Castile question -UPDATE including pics w/beautiful model

[Dennis]

Ok, so the castile mold is in the fridge. I have never made castile or
ungelled soap so don't know what to look for. Right now after a few hours the soap feels pretty firm but is sticky to the touch. How will I know when to remove from the fridge and when to slice?

UPDATE - including pics w/beautiful model.

Bet I've got your attention! I took a peak in the fridge and the loaf has shrunk away from the sides of the mold. Took it out, it slipped out of the mold easily. Hm. Do ya think? Unwrapped the folds of the liner that Hazel and others took great pains to unsuccessfully teach me to do and don't know what I will do when this one is worn out and peeled it down the sides. As seen in the pic including the beautiful model, it did not sag and run all other the counter. It has been in the fridge since Tuesday so this is the second day.

The lovely hand model in training is pretty talented, dontcha think?

So, it's a tad sticky, not as much as yesterday and feels pretty firm. I decided to leave well enough alone and put it back in it's liner, drop it back in the mold and put it back in the fridge until you tell me differently.

Here my lovely hand model in training learned a valuable lesson, lighting is everything.
Back to the fridge and will wait until Friday and cut it up while everyone is freaking out trying to finish their last minute shopping. Unless I get the go ahead from y'all and take it out sooner.

 

[carebear]

Dennis, if it's to stay in the fridge I'd give it a week. Seriously.

At room temp, 3 days.

 

[Dennis]

Thanks. I'll leave it in there until tomorrow, then take out and let it fester for a few days.

 

[Dennis]

bump.

 

[Hazel]

Welcome back, Dennis!

Your soap looks lovely. I'm also impressed by the talented hand model. I see a wonderful career for her in your future pics.

Who's the beauty sitting in the chair?

 

[Dennis]

Thanks Hazel. That's ManKatt, although he is no longer a man. :shock: Brought him home from work as a 4 week old orphan. His mother was killed by a passing truck.

 

[BluebirdMama]

Your soap looks very nice, Dennis!

- Jody

 

[Hazel]

Thanks Hazel. That's ManKatt, although he is no longer a man. :shock: Brought him home from work as a 4 week old orphan. His mother was killed by a passing truck.

The poor kitty! I'm so glad he found a home with you.

 

[BakingNana]

Soaps looks so creamy and yummy. White chocolate. And pretty kitty! We lost our 18-year old this year. Miss the kitty, but not the cat hair.

 

[JackiK]

Dennis, if it's to stay in the fridge I'd give it a week. Seriously.

At room temp, 3 days.

OMG, Carebear, if I waited three days to cut my castile, I'd never get it cut. Mine is hard as a rock after about six hours. Since it's only OO, water, and lye, what could the difference be?

 

[Sunny]

I am quite impressed by the orange, hairy model <3

 

[cheesenoodle]

That looks so nice, awesome.
I'm confused - can cold process soap gel, at all, after you pour it when it comes to trace? I thought cold process didn't gel because you pour it at trace, but it seems like you put it into the fridge to stop gelling?

 

[Dennis]

That looks so nice, awesome.
I'm confused - can cold process soap gel, at all, after you pour it when it comes to trace? I thought cold process didn't gel because you pour it at trace, but it seems like you put it into the fridge to stop gelling?

Cold process isn't cold, just not cooked ala hot process. That is, unless you CPOP like me and put it in the oven for a couple hours and don't watch and forget about it and forget to set the timer because you were really into a good book or something like that. I have wrapped it in towels and foregone the oven in the summer and just set on a table in the sun.
I put it in the freezer and then in the fridge to stop the gelling. I wanted to see if the texture was as different as people say. Castile and non gelling are both firsts for me. So far I like. It probably would have been better to do one at a time with different batches but, uhh, oh well. Spur of the moment. We shall see. If necessary I'll cut it with a table saw. Should make for some interesting pictures. :shock:

 

[cheesenoodle]

Ok, so both cold process and hot process gel in the end. That makes sense. What I'm wondering too is, what you did was prevent gelling, but what is going on chemically there. And does it need a longer cure now that you stopped gel. Anyways nice soap, and thanks

 

[Dennis]

Ok, so both cold process and hot process gel in the end. That makes sense. What I'm wondering too is, what you did was prevent gelling, but what is going on chemically there. And does it need a longer cure now that you stopped gel. Anyways nice soap, and thanks

I'm told that castile has to cure longer. I plan to give it at least four months, maybe six.

The chemical reaction of saponification is slowed down by the cooler temps but still occurs. Just takes longer. Apparantly non gelling gives a smoother texture. Film at eleven on Wednesday, maybe Thursday.

Wait a minute, it's already Wednesday. Ok, Thursday, maybe Friday. Danged retirement. I do know it's 2011. :roll:

 

[Dennis]

I am quite impressed by the orange, hairy model <3

One of his more sedate poses. He has a collection of private by the pool pics also. We don't usually spread those around but since I know y'all...

Summertiiiiiiiiiiime, and the livin' is eeeeeeeeeasy.

 

[Relle]

Cute pose , Mankatt.

 

[busymakinsoap!]

They say everyone has a double - maybe it applies to cats too? Either that or they are long distance cousins??



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I love Ginger Cats, they have so much personality

 

[Dennis]

Wow, a twin! This is our favorite cat. We can hold him and carry him around and he doesn't care. The other two growl and run away.

 

[Soapy Gurl]

Your soap is beautiful! Now my understanding to prevent gel is to put the mold directly into the fridge after pouring. CPOP is a different process, you use it to insure gelling and speed up saponification. You don't use both these processes together!

edit - I am loving all the pics.