Help Please!!!

[Lindy]

Okay - I made that batch with silk, honeycomb, beef tallow, EVOO & CO, poured it into 4 1 lb loaf pans. I cut 2 of the loaves and although I didn't get a complete gel and have a fair amount of ash they otherwise looked pretty good. I left the other loaves to allow me to play with them at the markets. Today I turned the loaves to let them continue to cure when I noticed that one of them had a dark spot that was "leaking" - so I rubbed it and then tasted it - well I now know what the zap is. So here's my question - how can one loaf out of four that are all the same batch have lye hanging around when the other three don't??? Do I toast all of this batch or are the 3 that seem to be alright - I've done the zap test on all of them? What would have caused this??? I always use an 8% lye discount so I don't even know why there is still lye floating around.

Please help me understand what happened here. I've never had this happen before...... :cry:

TIA

Lindy

 

[Bunny]

The un-cut loaves overheated. It's classic, with the dark runny zappy water. If you have holes in the soap log, you can cut into it and it'll look kind of like a geode inside, sort of crystalized a little.

You can save them by rebatching. Cutting the other loaves early saved them. Honey and milk soaps will continue to "cook" themselves (from chemical reaction with the honey or milk and lye) longer than soaps without honey or milk. It's a pain. You can put future loaves of this soap under a running ceiling fan for 12+ hours after pour and that will prevent overheating. Sorry sweetie! :?

 

[topcat]

Oh Lindy!.....you do such a lovely rebatch whipped soap perhaps you will need to do it this time and save the whole log idea for next time

I had that happen as I think you read on my rebatched swirl thread and I just added another 30ml oil during the rebatching and no lye zap straight away - that will save the day :wink:

Tanya

 

[mandolyn]

Aaaaaah yes, the overheating, oozing gash with the blow out on the opposite side. Here's mine from a few months ago. My first true disaster.

 

[Soapmaker Man]

I agree with Bunny. Since I use GM in every batch, even add a bit of extra sugar/salt solution to add bubbles, it can react with the sodium hydroxide and get hot. It has taken me years to develop a method that keeps the milk from burning, keeps the temps down, and still get a full gel every batch. I cover my TOG Mold with it's wood top, and get full gel in about 1 hour and 15-30minutes. After full gel, I turn the ceiling fan on high, remove the wood top, put the wood mold on a wire bakers rack so air gets around the mold, and cool as fast as it will. I can usually unmold in 8 to 9 hours after pouring, and cut within 9 to 10 hours.

Paul

 

[starduster]

I agree with Bunny. Since I use GM in every batch, even add a bit of extra sugar/salt solution to add bubbles, it can react with the sodium hydroxide and get hot. It has taken me years to develop a method that keeps the milk from burning, keeps the temps down, and still get a full gel every batch. I cover my TOG Mold with it's wood top, and get full gel in about 1 hour and 15-30minutes. After full gel, I turn the ceiling fan on high, remove the wood top, put the wood mold on a wire bakers rack so air gets around the mold, and cool as fast as it will. I can usually unmold in 8 to 9 hours after pouring, and cut within 9 to 10 hours.

Paul

May I ask what your average temps are over your way in summer?
I have done one succsesfull batch with GM in but am concerned that maybe I got lucky. I had it very chilly.
We are sub trop. here and at 6.30 am it's a cool 24 degrees, will hit 30 plus later.
Thanks

 

[Lindy]

Hi there, I actually threw the log out when I found it with lye showing. I cut up the rest and it all seems to be fine. I shaved off the ash and although the soap is a little soft - it seems that it will be all right.

Thank you everyone for trying to help me understand what went wrong. I have a spare fridge downstairs that I can plug in when I need to cool down the soaps so I think I will do that.

Cheers
Lindy

 

[heartsong]

x

oooooh, i'm so sorry! you were so excited about this batch! i guess it's called "on the job training", but it sure can be a pain!

better luck with your next batch!