full Gel

[Marilyn Norgart]

the last 2 bars (with my new mold) have not reached full gel--real close the bottom outside edge doesn't appear to have gelled. If I could get peoples advice on how to fix this I would so appreciate it. I am mixing 4 different colors for the swirl and putting color in the main soap. I have been soaping at anywhere from 113-110 and using a heating pad, the temps of the loaf have been getting over 140. do I add more water or soap higher temps . I have been getting full gel on my soaps but this mold uses 4-5 more ounces. I am also mixing more colors so I am wondering if I am not moving fast enough and its cooling down too much

 

[Dawni]

This isn't what you asked but I found this bookmarked. Lately I've been trying CP instead of my usual HP and came across this link coz I wanted to know what to do if I did get partial gel.

This is a fix for after the fact though, especially if you have only a lil bit non gelled part.

I'll leave soaping procedure to the pros hehehe

Edit:
I just remembered reading this rather recently and it might help you. Have you done a search? I found tons of threads across the years, all with the same title "to gel or not to gel" hahaha

 

[Zing]

Marilyn, are you covering up your soap? I put cardboard on top and a couple of old bath towels. If it's too cold I too have used a heating pad occasionally.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

Marilyn, are you covering up your soap? I put cardboard on top and a couple of old bath towels. If it's too cold I too have used a heating pad occasionally.

yes I have been covering with either a box or a cutting board depending on the top and a few towels folded. with these last batches I have used the cutting board (I have used before with no issues) but am wondering if the box would contain the heat all around. with this mold it is wood on the bottom and sides. it seems to be the bottom 1/8" that isn't gelling

 

[lsg]

My best full gels have come from using cold process/oven process. I put the poured soap in an oven preheated to 170*F, turn the oven offf and leave the soap in the oven overnight.

 

[Dean]

^^^

 

[shunt2011]

Are you putting the heating pad on top or underneath? It should be under the mold. The other alternative is to CPOP. I use silicone lined loaf molds. I put a cover on then 2-3 towels and I get full gel. I do soap at a 31% lye concentration most times.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

Are you putting the heating pad on top or underneath? It should be under the mold. The other alternative is to CPOP. I use silicone lined loaf molds. I put a cover on then 2-3 towels and I get full gel. I do soap at a 31% lye concentration most times.

I have tried it both ways--I will try CPOP--I haven't wanted to throw my other mold in the oven (the white plasticy stuff) thanks

 

[penelopejane]

Are you wrapping to box in towels or just putting them on top? You need to keep the heat in.

I only heat the oven to 110* before turning it off. Use a thermometer or you will coothe soap. If you overheat your mold just once you can get silicon rash - cases bubbles in the side of future soap.

Do you have a photo? Sometimes with a heat mat it can overheat the bottom of the soap so it might look different to the rest of the soap.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

Are you wrapping to box in towels or just putting them on top? You need to keep the heat in.

I only heat the oven to 110* before turning it off. Use a thermometer or you will coothe soap. If you overheat your mold just once you can get silicon dash

Do you have a photo? Sometimes with a heat mat it can overheat the bottom of the soap so it might look different to the rest of the soap.

I wrap them puppies up, there are two different pics posted in the photo op under "what I did yesterday" I don't know if you can see it with the photos my phone doesn't take very good photos. I am assuming you don't wrap them in the oven? do you cover the top though or ca you spray them with Alcohol actually there are 3 pics in that post--I don't think I am supposed to put photos here. thanks for your input

 

[shunt2011]

I wrap them puppies up, there are two different pics posted in the photo op under "what I did yesterday" I don't know if you can see it with the photos my phone doesn't take very good photos. I am assuming you don't wrap them in the oven? do you cover the top though or ca you spray them with Alcohol actually there are 3 pics in that post--I don't think I am supposed to put photos here. thanks for your input

You can put a photo here of the problem. That's not an issue.

