Is this soda ash?

[Mooicle]

Hello.
This is my 7th batch of soap. I have had off again in again soda ash. I thought I fixed the issue when I did 2 loaf soaps and implemented what I thought I learned into my oval molds. After resting for 24 hours in an enclosed container, sprayed twice with alcohol after pouring and using 2:1 water to lye (all these things worked well with my loafs), I got this. And this is after steaming too!
I just keep having issues with the oval molds!

 

[dibbles]

I have a lot more problem with individual cavity molds. They are more difficult to get to gel, and that seems to help keep the ash away for me. Have you tried spraying the top with alcohol now that they are out of the molds? That sometimes helps. I hate ash, and plane the soap if I can’t get rid of it. Once in awhile I leave it if it’s not too heavy and enhances the design.

 

[Obsidian]

I don't think thats ash, its more like stearic spots the form a lacy pattern. I get that too and can never pin point the cause. It doesn't wash off and isn't through the whole soap, just the first 1/8"- 1/4"
I don't gel, I suspect that has something to do with it.

 

[Mooicle]

I have a lot more problem with individual cavity molds. They are more difficult to get to gel, and that seems to help keep the ash away for me. Have you tried spraying the top with alcohol now that they are out of the molds? That sometimes helps. I hate ash, and plane the soap if I can’t get rid of it. Once in awhile I leave it if it’s not too heavy and enhances the design.

Thank you so much for the response... I am thinking that they did not go thru gel, or maybe thru partial gel. It is hard for me to tell and I just don't have very much experience. I thought it was interesting that my 2 loafs I made had no ash but this one had some issues...even though I tried to duplicate exactly what I had done with the loaf. I did find a way to somewhat "fix" the finished product though. I spritzed with 99% alcohol and then scrubbed the heck outta the soap. For the most part, the spots left. Then I wiped away the soap gunk from the toothbrush I used and then steamed them with my iron. They don't look too bad now. I guess if I want to keep using individual molds I will have to just deal with it.

 

[Mooicle]

I don't think thats ash, its more like stearic spots the form a lacy pattern. I get that too and can never pin point the cause. It doesn't wash off and isn't through the whole soap, just the first 1/8"- 1/4"
I don't gel, I suspect that has something to do with it.

Thank you so much for the response!!! It was kind of weird how the pattern turned out to be. It seemed like crystals! It was quite the downer because I thought I had perfected my soaping...(hahahaha to me for that). Of course I have only been soaping for not even a month so thinking I had broken the code to ash (or whatever it actually turned out to be) is not very realistic. I THINK I figured a way to at least make them presentable so that is good at least. It is just going to be a bit labor intensive but I love the little guys so what are you going to do?

 

[Saponomancer]

To be honest I think they look just fine how they are! Theres no need to do anything extreme to get rid of it.