Cutting soap?

[techiemeka]

Normally I soap with a fairly steep water discount and my soap, 24hr later cuts clean with a knife. For my recent attempts at swirls I used 38% but prob not enough sodium lactate as 1 week later the soap is still soft and when I try to cut, soap smears on the blade.
How long do you think I'd need to wait or is there another technique to get a clean cut?
Thx.

 

[lenarenee]

Normally I soap with a fairly steep water discount and my soap, 24hr later cuts clean with a knife. For my recent attempts at swirls I used 38% but prob not enough sodium lactate as 1 week later the soap is still soft and when I try to cut, soap smears on the blade.
How long do you think I'd need to wait or is there another technique to get a clean cut?
Thx.

Stick it in the fridge for a few hours and try again.
Was the recipe extremely high in soft oils?

 

[techiemeka]

Stick it in the fridge for a few hours and try again.
Was the recipe extremely high in soft oils?

Thanks for the fridge idea.
Yes, 80% OO, which is my normal recipe (with coconut and castor).

 

[lenarenee]

Thanks for the fridge idea.
Yes, 80% OO, which is my normal recipe (with coconut and castor).

That's a lot of soft oil! So if the recipe was formulated correctly it will harden up on its own, or do the fridge - maybe up to 12 hours before cutting. If you're going to continue using full water, look into adding sodium lactate. Salt might also help but I've never used for that use so look for more info on that.

 

[Susie]

I might would actually put it in the freezer for a few hours just to harden it up enough to cut.

 

[carlyjones]

Perhaps try bumping down to a lower percent! You don't have to have full water in order to do swirls!

 

[queennikki]

I also recommend using a freezer to help it harden up.

 

[techiemeka]

Perhaps try bumping down to a lower percent! You don't have to have full water in order to do swirls!

Good thought for next time. Right now I have a batch tho that needs cutting

 

[techiemeka]

That's a lot of soft oil! So if the recipe was formulated correctly it will harden up on its own, or do the fridge - maybe up to 12 hours before cutting. If you're going to continue using full water, look into adding sodium lactate. Salt might also help but I've never used for that use so look for more info on that.

Did add SL but my other batch crumbled so bad I reduced the amount of SL (from 3% to 1%). Next time will reduce water as well.

 

[techiemeka]

Stick it in the fridge for a few hours and try again.
Was the recipe extremely high in soft oils?

Put the loaf in the fridge overnight and the knife (pallet like) was still smeared with soap. I'll wait another week

 

[techiemeka]

I also recommend using a freezer to help it harden up.

Put the loaves in the freezer (for two days as I forgot it there). This time I was able to get clean cuts .... Tho needed quite the pressure due to being frozen solid . Thanks again for the advice.