First batch - smells like a sweaty Yak

[dixiedragon]

I don't know that you need to run out and buy a new slow cooker. Mine was $3 from Good Will. I keep mine on low for about 30-45 minutes, stirring about every 10 minutes or so - depending on how impatient I am feeling. Then I turn it to high, which seems to be what bumps it over the edge into Vaseline stage.

Congrats on your first batch! It may not look like you wanted, but it's SOAP and that's the most important part!

 

[Techie Joe]

WD40? In the US that's a lubricant. Hm. Don't know what Fisherman's Friend is. OK I googled it. Hm.

Fisherman's friend is a very strong eucalyptus.
WD40 is the same in Ireland, a lubricant that can loosen and clean aswel. Its a thin oil so might not make soap on its own, but smells nice to me, I will likely try to make a shaving soap with it.

Www.saveonscents.com

Though the first three are fairly common. Not sure how shipping will work for you though

Thanks, shipping from the US is usually in the region of $25 so I'd need to be buying a lot to make it worth it. That site has a very good range of fragrances though, I would shop there if I had a soap business.

There are a few places I can shop from here, things are in metric (100ml = 3.3oz), and postage from the UK is usually around €10
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/141021439796
https://www.thesoapkitchen.co.uk/
https://www.gracefruit.com/
https://soapsupplier.co.uk/products/
... and in Ireland ...
http://bomar.ie

 

[DianaMoon]

Its a thin oil so might not make soap on its own, but smells nice to me, I will likely try to make a shaving soap with it.

LOL. Well, try it...but I think this is one for the fragrance chemists! Perhaps you've stumbled on a genius marketing tool to men.

I know a lot of guys who feel nostalgic for the smell of neatsfoot oil....(because they used to oil their baseball gloves w/it.)

 

[cmzaha]

Fisherman's friend is a very strong eucalyptus.
WD40 is the same in Ireland, a lubricant that can loosen and clean aswel. Its a thin oil so might not make soap on its own, but smells nice to me, I will likely try to make a shaving soap with it.

If I am reading this right and you are talking about using WD40 in a shave soap I would not. It would not be considered body safe and would not hold the scent anyway

 

[NsMar42111]

I noticed something that might help you on my last few batches-using plastic wrap over the top instead of the lid seemed to lead to a more even cook (I was a stirrer), kept the batter more fluid, and I didn't have much batter drying around the edges during the cook. Might help? I used the Stay-tite yellow box wrap I found recommended somewhere

 

[earlene]

Please read the Material Safety Data Sheet for WD40: http://www.google.com/url?q=https:/...8B2oQFggSMAM&usg=AOvVaw155u8r3vsrSAph86sVaWyH
I would not even consider adding this to soap, before, during or after saponification. And certainly not near anyone's eyes. Even if you plan to be the only one to use it and only for shavingshaving, how can you be sure one day a guest may use your soap to wash their face and get some in their eyes?

 

[DianaMoon]

LOL. Well, try it...but I think this is one for the fragrance chemists! Perhaps you've stumbled on a genius marketing tool to men.

I know a lot of guys who feel nostalgic for the smell of neatsfoot oil....(because they used to oil their baseball gloves w/it.)

Joe - I really was joking about that. What I meant by this being one for fragrance chemists is that you should leave it up to them to create a WD40 fragrance. I agree with those who say it would be dangerous!

 

[Sandra@SS]

WD40 is a solvent blend, not an oil, as in an emollient. Regardless of your love of the smell, dont even be tempted!
My husband adores the smell of 2 stroke exhaust, it literally gives him goosebumps, and no, he cannot have a soap that smells of 2 stroke exhaust

 

[Techie Joe]

I've been looking at the data sheet for wd40 and your concern is not misplaced, it may be harmful over long term, namely (and relevantly) skin irritation and dryness, inhalation hazard, and don't get it into the body. But having said that, these engineering safety sheets have a wide margin for safety, they tend to try and cover every eventuality and often go over-the-top somewhat to cover themselves legally.

I've always had a can of wd40 around, having a bicycle, having studied robotic engineering in college and when making prototypes, in fact I had some on my hands yesterday, and I never ever had sore airways or got skin irritation, even when the stuff got into little cuts on my hands.

Having said all that, I won't be making soap with it except for a test sample, the main reason being that wd40 tests at around PH 5 or 6 (it was hard to tell because it makes the test strip transparent), which won't like my alkali soap at all.
https://cdn.wd40company.eu/wd-40/en-GB/uploads/2018/01/22135513/WD-40-MULTI-USE-PRODUCT-AEROSOL.pdf
(the American data sheet is a lot easier to read than the UK one)

Thank you for bringing this information into the light of day but please consider that there should be data safety sheets for every household product, and many of those could indicate similar hazards. For example prescriptions and medications that have adverse health effects, hair products that are flammable or corrosive, and if you consider cosmetic make-up to be a skin medication it puts all the ingredients in a different light.
Common sense should always prevail.

 

[SaltedFig]

TJ ... don't forget the menthol in the Fishermen's friends

If you are going to do a soap with eucalyptus and menthol (both will stick in cold process soap), you can buy menthol crystals (but watch them - they like to evaporate ).

