Help....

channywoo79 · Jun 30, 2014

Hiya - I've been making CP soap for years now which I sell, however I've wanted to make liquid soap for ages so I've given it a go.........the first batch was in a double boiler and it traced very quickly but when on the heat it didn't go past the 'mashed potato' stage - was on the heat for 4.5 hours and after that I gave up on it. So today I tried again in a CrockPot - took ages to trace but thought that was due to it having sunflower oil in it. It traced after 1/2 hour and it's been in the CrockPot for 7 hours and it hasn't reached a 'Taffy stage' its just 'foamy' so I've turned it off. What am I doing wrong? This is driving me crazy as its supposed to be really easy! My recipe is: 8oz coconut oil, 8oz sunflower oil, 4oz olive oil, 7oz water, 4oz potassium hydroxide. xx:sad:

Lindy · Jun 30, 2014

Let it sit now overnight and you will have the paste you need for diluting. Not everyone's crockpot is the same for temperature nor does everyone's LS behave the same.

Susie · Jun 30, 2014

^What Lindy said.

Also, I never, ever rely on the "stages" to determine when my soap is done. I start testing pH at hour 3. If it is under 10, I dilute. Period. If not, I turn the crock pot off and wrap it in a beach towel. Then I walk away. Usually in the morning it is under 10 and ready to dilute. Much less stress than fretting if it does not look exactly right.

channywoo79 · Jul 1, 2014

Thanks so much for your replies - just feeding my little one breakfast then I'm heading straight into my workshop to check it out - fingers crossed!

Susie · Jul 1, 2014

Please let us know what you find?

seven · Jul 1, 2014

i make my LS using the half water half glycerine method, and for some reason i can't over stick blend. as soon as it's getting thick i had to put the SB down and start the cooking process, otherwise if i continue to SB separation will occur and i'm left with a nasty, hot mess. at one time, i was following a website and was frustrated that mine never reached the mashed potatoes stage.

just saying that everyone's process could be different for some reason.