2 Issues

[Shalisk]

I have had these two problems ALMOST consistantly. No matter the recipe or the scent added, this makes me think its me, not my process so I figure I will walk you through the process I do (The end part, not the whole thing ) and see if you guys got ideas:

So, I have mixed the everything in my stainless steel bowl with my stick blender to light trace, pour into my mold and...behold, the bottom, (And sometimes all of it) has become a bananna pudding over the span of MAYBE (ta the longest) 5 minutes but still pourable, and pour into molds, do a bit of smoothing magic put in my 'cook box' and let it cook.

When I go to take it out...Cracks (Sometimes short, sometimes long) in my soap top. Never inward, always outward (think explosion instead of say ....sinkhole)

"But Shalisk" I hear you say "You have not told us the temps, or ingrediants or..."

Yes, dear reader, thats true because....it does not seem to matter. It has happened if I combine at 110 degrees or 78-80 degrees, it happens no matter what oils I use, it happens no matter what fragrance or color I have used....the only thing that remains constant is my curing box, but I dont THINK that could be it, and my location (Colorado) could it be the altatude?

My curing box is simple and easy to describe: Its a plastic box (at any walmart) with a lid that has a foam seal (Airtight/water right) I have a heating pad on the bottom, I place the Molds (in their metal holding racks, they are the silocone ones from ED) I put a folded towel along the sides (Four towels total) of each mold (I have two, side by side, for a total of towels.) put a custom cut (by me) cardbord peice over the top of each mold, towel over that, seal the box (Airtight) and turn on heating pad to medium or high, and it auto shuts off after 1 hour.....

Could it be the heating pad? The Box? The Altatude?

I didnt think the heating pad could make the box that hot? Or that my state would matter, but this is....crushingly annoying. Its the only thing (At the moment) that stops my feeling of progress (That and my horrible suckiness at colors )

Ideas?

 

[Obsidian]

I'd guess its overheating due to the heating box. I would simply cover your mold with the cardboard then wrap with a towel. Between the box, multiple molds and a ton of towels, its getting too hot.

 

[navigator9]

Airtight plastic box with heating pad and towels? My guess would also be overheating. As to the banana pudding, if I am understanding correctly.........you mix to light trace with the stick blender, but as you pour, the soap batter at the bottom of the pot is thicker? Here's what I do. I always have the mold on the counter, so that as soon as I've reached the desired trace I can pour immediately. Once the desired trace is reached, I remove the stick blender, insert my spatula and stir thoroughly, scraping the sides, the bottom, making sure all is well mixed, this only takes a few seconds, then I pour into the mold. I think sometimes, the stick blender does not mix the entire batch as well as we think it does. Stirring with the spatula insures that everything is truly mixed. Hope this helps.

 

[pamielynn]

I agree - too much insulation.

 

[seven]

me too.

try making a batch w/o all the insulation. just put the soap in the mold and let it do it's thing on its own.

 

[dixiedragon]

How much water do you use? I've found that increasing the water (I bump mine up to 40% on soap calc) helps slow things down.

 

[Bubli]

The only batch I did that I did not like Was done in the essential depot silicone/wire rack. Used it once and never again. I'm no expert, but I think the others are right, too much heat. I wish you future luck.

 

[Seawolfe]

Now that its summer, I have found that tossing a towel over my covered soap and striding briskly away is sufficient for gelling. In the winter it wants to be wrapped more snugly and put on my floor heater with the pilot light.

 

[cmzaha]

How much water do you use? I've found that increasing the water (I bump mine up to 40% on soap calc) helps slow things down.

Although more liquid slows trace down, it does contribute to faster gelling and heating

 

[Shalisk]

You know I had pondered that it might be over heating due to the box and the way I insulate but at the same time there are times that I get the cracks and they dont reach full Gel (Though it leaves a cool looking, perfectly square border around the soap )

I am pondering getting new molds, I have the tank coming in a couple weeks so I would like to stay with block molds but I really hate lining them. I saw one that was a huge flat slab that has plastic dividers but they looked like a pain in the.....yeah...