 

[penelopejane]

I wrap them puppies up, there are two different pics posted in the photo op under "what I did yesterday" I don't know if you can see it with the photos my phone doesn't take very good photos. I am assuming you don't wrap them in the oven? do you cover the top though or ca you spray them with Alcohol actually there are 3 pics in that post--I don't think I am supposed to put photos here. thanks for your input

To CPOP I put my silicon mold in a cardboard box, wrap it up entirely in a blanket and put it in the oven preheated to 110* turned off and leave it for 12 hours without peeking.

 

[Rogue-Soaper]

First I spray the soap with alcohol, then cover with plastic wrap, then wrap the mold in a towel. If it is cold, I preheat the oven to 100 degrees then turn the oven off. Next I put the mold in the oven with the light on. I leave the soap in the oven with the light on overnight. When I take the mold out of the oven, if the soap mold is still warm I allow it to cool at room temperature before removing the mold and cutting the soap. I get a complete gel every time. I too sometime use a plastic mold, it does not warp or melt using the light method.

 

[penelopejane]

Marilyn
Your heat mat should go on the bottom.
Your soap is very close to full gel. I wouldn’t change the recipe just play with keeping the heat in.
I now use a polystyrene box with a lid and I cover it with a doona and it works well. You just have to play around to get it right for your micro environment and your soap and might have to change the process in summer!

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

here are some pics--the blue is more visible and is the one I had the heating pad on top the green I had the pad on the bottom--I couldn't get a good pic of the green though

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

Marilyn
Your heat mat should go on the bottom.
Your soap is very close to full gel. I wouldn’t change the recipe just play with keeping the heat in.
I now use a polystyrene box with a lid and I cover it with a doona and it works well. You just have to play around to get it right for your micro environment and your soap and might have to change the process in summer!

what is a doona? oh geez summer might be easier then, it has been so flippin cold here. thanks again for your input-I appreciate it

 

[penelopejane]

Doona=Down/feather bed cover
I call that phenomena a rind (totally unscientific made up by me).
It can happen close to gel but sometimes from overheating.
Soap at around 110*F. Don’t peek at your wrapped soap for 12 hours.
Keep your heat mat really low.
I tried a heat mat and ended up with a hard rind - overheating.
Yours looks soft which would mean not quite gelled.
It’s a pain working out exactly how to get full gel but once you get it it is consistent for your environment and climate until summer when it might need tweaking.

 

[jcandleattic]

To me, that looks more like a discoloration problem than a partial gel, but I could be wrong. When vanilla soaps start to turn that's usually where they start - around the edges like that (not saying this is a vanilla discoloration, just discoloration in general since it's lighter on the edges)

I'm wondering after a few days has the whole thing changed? Or is it still around just the edges?

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

To me, that looks more like a discoloration problem than a partial gel, but I could be wrong. When vanilla soaps start to turn that's usually where they start - around the edges like that (not saying this is a vanilla discoloration, just discoloration in general since it's lighter on the edges)

I'm wondering after a few days has the whole thing changed? Or is it still around just the edges?

I don't think it is discoloration, it was like that when I unmolded and didn't worsen yet but its only been 2 days for the blue and this morning for the green but I will keep my eye on it. and it is the color of the soap just not gel looking and I don't believe the FOs had any vanilla in them--I have used the one FO in a test bar (the blue bar) and left uncolored and it stayed white for over 6 weeks now. since I have been doing the full gel with my soaps they have all been gelling fully--these 2 are the first ones in the new mold. but am I mistaken to think the wood would keep the heat in more?

 

[amd]

The wood should hold the heat in more - just keep in mind that the heat is going to be the greatest at the center of the soap, and works it way to the outer edges. I think your photos show partial gel, not an affect of color or FO morphing. I agree with the recommendation to CPOP. I don't wrap my soaps when I CPOP, but I have the option to leave the oven light on, which helps keep the oven warmer.