First Cold Process - Troubleshooting help?

[leLuckyDuck]

I made my first cold process. Here are the details and notes. I was wondering if anyone could identify what happened. I decided to go non-gel which might be ambitious but I don't have a warm place right now that is out of reach and/or not in everyone's way. Is my problem the recipe, method, normal, the temp at mix? Got my % of oils from Soap Calc Pro app.
Crisco 57.4%
Coconut 32.8%
Olive 9.38%
Water Discount 38%
Superfat 5%
FO 1oz/1lb
Temp at mix 140
Wooden mold 1lb
Non-Gel, Fridge 24hrs

Seemed to have gelled but not in a circle, just a general translucency
Edges are more opaque
Soft, sticky and little oily 36 hours later


Thanks!

 

[Genny]

Soaps that you put in the fridge/freezer to keep from gelling will take longer to harden since you've slowed down saponification.

Also, some fo's do overheat, which would heat up the soap even if you refrigerate it, add that to the fact that you used a wooden mold (which holds heat well) & that you soaped at such a high temp, would explain the partial gelling.

 

[Shannon_m]

In my experience you soaped at a pretty hot temperature. I soap at room temp, but that's not for everyone. I know that the majority of those I know who soap warmer than I do soap around 110 ish. I would assume this is why your soap gelled. This is just a blind guess from your info, I hope this helps.

 

[lsg]

Your oils don't add up to 100% as listed. I added the .4% to the Crisco and used the old formula Crisco as a choice. You didn't state whether you used the old or new formula Crisco. SoapCalc shows water at 6.08 oz and lye at 2.31 oz for one pound of oils. You don't list the weight of your lye or water, so it is hard to tell if you made a mistake with that. Did you stick blend to a complete trace? Your soap may not have reached a true trace and may be separating. It is hard to guess without a picture.

 

[leLuckyDuck]

I'm sorry, that was supposed to be 9.8 Olive. I used the New Crisco. Water was 6.08 and lye at 2.30. Yes there was definitely trace. I think I am going to try cooling everything down much more next time to see what happens.

 

[lizflowers42]

Congratulations on your first soap! I'm fairly certain you already have heard how addicting it it. Don't throw it away, give rebatching a shot. Lots of people on here hate rebatching, but hey, if you've already spent the money on the supplies, why not at least use it? I have had some great rebatches and some horror stories with using too much liquid, but it's just for me, and my family...and we aren't expecting much of ourselves

 

[leLuckyDuck]

Thanks! I know it's just a matter of time before I have soap all over the place, much like I have scrubs, lotions, balms and sprays. I have a feeling I'm going to REALLY love this!

I will give rebatching a shot.

 

[Badger]

I really want to try my hand at making lip balms, but need to get supplies and can't manage that yet, plus I am too focused on the soap right now

 

[Timber]

I would give it a few more days before deciding that it did not work. Non-gelled soaps can take a long time to firm up.

 

[leLuckyDuck]

Will do! Thanks everyone for their input! so hard to know what I'm looking at when I don't know what I'm looking at.

 

[houseofwool]

Will do! Thanks everyone for their input! so hard to know what I'm looking at when I don't know what I'm looking at.

Is that the truth!

I made soap on Saturday, stuck in the freezer and fridge to prevent gelling (I used a Orange EO) and I think I might be able to cut it today. Maybe.

I also made a different batch of soap that I didn't gel that I still can't remove from the mold. I should have forced gel on that one, but didn't.

 

[leLuckyDuck]

I really want to try my hand at making lip balms, but need to get supplies and can't manage that yet, plus I am too focused on the soap right now

I am on a mission to dupe the EOS balms. I have a potential recipe (simple ingredients but I think the flavor is going to be tough). Good luck. I'll watch for developments! Try the EOS (the egg looking ones), I bet it will be a great inspiration)

 

[melstan775]

I am on a mission to dupe the EOS balms. I have a potential recipe (simple ingredients but I think the flavor is going to be tough). Good luck. I'll watch for developments! Try the EOS (the egg looking ones), I bet it will be a great inspiration)

I am all about the EOS balms. To order the eggs though, is a 40,000 item order.