How to rebatch?

[Detvarpokkers]

Just made a batch of simple cold processed yesterday, after now having made any soap for years. Of course used a soap calc for the ingredients but I winged it with the temperature thinking I could remember… It reached trace (or false?) within less than a minute…. I have read up on the temperatures and can see that it was way too hot. Now what to do? Can I rebatch and how is that done? I want to be able to gift these soaps so I really want the result to be safe

 

[Nona'sFarm]

Below is a post for rebatching:
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/oven-rebatch-cp.77457/post-803042

If you do a SEARCH (top right) there are many more other posts as well.

The soap that you made should be safe to use. Coming to trace fast will not ruin the usefulness of the soap, only the looks.

 

[artemis]

Just made a batch of simple cold processed yesterday, after now having made any soap for years. Of course used a soap calc for the ingredients but I winged it with the temperature thinking I could remember… It reached trace (or false?) within less than a minute…. I have read up on the temperatures and can see that it was way too hot. Now what to do? Can I rebatch and how is that done? I want to be able to gift these soaps so I really want the result to be safe

So ....
What's wrong with it now? Is it ugly? Is it still stuck in the mixing bowl? Has it separated into an oily mess?

I hate rebatching, so if my soap just looks disappointing, I'll either use it anyway or shred it up for a confetti or ciaglia soap.

 

[DeeAnna]

I don't know of anyone, including myself, who hasn't had to deal with a batch that traces way too fast. What makes you think the soap has problems? Just because it traced really fast? If so, please don't assume the soap is a failure until you cut the soap and see how the interior looks.

Rebatching is a lot of extra work, and I've never found a rebatched soap to be prettier looking than the original soap. I agree with @artemis that rebatching is a technique that I only use as a very last resort.

FWIW, your soap didn't go into false trace, since you don't say the batter firmed up and then became stirrable again. If soap batter gets thick and stays thick, by definition it's not false trace.

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

Rebatching is what I do with older, cured soaps, @Detvarpokkers. With instant soap-on-a-stick during cold process, I immediately switch over to making Hot Processed soap by dumping it all into a pot and with a little more liquid to finish putting it together. A tablespoon of yogurt at the end of the cook helps liquify the finished HP batter to pour it into the mold.

 

[Detvarpokkers]

So ....
What's wrong with it now? Is it ugly? Is it still stuck in the mixing bowl? Has it separated into an oily mess?

I hate rebatching, so if my soap just looks disappointing, I'll either use it anyway or shred it up for a confetti or ciaglia soap.

Well it got firm so fast that I had to give up on using the slightly difficult molds I planned to, and I just stuffed it very fast in some open muffin molds with a spoon. Before I was even finished the remaining soap had to be dug out of the mixing pot. The ugly muffin soaps will be used by my family, they don´t seperate and seem to be okay. I was afraid it could not be used as it is and that I had to find out about rebatching. I really don´t feel like trying something that new right now so I think I will be very careful with the next batch that is planned in a few days

 

[Detvarpokkers]

Rebatching is what I do with older, cured soaps, @Detvarpokkers. With instant soap-on-a-stick during cold process, I immediately switch over to making Hot Processed soap by dumping it all into a pot and with a little more liquid to finish putting it together. A tablespoon of yogurt at the end of the cook helps liquify the finished HP batter to pour it into the mold.

Oh thank you for that tip! Luckily I think my soap can be used as it is, it has turned out ugly but feels okay, but I will remember your advice in the future

 

[Detvarpokkers]

Below is a post for rebatching:
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/oven-rebatch-cp.77457/post-803042

If you do a SEARCH (top right) there are many more other posts as well.

The soap that you made should be safe to use. Coming to trace fast will not ruin the usefulness of the soap, only the looks.

Thank you so much, I am new on the forum so I am still trying to find my way around everything, this helps a lot. Yes I think the soap is okay, really ugly but can be used anyway

 

[Detvarpokkers]

I don't know of anyone, including myself, who hasn't had to deal with a batch that traces way too fast. What makes you think the soap has problems? Just because it traced really fast? If so, please don't assume the soap is a failure until you cut the soap and see how the interior looks.

Rebatching is a lot of extra work, and I've never found a rebatched soap to be prettier looking than the original soap. I agree with @artemis that rebatching is a technique that I only use as a very last resort.

FWIW, your soap didn't go into false trace, since you don't say the batter firmed up and then became stirrable again. If soap batter gets thick and stays thick, by definition it's not false trace.

I thought it might be unsafe to use, I have never seen it trace that fast and had no idea it it affected the outcome. Thank you for clearing up what false trace is, had never heard about it before I tried to read up on what had happened.