in for "some of that GOOD soap" lol.

One question I have is if I rebatch a soap because the scent is just too much, how much scent will remain? My white tea and ginger is a tad overwhelming to some... I have used it all week to make sure it is good to go but boy is it strong.

 

[Dennis]

I've never rebatched. Someone else will reply I'm sure. As for strong scents, I've found that most will calm down a bit over time.

"A poodle a week" - I like that.:grin: