Gel stage morphing my color! help!

[soapobsession]

I just made the most beautiful swirl of pink and cream cp soap and the pink swirls in the center are kind of brownish pink - I definetly know the center gelled - can I prevent gel stage all together so this doesnt happen again? do I have to put my soap and mold in the fridge or freezer?

 

[agriffin]

Yes, you can prevent gel by putting your molds in the fridge or freezer.

 

[Genny]

Yep, like agriffin said, you can put the soap in the fridge or freezer. I have a couple of my soaps that I never gel. But just remember that it takes longer for the soap to get hard when you put it in the fridge.

 

[Hazel]

A tip someone suggested is you can stick your mold in the frig for awhile so it's cold when you pour your batch. This also might help to stop or slow down gelling before you get the batch into the frig or freezer. I had a batch which started heating up before I even got to the frig. (I blame the FO for heating it up and not the fact that I move at a snail's pace. :wink: ) Also, the cold will slow saponification so your batch may continue zapping for several days. I had a batch that didn't completely saponify until it had been in the frig for 5 days.

 

[sudbubblez]

Gel also depends on your mold. If you are using a wooden log mold, the fridge or freezer may have no effect. Thinner molds as well as slabs or acrylic are best for preventing gel. It is when the soap heats up enough to melt. Wood does not transfer heat very well so any heat thats building up in a wooden log mold won't escape as fast even if its in the freezer.

 

[Hazel]

Gel also depends on your mold. If you are using a wooden log mold, the fridge or freezer may have no effect.

This is one of the reason's the member said she put hers in the frig to get cold before pouring. You can chill the wood and then just put plastic wrap on top. It worked for me. But I have to confess I have switched over to using silicone since then. :wink: