HP soap question

[SoapAddict415]

Hi everyone! I like HP becuz it cuts down on my cure time but I don't like the way it looks after glopping it into the mold. Do I have to cook it until it reaches the thick mashed potato stage or can I pour it at the apple sauce stage?

 

[soapcakes]

HP is done when the zap is gone, not necessarily according to which stage it's at. Do you add sodium lactate to your HP? It really helps to keep it more fluid. Also, you can add a little bit of additional oil after the cook to keep it smoother (not too much or it will decrease the lather!)

 

[Lindy]

One of the tricks of HP is to cook it on low heat knowing you may need to add more water as it does evaporate off during the cook. Another trick is to add Sodium Lactate at 2% which helps it stay pourable. Rather than looking for mashed potatoes or apple sauce, let it cook slowly until zap is gone. It will be quite transparent once it's ready to go. If you have white around the edges of the crock pot you need to mix it in and lower the temperature. I also leave the lid on.

There is a soapmaker in the UK that makes amazing HP which you would think was CP including swirls! So it can be done, it just takes practice.

 

[SoapAddict415]

Thank you both! My 1st HP recipe contained sodium lactate & was wonderful to work with compared to the last 2 recipes that I tried. I'll make sure I add it to every batch.

 

[soapcakes]

Yes, HP can definitely be swirled! It takes patience and practice. I just did this one today, now I have to figure out how to get rid of the extra air bubbles!

 

[IrishLass]

That's a gorgeous soap!

IrishLass

 

[sudbubblez]

If you pour at applesauce stage, the soap will have cosmetic problems. It looks similar to lye separation in the cured bars... many tiny cracks with whitish outlines, or a flaky appearance. The applesauce stage is when the batter is starting to separate into soap and glycerine, it needs to be brought back together with the stick blender so it doesnt make the cracked texture in the finished bars.

I've done this. This is what the finished bars will look like and no amount of polishing will hide it:

 

[SoapAddict415]

Thanks for the info Sudbubblez!
Soapcakes, I agree with IrishLass! Your soap is absolutely gorgeous!

 

[soapcakes]

Thanks IrishLass and SoapAddict! Sudbubblez, thanks for the info...the visual is very helpful!

 

[Lindy]

Yes, HP can definitely be swirled! It takes patience and practice. I just did this one today, now I have to figure out how to get rid of the extra air bubbles!

Bravo! That is one gorgeous soap!

 

[Loolee]

soapcakes, how did you do that? Every time I do HP, if it cools at all, then it won't stick together right. And to separate the batter, and color it, would make it cool down...

 

[sudbubblez]

You know, I guess you could pour at that stage, then use the SB in the mold. I have never tried it though but I think the mold would need to be preheated so the edges don't harden.

 

[soapcakes]

Loolee, I had to work really quickly! I had six cups set up, and I just stirred the colors in as quickly as I could and dumped them back into the pot to try to swirl them somehow. However, I did lose about 1/4 of my batch of soap because some of the soap had hardened on the sides of the cups, and I didn't use that soap that had hardened already.

 

[Loolee]

I wonder if it wouldn't help if you put your cups with the soaps in them into a water bath to keep them hot while you are working.

Anyway, thanks for sharing. Love the results and I am definitely going to get some SL to try in my next batch!

 

[soapcakes]

A water bath would definitely be worth a try! I hope you get a chance to try the SL, I was skeptical it would make such a difference, but it really does!