Any other desert soapers out there (questions on gel!)?

[tersh79]

I'm located in fabulous Las Vegas, NV. The last two batches I made were pretty small (1 and 2 lbs) and seemed to have overheated, causing crackling in the middle... the last batch I mucked up a bunch of things (first time coloring and 2nd time adding scents, a lemon FO - ended up having to add a bit of extra water to mix in some titanium dioxide, and I think I added quite a bit more Stained Glass Yellow powder colorant than I needed) but as far as I can tell the culprit is overheating. Have a look at the resulting hot mess of a soap:

I'm wondering if I'm over-insulting my soap mold? Room temp right now is about 85* (I'm cheap and it's a dry heat!) and I've been insulating with a wool blanket. About 10 hours after pouring this batch the surface temp was 104*F, about 20 hours after pouring it down to 88*F. How hot is too hot for soap??

I have only used this mold twice, and it seems to have cracked both times. The mold itself is 3/4" pine board. Do I even need to insulate?

Thanks!!

 

[Moody Glenn]

Hello! I was unable to see your picture so I am just 'winging it' right now. Does your recipe include any milk, sugar or honey? These can greatly help overheat and cause the batch to crack. My soap "studio" is in my basement where the temp is a constant 60 degrees F. For me to have complete gel (gel all the way through even to the sides) I use a heating propagation mat (one I used in my flower nursery). I set the wooden mold (1/2 inch thick) on it and then cover the mold with several towels. The mold does get very warm after about one hour in which I then turn off the mat. The mold and batter remains very warm to almost hot for a few hours afterward. About 24 hours later I unmold the cold soap and then cut the bars. I have not had any cracking EXCEPT for a batch of cinnamon scented soap. Many spicy FO's do help heat up the soap. My main recipe does not contain any sugar or milk.

To answer your question I don't feel you are soaping too hot but you may want to cover with a lighter fabric since you are using a slightly thicker board. This all depends upon if you don't use any milk, sugar or honey. If you do I would not cover at all. Some fragrance oils (depending upon the supplier) such as spicy plus some florals and citrus can help heat the soap too much. Colorants (with the possible exception of spicy powders) don't do anything to raise the temperature. Wish I could be of more help. Keep trying other scents and less fabric- you will eventually find the correct way.

 

[tersh79]

Thanks, Moody Glenn. I fixed the image. No sugar, honey, milk, etc., but first time using this FO, might try again with a different one and a little less insulation. Thanks!

 

[la-rene]

HI There! That looks like it might have overheated in the middle. Is it gelled there and no where else? FYI: I can't remember where I read this, but extra water = more heat. Apparently, if you don't want to gel a soap, a water discount is helpful. So, possibly, the extra water in your titanium helped to heat it up a little. Is your TD water or oil soluble? Just wondering. Mine is oil and sometimes I have problems with it.

 

[northernsoap]

Why are you insulating in the desert Try less colorant for one, 2 - keep your soaps open to the desert air. What's the point of making soap in the desert if you don't let them breathe? Try it and see if this doesn't make a diff.

 

[shunt2011]

During hot weather I don't insulate my molds much either. However, I do cover the top with a lid and check it periodically to check for possible overheating. I do use milks in my soap so it does seem to heat up a bit more than with just water. Once it starts saponifying I shift the lid so that it's not on tightly and some air can get to it. Rarely have a problem with partial gel or overheating. As previously stated some FO/EO's can cause overheating as well. I've never had a colorant cause overheating though. It's a bit of trial and error but part of the learning process.

 

[pamielynn]

That's definitely overheating. Did you say if you use a wood mold? Wood holds heat REALLY well. You could always pop your batch into the fridge for awhile to help prevent overheating. It will take longer to firm up, but I have some recipes that really heat up so that's what I do.

 

[tersh79]

Thanks everyone. My titanium dioxide is water soluble, and I'm guessing the extra water did have something to do with it. Next time, I'll try a bit of a water discount with the TD, and lid the mold but not insulate it. I'll let ya know how it goes! Hmm, is "I just had to try another batch of soap!" a good reason to miss work?


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[judymoody]

I live in New Mexico and I typically gel my soaps. In the summer I put them in the garage where it definitely exceeds your 85 degree inside temperature. I use wooden molds with silicone liners. I cover them lightly and check every half hour or so (it is OK to peek). When I can see the gel happening, I remove the insulation. By then the reaction is well enough established that it will gel all the way through. If it looks like they are about to overheat, I stick the soap in the refrigerator.

Soap does not need to breathe in the desert, IME.

 

[HorseCreek]

What is your lye from? I had this problem with EVERY batch of soap I made for awhile. I switched brands of lye and quit having the problem.
I also started soaping at cooler temps. Now I have to force gel if I want it to. I make all GM soap, and live in a desert like place, lol.

 

[tersh79]

What is your lye from? I had this problem with EVERY batch of soap I made for awhile. I switched brands of lye and quit having the problem.
I also started soaping at cooler temps. Now I have to force gel if I want it to. I make all GM soap, and live in a desert like place, lol.

I use lye from Lowes for now- not a big enough soaper to get the fancy stuff. It's been fine in my other batches, but I've kept it simple until now. I've been soaping at about room temp, 85-95 degrees for the oils/lye water here, although in the winter it'll chill down to 65*.


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[Ann Marie]

I am also from the Desert in CA and don't have Air conditioning in my house so i totally understand this. No need to insulate when it is this warm inside and out, I usually put my soaps in the fridge if I don't want them to go through gel stage but am fine with gel most of the time and if they do crack often it takes care of itself after the gel is over and if not I just use my fingers and 'paste it back together again'. Of course, other factors can make it heat up more fast and furious like the scent mostly. Anyway, glad to know I am not the only 'soap oasis' in the desert.

Good luck with the next batch!