Disaster- please tell me what to do with this soap?

[saltydog]

Don't really know where I went wrong here, do I re-batch, or just throw it away. I think the yellow spots are fo, but what are those white areas on the top??



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[MeadowHillFarmCT]

Is this the batch that you posted yesterday that had undissolved lye at the bottom of your bucket after pouring into the mold?

If so I wouldn't take the chance... I'd toss it... However, I am new at soaping so maybe someone with more experience has a way to save it.

 

[saltydog]

Is this the batch that you posted yesterday that had undissolved lye at the bottom of your bucket after pouring into the mold?

If so I wouldn't take the chance... I'd toss it... However, I am new at soaping so maybe someone with more experience has a way to save it.

No, that wasn't me, I did read that post, though I can't remember who it was, sorry.
Things were going fine until I added my fo with this one...

 

[busymakinsoap!]

I would think that the white bits were ash? Have you done a zap test? If it doesnt zap it will be fine.

Some people think that some FO contribute to ash (Im not sure), but if you had concentrated spots of FO on the top then ash might be more likely to happen.

Sometimes I wipe the ash away with a cotton bud soaked in alcohol, but you can also use water.

It almost looks like your batch riced, which might be why the FO has pooled together.

 

[nattynoo]

Does the white stuff zap if you tounge test it???
I missed the previous thread about the undissolved lye... is it that soap?
Could be ash.... stearic maybe.... did it get hot in the middle, go to gel? Perhaps some FO sweated out.
If it doesn't zap then its purely visual.

 

[saltydog]

It almost looks like your batch riced, which might be why the FO has pooled together.

Thank you, all- busy, I think it did rice, it got little 'curdles' in it as soon as I poured in my FO. Until then, all was traced & good!

Just tried it, no zap! I guess that just means its damn-ugly soap, lol..
should I just try to rebatch due to its ugliness??

 

[newbie]

REbatching is such a pain and I have to say, the times I've rebatched, my soap looked uglier to me that the initial product, but that may be just me. Depends on what you want to do with this. If it's for personal use, I wouldn't bother.

 

[falldowngobump]

If there is no zap it's probably ok. With soaping sometimes you have to embrace those little imperfections....thats what I tell myself sometimes anyway.

 

[Elly]

I agree with newbie, rebatching is a PIA and the end product isn't very appealing IMO, I only do it if the soap is unusable, if it is only for cosmetic reasons I wouldn't bother :wink:

 

[soapbuddy]

Next time, add your fragrance to your cooled off oils and mix it in well. Then add your lye water.

 

[Soaplady22]

Yeah - what soapbuddy said!!

 

[judymoody]

I don't think it's a disaster at all. It may not be what you planned but I think it's better than you think. Certainly better than if you rebatched.

 

[saltydog]

I don't think it's a disaster at all. It may not be what you planned but I think it's better than you think. Certainly better than if you rebatched

Aww, thanks..I'm just using it myself anyhow..

Next time, add your fragrance to your cooled off oils and mix it in well. Then add your lye water.

Really!? Thank you for this!!

 

[PippiL]

I wish I could get the picture thing working....I rebatched the other day, I first hated it, but than it turned out fine....
I have them posted on my blog. everythingandsoaps.blogspot.com,
( no I'm not advertising my blog,it's not that great )
look under rebatched soap with the stamp.
I also like with rebatching, that the FO sticks better to the soap.

 

[saltydog]

I wish I could get the picture thing working....I rebatched the other day, I first hated it, but than it turned out fine....
I have them posted on my blog. everythingandsoaps.blogspot.com,
( no I'm not advertising my blog,it's not that great )
look under rebatched soap with the stamp.
I also like with rebatching, that the FO sticks better to the soap.

Sorry I keep replying to everyone, I'm not sure of the forum etiquette for that: I want to but I don't want to make the thread 10 miles long, lol.

Pippil, I have to admit I am a bit curious about the whole rebatch idea, and might just have to try it anyway. I totally understand how it can be a PIA, & I'm glad my soap did not zap me, but I'm thinking it may look better with a bit of color?
I have this nice orange oxide from BB that I've been wanting to try.

One more question (yeah, right) does the soap need to be cured completely to rebatch?

And, I really like your blog, your rebatched soap looks great with the stamps, but that carrot soap looks soo good now I want to try that too!

 

[soapbuddy]

Rebatched soaps can be used right away, but it's better to wait at least a week for some of the water to evaporate. The soap lasts longer in your shower if you wait a bit.

 

[PippiL]

I think you can rebatch right away,I heard the earlier the better, the soap is still fresh and you don't need to add as much liquid.The soap with the stamp, was very fresh, too.
And thanks.....I hope the carrot soap, doesn't have colored suds, I just added a topic on that earlier.....

 

[saltydog]

Next time, add your fragrance to your cooled off oils and mix it in well. Then add your lye water.

Thank you for this tip. I wanted to try it, used a different FO. I waited until my oils were 100 deg. My lye was at 110, is this temp difference ok?

When I added my lye, it almost seemed to be too much FO, (I used .5/lb) because even though I incorporated it really well into the oils, it seemed to separate ever so slightly.
It almost looked a little like applesauce, but not nearly as thick. I guess adding FO to your oils before trace is only a last ditch effort to prevent seize, or do you do this each time? Sorry so many questions, who knew this was such a temperamental art!
Although I appreciated some good soap porn before, I have a new respect for all you talented soap artisans out there!

I tried an ITP swirl, and it looks ok now, I can't wait to cut it tomorrow, hopefully everything will come together well...*fingers crossed*


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[soapbuddy]

I add any fragrance to my cooled off oils each and every time. That way it's one less things that I know I won't forget.

 

[Jezzy]

That is what I do too Soapbuddy, I always add he fo/eos first.

Could it be that your soap got a little hot? I had a batch with white marbling too and mine got a little hot