Did something go wrong??

[Rickysa]

Hello forum!

I've read and read, and am on batch number six...but I'm not sure if things are turning out the way the are supposed to.

I'm following the recipe exactly, getting trace, saponifying in freezer-paper-lined wooden molds kept warm overnight (by my daughter's jacket...she hasn't really missed it much ), but this last batch left a very oily layer on the freezer paper when removed from the mold.

The recipe is supposedly superfat, and made from Susan Cavitch's "Soapmaker's Companion"...I don't want to include the recipe here, as I'd guess it would be a copyright issue, but for those with the book, it's the "Build me a Buttercup" recipe.

The first two batches of soap (from a different recipe) I mixed too long past trace (immersion blender) and they began to harden immediately when poured into the molds...these new soaps, however, I was very careful to stop at the early trace, and when poured, looked like a "broken" hollendaise sauce (some oil separation). The soap is also quite soft and indents relatively easily with a finger.

It's still curing (2 weeks now) and no longer has an oily sheen/feel and seems to be hardening a bit as well...

I'll try to post some pics in a bit.

Rick

 

[AmyW]

False trace maybe?

That seems to be my answer for everything lately! Are you making sure that it still traces with the SB off?

 

[Rickysa]

Amy, thanks for the response...as best I know, yes. I drew a "bead" across the surface with a wooden spoon, and it appeared like the pics in the books/videos I've looked at.

I didn't notice the "break" until I started pouring, and it wasn't completely like that...just towards the end of the pour...(maybe the bottom of the bowl didn't get mixed enough??)

I've not seen that term before "false trace", as I am brand new to this...need more books!!

Rick

 

[AmyW]

I would say it was false trace going off my limited knowledge if you had noticed it at pour. False trace happens when it looks like trace with the SB on, but when you stir it well with the SB off, the trace goes away... it can't be quite tricky to figure out at first. Other things can cause separation (...I don't actually know what they are though, I'm still really new myself) but I would say you need a bit more time with the SB.

A quick aside: lye eats wooden spoons, literally, switch to high heat silicone or stainless steel

 

[Rickysa]

LOL at the wooden spoon comment...when I went to the soap sink yesterday, that sucker looked baaaaaaadddd!

I'm making another batch once my lye gets here and plan to take it farther past the initial trace. I was gunshy from the first two batches freezing up during the pour, so we'll see!

Rick

 

[soapbuddy]

Don't use a wooden spoon! Over time it will splinter and those splinters will end up in your soap. One way to know if you reached true trace is to take a silicone spatula or a stainless steel whisk and stir the soap in trace. If it stays creamy, then you should be ok.

 

[Rickysa]

Oh, I pitched the wooden spoon! Thanks for the info on testing the trace...I'll be sure to do it on the next batch.

Actually, now that I think about it, I did it on the last batch when adding the essential oil...previously, I used the SB, but it chopped up the saffron threads (a bid "duh" on my part). The spatula mixing did stay creamy, although I didn't do more than just disperse the oil.

Rick

 

[AZ Soaper]

Since they were different formulas you just may not have mixed it long enough. Did you discount the water in the first 2 and not the second?

Give that last batch some time. The oil may absorb and may firm up with time. Also were your base oils the same in the formulas, that may have something to do with it.

Also every batch traces different depending on the oils temps etc., and I'm sure you know that. But keep working at it. You will eventually get the feel of trace.

I had about the same luck as you did, first 2 batches were perfect, then I tried a different formula and instant seize. So keep at it. I don't think you are doing anything wrong overall just the soap gremlins at work!

 

[cowgirl4him]

Did you run that recipe through a lye calculator to see if the amount is right?

 

[Rickysa]

CG, the recipe is a sort of a standard one from the book that the author adds some bells and whistles to make additional soaps. She professes that the recipes are for "superfat" soaps, so I wasn't sure if that was the reason for seeing a different result. With only 5 batches under my belt, my degree of discernment is a tad lacking .

I will do a check, as I haven't before, and it is something new to learn...thanks for the comment!

Rick