I am also still trying to figure out what size to pour them. 3 pounds of oil makes big bars hard to hold in the room mates hand (He has tiny lil paws!)

 

[LanaBanana]

My guess is that it is overhearing. Not only is your heating pad producing heat, but the chemical reaction of the soap is generating its own heat. The towels and non breathable container is trapping all of that heat in and I'm guessing it's pretty darn hot in there.

You mentioned that you don't think the soaps are fully gelling due to a lighter perfect outline. In my experience, this outline is like the part of the soap that is cured/dried. Like it cures from the edges first and moves toward the center. Do you notice the soap color evens out as the days/weeks pass and the soap goes through the curing process?

I would just lightly cover it and don't be afraid to peek at it as it's gelling. Uncover it if it is getting too hot, or add another layer if it needs a nudge to gel. That way you can get a better idea of when things are happening and you can actually watch the gel take place which is pretty cool.

Good luck!

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

 

[Shalisk]

Well its a darker color on the outside than the inside. And I havent really taken note of if they even out (I know im horrible) ill watch this latest batch though and see what happens. Next batch im going to try without the heating pad and minus the top towel....unless you think its the air tight box thats the killer in that case ill keep the towels and ditch the lid for a batch

 

[pamielynn]

I've had good luck with these molds:http://www.nurturesoapsupplies.com/2-5-pound-silicone-soap-mold/

 

[Susie]

...unless you think its the air tight box thats the killer in that case ill keep the towels and ditch the lid for a batch

I am not sure why you think an air tight box is necessary. If I am trying to gel a batch, I place the molds on top of part of a folded heavy beach towel or fleece throw, place a piece of cardboard on top of the molds(anything rigid enough to keep the towel out of the soap batter will work), then cover with the other portion of the towel. No airtight box needed. It is also easy and fast to uncover to check the soap often enough to prevent volcanoes. I check it about every 30 minutes for the first couple of hours, then once one hour later. After that, it is the next morning before I open it to unmold and cut.

 

[kmarvel]

Cut your bars smaller for the lil paws.

 

[Shalisk]

Cut your bars smaller for the lil paws.

I cut my bars in half for personal use. Easier on the hands. I may make the size of the bars I made for him, my own new size, they LOOK like they would be a good size but thats without any water loss so, we will see

 

[scotsman]

I would also guess that the problem is overheating. As far as the inconsistency of the trace, I alternate between stick blender and spatula. Takes a little longer to trace, but I've had no problems with my batter except for one time when I got soap on a stick and that was the fault of the Sandalwood EO I was using.

 

[pamielynn]

Are you saying the outside is DARKER than the inside? Are you soaping with milk?

 

[Shalisk]

Are you saying the outside is DARKER than the inside? Are you soaping with milk?

Yes, And no.

Yes darker, no milk.


And they seemed to have evened out now that its been a few days as suggested.

Tomarrow is soaping day, I will try it one way....but I could use a couple votes.

Who says "Less Insulation" who says "No top" and who says "No heating pad"

 

[pamielynn]

You may not be experiencing partial gel - I think the outsides are just darker due to air exposure. Give them a couple of days and see if the insides don't catch up - I think they will.

As for the cracks, that's overheating for sure. I'd use a top, but toss the heating pad and lighten up on the insulation. Give it one peek after about 2 hours of being in the mold to check for heating - then leave it alone. You can always leave a small corner open under the top. This is what I do. I insulate fairly heavily, but leave the middle of the top of the mold without the cover, but still under the blanket. In the winter you may have to go back to the heating pad and it also depends on your mold. A wooden one is going to keep the heat in better than a silicone or HDPE mold. I have to adjust my insulation thickness depending on which mold I am using, because I have all three types.