Introduction and first batch

[Thomask]

Hello SMF! My name is Thomas and i live in southern nevada. I have been using liquid and bar Dr. Bronners unscented soap for a while and decided to try my hand at soap making! I am a hairdresser as well, and an avid DIYer. Heres the recipe i used for my soap, just oils i had on hand.

50.5 oz cold pressed olive oil blend
13.5 oz coconut oil (solid at room temp)
11oz avacado oil
9.25 oz sunflower seed oil

11.6oz lye
27.1 oz H2O

Calculated to be poured into two small sized kleenex boxes which are 2 3/8" tall, 9" long and 4.5" wide.

For my first batch, i thought i reached trace a little to quickly. I mixed all liquids at ~100*. Next time i may go down to the ~90* range. I also went to a heavy trace and found it hard to plop the resulting dough into the molds. Now that i have this one under my belt, the next one will be smoother and come out looking better. Cut into 1" bars and put in a cool dry place to cure for a few weeks. I threw a bar in the shower to use in a couple of days after im sure all saponification is completed.

-Thomas

 

[theath2010]

Congrats on your first bar I also just started making CP soap. If you'd like to share pictures that'd be great too!

 

[melstan775]

Hi Thomas! Northern NV here! Welcome to the forum. Question - could you buy lye or did you order it? We can't get it retail here.

 

[VanessaP]

When you say olive oil blend, was it just a mix of different olive oils or was it olive and other oils like canola? Each oil has different saponification rates and also have their own shelf life. Coconut and avocado oils are awesome. I LOVE avocado oil in my soap. You will need to be careful with NON-high oleic sunflower oil as it tends to have a short shelf life and go rancid fairly quickly compared to pure olive oil and coconut oil.

Welcome to the addiction

 

[Thomask]

Thanks

Thanks, will post a few pictures of the bars in just a minute. I sourced my lye online. Whats the weather like up there? Here sunny high 60's all day ;-)

-Thomas

 

[Thomask]

Surprisingly enough it came out exactly how i wanted it to. The bars a bit big, but im thinking i can cut them in half on a diagonal and they will be a good size. Hopefully as i get a little more experience at this, my bars will get to be pretty like everyone elses. I plan on making a few molds in the near future, and as a hairdresser i would love experimenting with shampoo bar soaps, to sell in at my station, but im in no hurry to pursure that. I hope to get a few years experience before i offer anything for sale, but i love giving things away, so i may do that for some free feedback and constructive critisisms.

Thomas

 

[Thomask]

Venessa i had purchased this soap at a local bulk foods ( smart and final ), in anticipation of making soap. Its 100% olive oil, but a blend of all the cheapest ones they can find im sure. At 10 a gallon i couldnt resist it when i saw it. Looking at my ratio of oils and superfat level, should i worry about the sunflower seed going rancid? Let me know what you think so i can adjust my next recipe. I may try a goatx milk soap next, which seems a lot more difficult. Thanks for all the nice replies!

Thomas

 

[lizflowers42]

Welcome!

 

[nebetmiw]

I notice the OO blends today in the store. One of our was OO, safflower and grapeseed. I might have to try that one of these days. Congrates on your first soap. I am sure you will have lots more to come. Welcome to the best soaping forum on the net.

 

[melstan775]

Surprisingly enough it came out exactly how i wanted it to. The bars a bit big, but im thinking i can cut them in half on a diagonal and they will be a good size. Hopefully as i get a little more experience at this, my bars will get to be pretty like everyone elses. I plan on making a few molds in the near future, and as a hairdresser i would love experimenting with shampoo bar soaps, to sell in at my station, but im in no hurry to pursure that. I hope to get a few years experience before i offer anything for sale, but i love giving things away, so i may do that for some free feedback and constructive critisisms.

Thomas

weather is alright here. About 50 today. We're slightly cooler then Vegas. And hey, I'm a hairdresser too! How do those bars feel and how much do they weigh? They look pretty solid.

 

[Thomask]

The recipe said i should have just over 10 lbs of mix, minus water weight. I got 17 bars out of the recipe. I Am thinking in the half pound range each. 6-8oz. Ill weight them when i get home and let you know!

I just made ae batch of lard soap, ad had some issues. I will start a new thread for that one!

Thomas