Hard bar but outside is crumbly kinda??? Help?

[bobbie.johnson]

So about a week ago I made up this batch and it is 40% OO, so I know it is going to take longer to get really firm. Anyway the bar is hard but the outside is kinda crumbly, like when I pick it up its not smooth like previous batches. Not crumbly like the whole thing is going to fall apart. Its hard for me to describe it. When you rub your fingers on it, it kinda sticks and makes marks on the bar... I added some pics so hopefully that will help to show what I mean. Or since there is more OO in it will it take longer to firm up and be smooth? I did run my batch through a lye calc so I dont thing that was the issue. I cut it after 24 hours and that was too soon, it was still soft enough to leave finger prints when i moved the bars.... If anyone has any thoughts it would be great, its so hard to describe though.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Lion Of Judah]

only way to know really what is wrong is to view the whole recipe, that is the only way to tell you by looking at what else is in the recipe . 40% OO is one thing but what about the other 60%? how much hard oil or butters did you use. those are things that may help narrowing down what is wrong.

 

[bobbie.johnson]

40% olive oil
30% coconut oil
20%palm oil
5%castor
5%shea butter

 

[Seifenblasen]

Looks like a very reasonable formulation; and the olive oil percentage really is not that high since you are balancing it out with a lot of "hard" oils. How thick a trace when you poured it? Also, did you let it gel?

 

[lizflowers42]

It looks like you didn't gel it, which in my own experience means a softer bar when you cut into it, and get a zap even 2 days after unmolding and cutting. Set it aside and test it in a few weeks

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

Hey Seifenblasen, Good to see ya!

B.J when I have a bar with rough edges I don gloves and clean up the edges in the sink under running h20. Also have you zap tested? as long as it passes, we are just talking aesthetics.

 

[My Mountain Soaps]

i have had this happen once or twice with my olive oil recipe. Olive oil is most what i make. from what i can gather, is it simply got too hot, and got that super ashy look. and as far as being a soft bar, i had too little lye in ratio to my oils. hope this helps.

 

[crysvan]

So about a week ago I made up this batch and it is 40% OO, so I know it is going to take longer to get really firm. Anyway the bar is hard but the outside is kinda crumbly, like when I pick it up its not smooth like previous batches. Not crumbly like the whole thing is going to fall apart. Its hard for me to describe it. When you rub your fingers on it, it kinda sticks and makes marks on the bar... I added some pics so hopefully that will help to show what I mean. Or since there is more OO in it will it take longer to firm up and be smooth? I did run my batch through a lye calc so I dont thing that was the issue. I cut it after 24 hours and that was too soon, it was still soft enough to leave finger prints when i moved the bars.... If anyone has any thoughts it would be great, its so hard to describe though.

Thanks everyone!

I made a 60% OO soap with 20% CO and 20% PO, I poured it in heavy trace, immediately stuck it in the fridge for 24 hrs, then kept it in room temp for another 24 hours. Now, I went to see if I can cut it and I had the same exact problem as you have described so I stopped cutting the rest. I think I am going to let it sit for a couple more days and check on it again.. Did yours improve after a few days?

 

[bobbie.johnson]

Now it has been over a month for this batch and I just ran it under the faucet for a few sec to get the ash look off. Really I think that was the only real problem. I used a tray mold aka ipad box so there was alot more surrface area for the ash to collect along with maybe cutting to soon. Anyhow I rinsed them off under warm water and tada beautiful...