Gel Concerns

MTAngler · Oct 26, 2013

I have made about six Cold Processed batches, so I am inexperienced. The soaps I have made have gelled very nicely in the past, that is, until today. I made a four pound batch of soap in my wooden mold and it warmed just slightly. It was a charcoal soap and I experimented with a light trace so I could make swirls in my soap (first time in doing so). Usually I go too far when I use my stick blender and get a medium trace; I made myself stop, so I would have ample time to be creative with the swirls. It has been 7 hours since it has been in the mold and I noticed that the top layer is still really soft. I don't have oil separation which is a plus, but my question is did I not mix enough and my light trace was actually a false trace or am am I just panicking and just need to cool my jets and be patient?

Sent from my iPad using Soap Making

judymoody · Oct 26, 2013

I would wait and not worry. If you were to try to blend the soap some more at this point, you'd lose your swirls. If it turns out you got separation, you'd also lose your swirls when rebatching. So I'd wait and keep my fingers crossed.

In my experience, as long as my soap reaches a smooth uniform emulsification, the degree of trace doesn't matter all that much with respect to separation.

MTAngler · Oct 26, 2013

You were right. I checked it this morning and it heated up through the night. That was wired, it was hot 18 hours after I made it. Thanks for responding, I needed the confidence from people like you that know what they are doing. I got panicky for no reason; I have much to learn.

Sent from my iPad using Soap Making