CP Oil Melter

[MasterGiff]

So quick question for anyone who has knowledge of melters. I'm curious if there are any melters out there on the market that you can melt to the specific temperature needed for CP like 110F? I have been looking around the Internet for years and never seen one that you can set to a specific temperature. I know the quick answer is to melt your oils in one then fill up your container and allow to cool to the proper temp. But that's why I'm curious if there is a melter that you can digitally set to the exact temp you want your oils. Or even if there is an analog one that heats to the correct temp for CP? Any and all suggestions welcome. I've made my CP in a crockpot and a double boiler. I don't have a gas stove these days so getting a double boiler to the right temp is more difficult now and my crockpot heats to around 160 on "keep warm" setting. Thanks in advance.

~MG

 

[justsomeguy]

You could repurpose candle wax melters. The digiboil seems to be a popular one but the thermometer is reportedly not accurate

 

[Ephemerella]

I don't have any experience with melters yet. My process to date has been using the microwave. I batch my hard and soft oils into a large container and melt them to a specific temp in the microwave, and then allow them to cool to the temp I want to soap at. I like my oils to reach a relatively high temp, and then let them cool as I believe that helps me avoid stearic spots.

Having said that, I'm wanting to do more soap batches in less time.

I currently have this melter for candles and love it
https://makesy.com/products/candle-wax-melter?variant=44761715212442

I've been finding it to be pretty accurate and holds it temps quite well. I don't go by the thermometer setting, but instead temp using a infrared thermometer gun. Its always going to be warmer closer to the element in the bottom, than the top, but I've found that once I pick a setting I can keep the temp pretty consistent for hours at a time.

I just bought another one I'm going to try using for cp soap oils. It has the range to get me to the top end I want to be at, and then settle down into the low range for dispensing for immediate soaping. I'm hoping to give it a spin next week.


Edited to add: https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/does-anyone-here-use-a-hot-plate-in-their-business.93856/

There have been discussions about this, possibly with more targeted answers than I can provide, and I got the idea for my (hopefully) solution by reading this thread: https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/using-a-coffee-urn-for-masterbatching-oils.93992/