going to make CP for the first time this week end.. i think

[something to shop about]

Hi. Hubby and I were going to work a flea market this weekend but with the temps being so low they are going to close .. its indoors but they arent expecting a crowd i guess...

Anyway.. I have done M&P soap for a while now and done just about everything i can imagine with it. Its time to move onto CP I think. Ive looked over the recipes here wanting something cheap and simple to sort of play with over the weekend. Ive decided on the crisco and olive oil soaps on the list. Im not really looking to make a super fabulous knock my socks of soap right now as much as just gaining the experience if you know what i mean :wink: ...

I have everything they it call for so no special trips looking for oils or scents dyes etc... Im just NERVOUS!!! I remember all the horrible stories my grandmother told of making lye soap as a child and sort of chicken out.. But... I really want to give this a go if only so i can say i did it. lol..

questions

it is really really cold here will that effect my soap?? I was going to mix the lye outdoors as well but not sure if the temp is this cold...

If i wanted switch out some olive oil for another oil say sunflower etc.. can i do that. does it change the measurements???

do I weigh my oils or measure in a cup?

for the biggie I am thinking of adding buttermilk just because I LOVE LOVE LOVE my M&P oo with buttermilk added how do I compensate for it? less water??

I am grateful for any and all info...

Laura

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[jcandleattic]

Re: going to make CP for the first time this week end.. i t

Hi laura,
Welcome to the world of CP - I will answer the questions as best I can, and I'm sure some others will come along and chime in.

I have everything they it call for so no special trips looking for oils or scents dyes etc... Im just NERVOUS!!! I remember all the horrible stories my grandmother told of making lye soap as a child and sort of chicken out.. But... I really want to give this a go if only so i can say i did it. lol..

Don't be nervous. Respect the lye and be cautious, but really if you are careful, you should not have mishaps. Make sure you wear your protective gear - i.e., gloves, goggles, long sleeves, shoes and socks, long pants, etc...

questions

it is really really cold here will that effect my soap?? I was going to mix the lye outdoors as well but not sure if the temp is this cold...

I never mix mine outside, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. I would wait for someone else to chime in here. I mix mine in my kitchen sink in a deep ss bowl and I have my ceiling fan on, my window cracked a tiny bit and an industrial mask on when I mix...

If i wanted switch out some olive oil for another oil say sunflower etc.. can i do that. does it change the measurements???

You can switch it out yes, but make sure you run your new recipe through a lye calc to make sure you get the correct amount of lye.

do I weigh my oils or measure in a cup?

Always weigh everything on an accurate scale.

for the biggie I am thinking of adding buttermilk just because I LOVE LOVE LOVE my M&P oo with buttermilk added how do I compensate for it? less water??

Personally, since this is your first attempt, I would leave the milk for another adventure, until after you are familiar with the soapmaking process of CP.... It's not hard per say, but it's a little different and has different steps than regular water, such as making sure the milk is cold so it doesn't scortch, keeping it cool so it doesn't overheat in the mold etc...

I am grateful for any and all info...

As we are happy to help.

Good luck and have fun. As I said, I'm sure others will chime in as well...

 

[SimplyE]

Re: going to make CP for the first time this week end.. i t

Good for you!!!

it is really really cold here will that effect my soap?? I was going to mix the lye outdoors as well but not sure if the temp is this cold... You can still mix the lye outside. The cold will help lower the lye temperature. As far as the soap, are you talking putting the soap outside to cure? I would not recommend this for an extended period of time. Cooler temperatures will just prevent the soap from gelling. I personally do mix it inside with it well ventilated.

If i wanted switch out some olive oil for another oil say sunflower etc.. can i do that. does it change the measurements??? You need to use a lye calculator for all of your soaps to get the sap value.
try www.soapcalc.com

do I weigh my oils or measure in a cup? Weigh everything, even lye and liquid. Use glass or stainless steel. NEVER aluminum.

for the biggie I am thinking of adding buttermilk just because I LOVE LOVE LOVE my M&P oo with buttermilk added how do I compensate for it? less water?? People do use buttermilk. I have not, but do use goatmilk. Just be careful to not burn it...(does buttermilk burn?). Thus, mixing it outside would be perfect!

Good luck! Always use a lye calculator when you do CP. Each oil has its individual SAP values, and you need to calculate the lye for every value.

 

[Cattleyabubbles]

Hey...I know some of Snow bunnies (that's what I call those, whom are in colder regions) put their soap (once it's all mix up & pour in mold) out in the cold to deter it from gelling. I'll say make sure your well dress for outside air and cold while you're mixing up the lye water solution. You can use milk in CP, just compensate portion of it for the total amount of water that your recipe calls for, for instance, if the recipe calls for 20 oz water you can use 10 oz of milk for portion of total amount of water.

Also make sure it's either, frozen or very very cold, so that the lye doesn't burn it. http://www.Soapcalc.com is a pretty cool calculator to use, test your recipe out, to see what qualities the soap will have. Once you reach light trace you can add your FO/EO (if you were using any) and other additives to your recipe. than pour it into whatever mold--wood(line with freezer paper) or silicon, you would be using to mold your soaps.

 

[Lindy]

Good for you Laura! I started with CP & I love it! I too was really nervous of the lye because my grandmother and others from her generation told horrid lye soap making stories. In fact I had a neighbour who had burned her lungs while making soap on the homestead as a child! I finally put my courage together and I did it - am I ever glad I did.

I too mix my lye in the kitchen sink with the window over it open. Once everything is to the temperature that I want it, I mix my lye into my oils with the pot in the sink and mix it there.

Make sure you write down everything you do in a soap journal so you can duplicate what you're doing. You may be surprised on how well your first soap turns out. My first was a Castille (100% EVOO) and I love it - not that I have much of it left..... :?

Pictures please.....we love pictures....

Cheers
Lindy

 

[ChrissyB]

Good luck to you Laura, you have asked all the right questions, and been given all the right answers by the soapers that replied to you. I'm sure that you, as did I, will find everyone on here so nice and helpful.
Ditto what Lindy said, pictures PLEASE!!!

 

[something to shop about]

thank you all! I am home early today and I am going to figure my formulas and get started soon! I will keep you posted.

Laura