Help -layering problem solving needed

[busymakinsoap!]

Hi everyone,

I thought I might post this pick to see if anyone can help me. Yesterday I made a 3 layered soap, fragranced with Vanilla Lace. I knew the soap would discolour, so I kept the shades darker. The bottom is coloured brown, the middle left natural, and the top with TD and choc swirl. I also added a thin layer of cocoa between each layer. Everything seemed to work so well, I thought this soap was going to be magic. But its broken!!

Im wondering if anyone knows why? I have read and seen that you can use cocoa inbetween layers. The soap is still pretty soft and the cocoa is still pretty wet, Im hoping it might bond, but I dont think it will. Im to scared to cut anymore.
I put the soap in the chiller to prevent gell, I'm thinking the lack of heat stopped the layers from sticking??

I want to try this again, so any advice would be wonderful




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[JackiK]

I've yet to use cocoa between layers, so I'll be glad to hear what the experts have to say.

Sorry you had a mishap. The layers are beautiful. Hopefully, with time it will meld.

 

[agriffin]

Your line might be a bit thick. When you put it on could you still see patches of the bottom layer through it? You don't want a solid line. Also I find that gelling helps layers... but many don't gel and have success.

 

[paillo]

i find that gelling helps layers stick together too. i can't make straight lines in layers anyway, so i stick a wire whisk through the layers every couple of inches just to stick them together. makes an interesting artsy effect, and disguises the fact that i'm no master of perfect layers

 

[Dixie]

I agree, you put your cocoa powder on too thick I think.

 

[busymakinsoap!]

Your line might be a bit thick. When you put it on could you still see patches of the bottom layer through it? You don't want a solid line. Also I find that gelling helps layers... but many don't gel and have success.

Ahhhh ofcourse! I actually covered the base with cocoa pretty well, doh! never even thought about leaving some 'soap to soap' contact.

I'm gutted, going to have to rebatch I guess.

BTW for those of you that havnt tried it -'Vanilla Lace' is devine!

 

[JackiK]

Where'd you get it?

 

[busymakinsoap!]

Where'd you get it?

Its a sweet cakes frag. I ordered in in from Australia, you prob have it locally though?

http://www.naturalcandlesupply.com.au/S ... ?pid=14381

It did seperate a wee bit, but came back together

I've just made a batch using the 'Precious Amber' - wow! That's even better, and really good to work with

 

[JackiK]

[quote\]Its a sweet cakes frag. I ordered in in from Australia, you prob have it locally though?

http://www.naturalcandlesupply.com.au/S ... ?pid=14381

It did seperate a wee bit, but came back together

I've just made a batch using the 'Precious Amber' - wow! That's even better, and really good to work with[/quote]

Thanks! Will try both.

 

[Dragonkaz]

Here's my Lavender Oats soap ... the cocoa line looks similar to yours ... and it's stayed together just fine. I let my soap gel.

 

[busymakinsoap!]

ow they look so good Dragonkaz!
I'm going to try it again. I def think gelling is part of it. My fridge is actually a 'beer chiller' so its really cold, and the cocoa was still really wet. But I think I also put to much on.

Alas I was forced to rebatch...I now have vanilla cupcakes - I hate making cupcakes. I'm terrible at it. I brought a piping thing for the frosting (I made whipped soap to go ontop of rebatch base), filled it up, pushed and....it split. Freaken raw soap everywhere. It was a shambles, I didnt have gloves on and ended up trying to shape the frosting with bare hands (idiot). My hands are sore, and I have 2 actualy lye holes on my fingers.

I vouch never to make cupcakes again

 

[Dragonkaz]

Gloves ... ops ... hope your hands heal smoothly!

Your cupcakes look amazing ... so your rebatch was a huge success.

 

[photoshadows]

Just wondering, did you use a WSP Green silicine mold? I only ask because I've been having the same problem w/ layers seperating. I haven't had anything between the soap layers though so I can only assume it has something to do with sticking to the mold. I've done cocoa powder between layers before too and I think it looked similar to yours and I had no problems. I just made my 3rd batch of the same 3 layered soap last night and am hoping beyond hope it stays together this time. I used the stinking WSP molds again (I love them, just not for this particular project ). To help prevent the sticking/suction problem, I lined them this time and it better work! :?