Hello and What's Wrong With This Picture!?

[heyjude]

Hello!

Not only am I new to soaping (6 batches so far) but to online forums as well. This forum and it's members have been so inspiring and informative. Thanks in advance for any advice you might have for me.

I'll try to be brief but complete.

I used Alicia Grosso's Everything Soapmaking book 2nd edition recipe.

Olive Oil 2lbs. 10 oz.
Coconut Oil 1lb 5 oz.
Castor Oil 4T
(Question How is 4T converted to weight? Isn't this a volume measure?)

Lye 9.7 oz.
Water 1lb. 8oz
Confession: Apparently, I am lye calculator challenged and even knowing that the recipes in the book are 6-7% superfatted, I couldn't match her numbers and had to trust the book.

Weighed ingredients accurately. Stick blended oils and whisked in 1T and 1tsp. BB OMH FO

Added color to cooled lye and combined with oils/scent between 100 & 105 degrees.

Wisked in 4 T of baby oatmeal at trace. I was pretty psyched as it had a nice color and consistancy.

Poured into freezer paper lined wooden log mold. Slammed it onto counter a few times to dislodge any bubbles. Covered with plastic wrap and put lid on. Wrapped in wool blanket.

Did the happy dance!!

Peeked a bit later and noticed that soap had gelled almost to the very edges. BUT it had this funky look on approx. 2/3 of the top. Please see photo. Took off blanket and plastic. Put cover on.

Soooooo sad. What could this be- lye pockets? hmm empty holes. Tiny rice like holes? too hot in mold?

Cut it today. A little happier. Looks nice except for that darn top.

I hope this pics come through. My husband helped me and he just left to go to the store!

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss11 ... ps/110.jpg
http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss11 ... oap028.jpg

This is longer than the last Harry Potter novel.

 

[smellitlikeitissoaps]

I call it soap sweat. You wrapped your soap too much

1. mold
2. plastic wrap
3. lid
4. wool blanket

way way too much

I often still wrap my soap too much and I get the soap sweat look. Nothing wrong.. you can bevel it off You soap is ok. Geling stage often changes the soap color

I started off with a nice cream soap that during trace turned a bright red, and put in the mold to turn a bright orange, to mellow out to a sandy brown..

 

[heyjude]

Thanks so much for your quick reply! What "layers" of warmth would you not use next time?
This was the first time that I had used a wooden mold and wasn't quite sure if I had overdone it. I was hoping that it would be usable as it has such a great smell. I feel much better now

Jude

 

[heartsong]

x

i agree. it seems like it got a little too warm. with a wood mold it is it's own insulator. maybe next time pour, then plastic wrap and lid only. check periodically, if it feels warm, try lifting the lid-leaving the plastic still on to avoid soap ash residue.

remember the soap doesnt need to get smoking hot, just a gentle warmth to keep it chugging along.

oh, and BTW< welcome to the forum!

monet

 

[heyjude]

Thank you so much for the advice and welcome! I have wanted to make soap for a while, but had to get over my "lye fears". Now I'm just having so much fun I don't think I could stop if I wanted to!

Jude

 

[unmouton]

I prefer a fully gelled soap, so I typically over-insulate mine too. I hate not getting a full gel. Next time, just try wrapping your mold in a thin blanket a few times. Check periodically, and if it is sweating or starting to crack, it means you need to take the blanket off! (You can press cracks back together with a gloved fingertips.)

Sometimes I will turn the oven on warm, turn it off after I pour my soap into the mold, and then I place it in the oven overnight. That tip was recommended to me on this forum, and it is a great if you dont have any plans to use your oven for 8-12 hrs!

Your soap is lovely! Cant wait to see more!

 

[heyjude]

Great tips! Thanks!

Jude

 

[Jeremy]

I think I actually undergell. And my garage temperatrue is all over the place and I never seem to have a whole bunch of problems. If my soap is a little soft I sometimes throw it in a turned off but warm oven for a few more hours. Other than that, if it's in plastic mold I wrap it in a towel, and in wood I just put the lid on.
The mean temp in my garage is around 15 degrees celcius.
Oh and by the way, I think the soap looks great, just shave the top and be done with it.

 

[heyjude]

Thanks Jeremy. That's really good to know as I may need to expand my soapmaking endevours to the garage one day. I've trimmed the tops off and can't wait until the time comes to give the bars out to family and friends who are probably sick and tired of hearing me talk soap!

Jude

 

[heartsong]

I've trimmed the tops off and can't wait until the time comes to give the bars out to family and friends who are probably sick and tired of hearing me talk soap!

Jude

LOL! next you will start "fantacising" on how you're going to make your next batch! it becomes and addiction!