calculator puzzle

[soapfan2012]

I use this calculator,
http://www.soapcalc.net/calc/SoapCalcWP.asp

Accidentally I realized that when I use default setting water of 38% oil and 50% lye solution, it gives the same amount of lye that is 2 times less in the second case because it is 50% solution. I usually use 50% solution but just in case would like to know if it is a technical error or there is a scientific background.
:think::arrow::?:

 

[new12soap]

Not sure I understand your question. You can't use both, you have to click one or the other. Either way, the lye amount stays the same based on your oils and your superfat, only the water amount changes. I would also NOT recommend using a 50% lye solution.

 

[sistrum]

Not really sure what you mean either, but if you are using 50% sol. I wouldn't mess with that part of the calculator, just let it say what ever it wants because all you need is the lye amount and just double that for the water. Sorry not much help.

 

[jcandleattic]

I honestly don't know what you are asking either, but agree with new12soap - your lye amounts will not change for the same amounts of oil. That is how much lye regardless of the solution % you are using that will allow the oils to turn to soap. If they lye amount changes, it means you are superfatting more or less in your recipe.

I also agree I would not use a 50% solution.

 

[sistrum]

As for using a 50% solution it's up to you, it's your soap. Just make sure you have enough water to dissolve your lye and that it stays dissolved throughout the whole process. Remember that water plays an important part in the lather of your soap and some fats, like coconut, seem to use up more water than others. IME. You might like a 40% solution better, just a thought.

 

[VanessaP]

Your lye amount won't change for the same amount of the same oils. Whether you use the percentage of water as weight of oils option or the lye concentration option, your lye amount won't change. Your water amount will.

 

[soapfan2012]

well for the better understanding of my "quiz" I give an example:
I put 30% Coconut oil, 70% olive oil (for 1 kg) and for the default water of 38% oil I get 380g water+142g lye, and for 50% lye solution I get 142g water+142g lye, so for the same 1 kg oil the second recipe is using twice as less lye?!
what do you say now?

 

[Seifenblasen]

The amount of oils remains 1000g. The amount of lye remains 142g.

The problem is you are mixing apples and oranges. In the first option, you are looking at the amount of water in terms of percentage of oil (38% of 1000g is 380g). Whereas in the second option, you are looking at the amount of water as in percentage of the water-lye-solution (50% solution means water makes up half the water-lye-solution, therefore 142g water and 142g lye).

The soap calc lye calculator works just fine.

I also agree with other PPs that unless you are experienced and have specific reasons for doing so, try to steer away from the 50% lye solution.

 

[VanessaP]

well for the better understanding of my "quiz" I give an example:
I put 30% Coconut oil, 70% olive oil (for 1 kg) and for the default water of 38% oil I get 380g water+142g lye, and for 50% lye solution I get 142g water+142g lye, so for the same 1 kg oil the second recipe is using twice as less lye?!
what do you say now?

We understood your "quiz" just fine. Your LYE amount hasn't changed, only the WATER portion of the lye solution has changed. 38% water of the weight of the oils is 380g. This is the full water amount for CP and HP soap. This makes a weaker lye solution than your 50% - the 38% water amount is a 27.247 % lye concentration. Your 50% lye concentration is just that - 50%.

The lye concentration is not the same thing as the water % of the weight of the oil.

38% water as weight of the oils - 27% lye, 73% water. Your lye amount is still the 142g.

Then for your 50% lye concentration - 50% lye, 50% water. Your lye amount is STILL 142g. But because you are doing a 50% concentration, you have exactly 50% lye, 50% water, so your water amount is equal to the lye amount, 142g.

A 50% lye concentration is doable but not preferable. I usually only use a 30-33% lye concentration for anything that isn't 100% olive oil. For 100% olive oil, which I do not scent or color, I will use a 40% concentration. I don't like to mess with a 50% concentration to actually soap with because you run the risk of the lye not being all dissolved.

 

[new12soap]

well for the better understanding of my "quiz" I give an example:
I put 30% Coconut oil, 70% olive oil (for 1 kg) and for the default water of 38% oil I get 380g water+142g lye, and for 50% lye solution I get 142g water+142g lye, so for the same 1 kg oil the second recipe is using twice as less lye?!
what do you say now?

What do I say now? I say the same thing I said before, your lye amount did NOT change. Whether you are phrasing the question the way you mean to or not, you have been given numerous answers that all tell you the same thing, and then you said it yourself! 142g lye = 142g lye.

 

[soapfan2012]

Thank you everyone,
I cannot imagine how I managed making soap since now without knowing this. My luck is that I make soap only once a few month.