And water dispersant in soap ... there's a funny idea.

 

[Sandra@SS]

y

I've been looking at the data sheet for wd40 and your concern is not misplaced, it may be harmful over long term, namely (and relevantly) skin irritation and dryness, inhalation hazard, and don't get it into the body. But having said that, these engineering safety sheets have a wide margin for safety, they tend to try and cover every eventuality and often go over-the-top somewhat to cover themselves legally.

I've always had a can of wd40 around, having a bicycle, having studied robotic engineering in college and when making prototypes, in fact I had some on my hands yesterday, and I never ever had sore airways or got skin irritation, even when the stuff got into little cuts on my hands.

Having said all that, I won't be making soap with it except for a test sample, the main reason being that wd40 tests at around PH 5 or 6 (it was hard to tell because it makes the test strip transparent), which won't like my alkali soap at all.
https://cdn.wd40company.eu/wd-40/en-GB/uploads/2018/01/22135513/WD-40-MULTI-USE-PRODUCT-AEROSOL.pdf
(the American data sheet is a lot easier to read than the UK one)

Thank you for bringing this information into the light of day but please consider that there should be data safety sheets for every household product, and many of those could indicate similar hazards. For example prescriptions and medications that have adverse health effects, hair products that are flammable or corrosive, and if you consider cosmetic make-up to be a skin medication it puts all the ingredients in a different light.
Common sense should always prevail.

You are funny!

 

[Zany_in_CO]

Hello Joe! I appreciate how you presented your formulation, ingredients and results. Well done. And congrats on your first batch. You're getting excellent advice from others. As for me, I have a quick question and a bit of advice.
* Why not come over to the Cold side? This is just me, but CP is so much easier than HP.
* We have a place where you can post a recipe and get feedback before you make it. It's called Recipe Feedback. Here's a link:
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/forums/recipe-feedback.34/
I'm looking forward to your next adventure. Keep up the good work!

Common sense should always prevail.

 

[Techie Joe]

Hello Joe! I appreciate how you presented your formulation, ingredients and results. Well done. And congrats on your first batch. You're getting excellent advice from others. As for me, I have a quick question and a bit of advice.
* Why not come over to the Cold side? This is just me, but CP is so much easier than HP.
* We have a place where you can post a recipe and get feedback before you make it. It's called Recipe Feedback. Here's a link:
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/forums/recipe-feedback.34/
I'm looking forward to your next adventure. Keep up the good work!

Thanks.
Well I did it, I posted today's recipe in the feedback forum.
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/second-batch-today-beef-tallow-with-coconut-sauce.69735/
So where do you recommend that normal day-to-day adventures be posted? I would have thought in the general forum.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

So where do you recommend that normal day-to-day adventures be posted? I would have thought in the general forum.

Here are some links. Take your pick. There's also a place for other Crafts and DIY Projects -- that one might be right up your alley, I'm thinkin'.

Beginner's Soapmaking Forum

Lye-Based Soap Forun

What Soapy Thing Have You Done Today?

Photo Gallery

General Chat

Post Your Happy

Post Your Gripe

 

[DianaMoon]

Well, how do you like that, I never would have looked up Neatsfoot oil on Soap Calc had we not been joking here about WD40 and such. First, I never realized that it's a natural product. I always thought it was some kind of contrived product.

"Neatsfoot oil is a yellow oil rendered and purified from the shin bones and feet (but not the hooves) of cattle."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neatsfoot_oil

And it's in Soap Calc!! But it has no fatty acids (according to Soap Calc, which I find weird) & would make a bad soap.

Boys in the US used to use it to oil baseball gloves. I don't know if they still do.

 

[DianaMoon]

Re: neats foot oil.

I'm not going to try - yet - but I wonder if you can make your own saddle soap with neats foot oil.

BTW, I did look it up and in some very old articles and books it says that it does have FAs, esp. oleic acid, but in Soap Calc I tried 100% neats foot oil and got nothing.

Just joking around can stimulate ideas. Thank you Techie Joe!!

 

[earlene]

DianaMoon, I think I recall a discussion somewhere on SMF how to make saddle soap. Try a search and I am sure you will find something.

Other than here, there are also other sites with information on making your own saddle soap:
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-keeping/tack-cleaning-active-ingredients.aspx
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Saddle-Soap
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddle_soap

There are others, but I found this article fascinating (tongue-in-cheek):
http://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=5173365
Some ball players may actually do that, but personally, I don't ever plan to put my softball glove in the microwave oven.

 

[penelopejane]

Some ball players may actually do that, but personally, I don't ever plan to put my softball glove in the microwave oven.

Are you worried it might end up smelling like sweaty yak?

 

[earlene]

Are you worried it might end up smelling like sweaty yak?

LOL Sweaty yak smelling microwave oven, yuk! Not that I know what that really smells like. Do yaks even sweat? What do I know about yaks? Next to nothing!

 

[Techie Joe]

I suppose this is a good opportunity to say quit your yakking, hehe

Yeah, go for it, find out what you can and experiment.
Don't wait for anyone's permission, or wait to be demotivated (like what happening to me on thread 2 at the moment)