Do I have the wrong lye?

[Rcook1097]

As you suspected, brand new soap maker here. I have goats and wanted to try goat milk soap. I meticulously measured the lye and the frozen goats milk. I hade an ice water bath ready as the instructions said not to let the mixture get above 140 degrees. It barely got up to 70 which was an issue because the recipe called for the lye mixtures to be combined with the oil mixture when both reached 90 degrees?? What the heck did I do wrong? I am using rooto drain cleaner which says 100 % lye. On the back it says sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, lye) suggestions? I tried the lye/frozen goat milk mixture twice!

 

[melstan775]

Well, I think what they mean is no to let your mixture get hot. But yours stayed cool probably because you iced your milk and had an ice bath. Did your soap set up to become soap? If do no worries. Just because goat milk can get hot doesn't mean it will get hot. Mine got warm but not hot hot, and I actually had to insulate it to make it gel.

 

[jcandleattic]

you didn't do anything wrong. with the ice bath, your lye solution probably wouldn't get very high. the oils and lye solution don't have to be the same temp, but it's easier (and less of a possibility of seizing) when your oils are either the same or a lower temp than your lye. it mixes better that way.

 

[cerelife]

Rcook, I use Rooto all the time since I can get it at our locally-owned Ace Hardware. I know it's more expensive than ordering it online, but I like to support hometown business owners whenever possible

 

[jeremmy]

It was probably the correct lye. I never have a problem with overheating. I have to do cold water baths rather than ice baths so that the temps stay warm enough for the lye to even dissolve in the water. That is probably because I keep my water in the fridge (and you used frozen GM).

 

[jcandleattic]

It was probably the correct lye. I never have a problem with overheating. I have to do cold water baths rather than ice baths so that the temps stay warm enough for the lye to even dissolve in the water. That is probably because I keep my water in the fridge (and you used frozen GM).

I use frozen GM and the lye dissolves just fine, and I have to add it slowly so the GM doesn't burn/scorch and give off an awful smell and turn orange.

 

[houseofwool]

When I use frozen milk, I have a hard time getting my lye to warm up above 75 degrees... But, I do like the creamy color that I get when it stays cool like that.