renaissancemom
Well-Known Member
how long do you all cure for with CP? I know the average is 2 - 4 weeks but what do you all do or does it depend on the receipe? Is the zap test the best way to tell if a soap is ready?
cure period
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G
Guest
The zap test only tells you whether or not your soap is lye heavy (unless you zap test while it is still saponifying, in which case you'll always get a zap).
Soap that has has cured 4 weeks or more lasts longer, even at 2 weeks I've found the soap is mild enough to use but doesn't last very long.
Soap that has has cured 4 weeks or more lasts longer, even at 2 weeks I've found the soap is mild enough to use but doesn't last very long.
i'm a bit ignorant about this zap test...i know you are supposed to touch your tongue to the soap and see if it zaps....but what is the zap supposed to feel like?? when i've done it i've just gotten a mouth full of soap which doesn't taste good....but i've not gotten anything resembling an electric shock type feeling. is that what it is supposed to feel like, a shock?
G
Guest
rubato456 said:
It feels like the schock you get when you touch your tongue to a 9 volt battery.Better than that soap taste .lol
LJA
Well-Known Member
In my limited experience, I find that 2 weeks is nowhere near long enough for me. Feels too drying to me, still. I do 4 weeks minimum, but like 6 weeks even better. It really starts to feels nice then.
G
Guest
I usually try out a small piece of a new soap right away , if there is no zap. If it is nice and bubbly then , you know it is going to rock when it is cured.I like mine to cure for at least 6 weeks or longer.
Kitn
Kitn
LJA
Well-Known Member
Kitn, I always cheat and try it for bubbles right away too. Who can wait that long? LOL!~
my first batch will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. it seems like it's taking forever!! it is getting quite nice and hard by now..though i can see that it co8ld be even harder in a few more weeks. i did cheat and i have a few scraps i use at the kitchen sink to wash my hands. it's excellent!
AshleyR
Well-Known Member
I'm with Kitn! I will try mine right away - and sometimes I even use it on my hands after about 2 weeks. Butttttttt I find it's nicest when able to cure for at least 6 weeks. Any time before that it is still kind of soft-ish and it doesn't last very long.
kaseencook
Well-Known Member
rubato456 said:
When I first started soaping I wanted to experience the zap, so I took a tiny dab of trace batter on my gloved finger and just barely touched my tong- WOH! And cleaned the tip of my tong before putting it back. That will give you a good idea of the max zap you can experience, so when you zap test your soaps you can gage your soap's lye heavy/uncured ness in relation to what the max zap is. :shock:
G
Guest
I've never experienced the zap but I did try it and felt really silly LOL. I always test a tiny crumb after cutting to see the bubbles, see if it's a working soap etc
G
Guest
I prefer wetting my finger, rubbing the soap a bit and then touching my tongue with my finger to test zap..... rather than licking the soap directly....
And you will know if you get the zap, it will feel like a light electrical buzz. Like touching your tongue to a 9 volt battery as others can attest to.
And you will know if you get the zap, it will feel like a light electrical buzz. Like touching your tongue to a 9 volt battery as others can attest to.
AshleyR
Well-Known Member
You will know it if there's a zap! It doesn't hurt, but you will feel it. I know I was worried I wouldn't feel it if it happened, but I recognized the 9 volt battery "ZING!" right away.
Yep, you'll know zap when you feel it. 
It's pretty unmistakable. It's like the soap spitefully bites you back for having the audacity to lick it.
I cure mine for a minimum of 4 weeks. The longer you cure it, the harder it will get, the longer it will last, the bubblier the lather becomes,....... and best of all- the milder it will feel on your skin, even if there was no zap earlier on right after you unmolded it.
IrishLass
It's pretty unmistakable. It's like the soap spitefully bites you back for having the audacity to lick it. I cure mine for a minimum of 4 weeks. The longer you cure it, the harder it will get, the longer it will last, the bubblier the lather becomes,....... and best of all- the milder it will feel on your skin, even if there was no zap earlier on right after you unmolded it.
IrishLass
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