Hello to all

[sprklngsaphire]

Hello fellow soapers, it's a pleasure to finally meet you
I have been lurking in the shadows for a few months now and finally joined today. I have been reading all I can on here just learning and I have to say you all seem like really nice helpful people and the forum appears to be quite friendly that I said I just have to sign up so I can get to know all of you.
I am brand new to making soap and I am still in the learning/research phase of things. I have bought a few books, looked at many youtube videos, created a book for notes looked at some soap forums and this is the one I decided to join. I Feel like I have over stuffed my head with so much information that it's beginning to leak on out (lol) and yet I still want to learn more:? Haha. Anyways, my husband is starting to get sick of hearing me ramble on so I am hoping to have a place to call home where I can discuss all soapy things with like minded individuals.
Just to let you know, I have yet to create my first soap but I am looking forward to it. I just want to be safe and have a thorough understanding of what I am doing before getting started ( that's why I have researched for months now.) And keeping track of things with my notebook. I hope to get started soon making my first soap loaf. Especially since I have an allergy to a chemical they put into most store bought soaps and some m&p (propylene glycol). It would be nice to have a bar of soap where I know what's in it and one that won't break me out in red itchy blotches! (That's what got me to research making my own. )
Anyways, I look forward to getting to know all of you and hope perhaps in time I can contribute something back to all of you as well.
Thanks,
Paula
"sprklngsaphire"

 

[Seawolfe]

Welcome!! It gets a LOT easier once you make your first batch. Go for something simple and post pictures! We love pictures

 

[jules92207]

Welcome Paula! You sound like me when I first started, I did the same thing. Lots of research. The most helpful was actually doing it though so when your ready we will be here to help! Can't wait to see your soaps!

 

[Relle]

Welcome Paula

Looks like you have done your research, so it's time to make soap. Nothing stopping you now.

 

[navigator9]

It sounds like you're on the right track. The more knowledge you have under your belt when you make that first batch, the better. Start slow, don't jump ahead of yourself. Soon, your house will be full of amazing soap, and you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. And if you were looking for a place where people never get tired of talking about soap, you've found it. Good luck to you!

 

[Dorymae]

Welcome! Don't be nervous about making your first soap. You've done your homework and I'm sure you've read a lot about safety. When I first made soap I was very nervous about the lye, but honestly it is like working with anything that can be dangerous. Just like when you cook you take precautions against getting burned, you take precautions when working with lye. When you stay aware of what you are doing accidents happen much less frequently. If they do happen, ie you splash a bit of soap batter on your arm, stay calm. Simply go and rinse it off well. Sometimes being too nervous will make a situation much worse. So get some goggles, gloves, a stick blender and go make some soap! You'll be really happy you did.

 

[roseb]

Welcome! Sounds like you are ready to make some soap. You've done your research and there is nothing better than actually putting to practice what you have learned. Start simple...3 basic oils and no scent or color. I was very nervous about using lye in the beginning. It kept me from making soap for a full decade. Now I look back and can't believe how silly I was. Go ahead and take the plunge, and let us know how it turned out.

 

[lsg]

Welcome to the forum. This first batch is the hardest, IMO. After that, you should feel more comfortable mixing the lye and recognizing trace.

 

[sprklngsaphire]

Thanks for the warm welcome and the encouragement.
Yep, I am a little scared about mixing up the lye. Even though I will be wearing protective gear and a mask when I do make my first batch, I still keep picturing nightmarish scenes of lye volcanoes, inhaling fumes, and splashes of raw soap! Lol. At least I now know some of you had the same fears and that I am not the only one who is/was scared about it. I keep telling myself that if I can wash clothes and work with bleach ( because you don't want to breathe in those fumes or get that on your skin either) that I will be fine. But I have to say some of the books I have read so far on making soap leaves the reader feeling a bit unsettled and Leary of working with that stuff called lye. Lol. And some of the info from one book to the next contradicts each other which that doesn't help matters either. I mean, do you wash off and rinse well raw soap on the skin? ( that's what I plan to do should I have that unfortunate experience) or do you just grab the vinegar and douse yourself with it? Then some say to mix your oils and lye water at the same temperature otherwise you can get a volcano and others say it doesn't matter? (Still confused on this one)
Anyways, I think you all are right, I just need to do it and get my first loaf made. There is only so much to be learned from books the rest is actually taught through experience and doing right?
Thanks again all for the welcome. And can I have some of you on speed dial incase I need you to tell my husband that I blew up the kitchen? Lol. ( just kiddin) at least, I hope I am haha. That would be my luck! " housewife blows up kitchen making soap? News at 11:00" lol

 

[jules92207]

Just to get you over a few humps - lots of running water/soapy water to rinse with if you do have a spill. If you get splashed just rinse, rinse, rinse. Be sure to have long sleeves and safety glasses on and you should be fine. I was super scared the first few batches but you do get use to it and as you start to understand how it works you will feel less fearful. I am more afraid of bleach now than lye to be honest!

 

[Dorymae]

I've gotten raw soap on my arms more times than I can count now. First know it is not an instant burn. Raw soap has diluted the lye with the oils so it is not as dangerous as the water/lye solution.

Yes you rinse it off with water, I even use a bit of soap (cured of course!)

When I started I was very afraid as well, the first time I got soap batter on me I freaked out a bit, it really was unnecessary. Now if I get a bit of soap batter on me I finish what I'm doing and then go rinse it off. I have even gotten distracted and forgot until after a few minutes it started to burn just a bit (felt like an itch).

So yes use caution, definitely take care of any splatters but don't be terrified. The most dangerous part is the mixing of the lye and the water. Not just because of the lye but because it heats up to a temperature that will cause an instant burn. Many people mix their lye solution in a pitcher set into their sink which is a good idea because if there is an accident you have instant access to the water.

As for the temperature of the oils and lye.....normally people make sure they are within about 20 degrees of each other. I have had my lye hotter, or my oils hotter at times and it did not cause any problems. Volcanoes are usually caused by having sugar in the solution which causes super-heating of the water. If you are using any honey or sugary water solution to mix your lye make sure your pitcher is very oversized compared to the amount of liquid.

Make your first batch of soap, work slowly and in time you will see that the process is really a lot of fun. Always use your safety glasses and gloves and you will be reasonably protected.

 

[Ellacho]

Hello and welcome sprklngsaphire:wave: