gelling, insulating question

[Zing]

Peeps, I'm a geller and I did something different yesterday and could use some feedback. My normal routine is to bury my molds under a pile of towels. In winter I add a heating pad for 2 hours.
Yesterday I used a tall and skinny mold. It normally bows out after pouring. So I put two 2.5 gallon water jugs alongside each side. The jugs look like

I piled towels all around and on top, burying the mold and two jugs. Because I suspected stearic spots, I turned on the heating pad for 4 hours. When I unmolded today, my soap is chock full of stearic spots. So I'm left wondering if I didn't have adequate insulation to retain the heat. Any ideas? Thanks,

 

[Jersey Girl]

Did it appear to have gelled? What temp did you soap at? I use a lot of hard oils and my steric number is pretty high so I always soap between 105 and 110°

 

[Zing]

Did it appear to have gelled? What temp did you soap at? I use a lot of hard oils and my steric number is pretty high so I always soap between 105 and 110°

Yeah, it looks gelled. In general I soap when lye solution and oils are warm to the touch. And for the challenge, I wanted cooler temps on purpose to have time to swirl. Maybe I should start soaping at a higher temp during these cold months.

 

[Ford]

If your water jugs were full. That would suck up alot of heat. Maybe a couple pieces of scrap 1x4 instead of jugs. Any pics?

 

[AliOop]

The best advice I've received (here on SMF, of course) for reducing/eliminating stearic spots was to heat my oils to 160F. As long as I hit that number, I can let them cool down to 90F and still won't get stearic spots. I gel my soaps on a heating pad, as well.

ETA: that did require me to take temps at first. But now I know that 2.5 minutes in the microwave heats 1000g of my MB oils to160F in the colder months, and 170F in the warmer months.

 

[Kaolin washer]

I have two 7pound iron blocks i keep in the oven at 150 f until i poor my soap in the mold I set the mold on the two blocks and cover with towels and plastic bags and all has worked good

 

[dibbles]

If you are handy, you could make a frame that you can set your mold in. If you aren't handy do you know someone who would maybe put one together in trade for soap? Or build one out of legos?

 

[Zing]

I love all these suggestions and appreciate everyone getting back to me!

 

[not_ally]

Zing, I was considering trying to make this for my T&SM that bows, it seems pretty quick/easy/workable for us that have opposable thumbs but don't use them very well

ETA: When I say "us" I mean ME. You are probably incredibly knacky.

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/lightweight-inexpensive-insulating-box-for-soap-molds.85953/

 

[Ford]

Foam is a great idea. But I might use. Duct tape instead of glue. Less mess.