just wondering as new here

[Rowan]

Welcome to the forum and the soaping addiction.

freshskin and mystic moments are good for soaping supplies and there's no delivery charge which helps. There is a thread with recommended suppliers from the UK that might be worth looking at. Unfortunately I can't post the link from my kindle. Maybe someone else could?

Regarding your recipes do you run them through a soap calculator? It really helps to make sure your recipe is correct. Most people use soapcalc. There's a sticky on the beginners forum which explains how to use it.

If you post your recipes, we can definitely help with advice.

 

[biarine]

Hi Terr, I am from Newport South Wales I got my supply in new direction aromatics UK, Amazon, soap kitchen too

 

[LBussy]

I must, respectfully, disagree with this. Please don't try to make batches with less than 500 g(or 1 lb) of oils. Small errors are magnified in smaller batches.

Well ... that depends. I have made a bunch of 1 lb batches of shaving soap, and I started formulating that recipe with 100g batches.

Making a small batch is no different than making a large batch if you have the right equipment. If all you have is a 6# kitchen spring scale then that sort of accuracy (or lack thereof) says "no" to making a 1# batch. If you use a scale with 0.1g resolution (and most of those would have +-0.05g accuracy) then making a 1# batch is well within the acceptable limits.

So I struggle with the "right" answer for a new person. Making 1# is cheaper than 4# if you screw it up. If you learn to make 1# batches you can darned sure make a 4# batch, but the inverse is not necessarily true. Measuring 0.1g of something is slightly more challenging but practicing with something like table salt to get the hang of it is a pretty good idea, and using a dosing syringe for small liquid amounts (like FO's) makes it fairly simple.

So, I respectfully disagree with your respectful disagreement. Tea? :-D

 

[dixiedragon]

Maybe the UK soapers could petition the owner for their own subforum?

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Maybe the UK soapers could petition the owner for their own subforum?

I don't think that is the best idea - there isn't that much difference between US and UK soaping. So someone asks a question in the UK forum that is just been covered in the US one? Not great.

 

[Saponista]

I think it would be a shame to do that too as it would segregate us from everyone else.

 

[LBussy]

I think it would be a shame to do that too as it would segregate us from everyone else.

Right, and I would not be able to point out to the English that they spell English words wrong!

"Colours" indeed! :lolno:

 

[dixiedragon]

I say "subforum" not a totally separate forum. Kind of like we have a Fragrance subforum, an MP subforum, etc. And maybe that subforum could have a sticky of UK suppliers and resources.

 

[terr]

just wondering

totally agree, dont think that we should start having sep sub forums as we couldnt bounce ideas or suggestions with other countries . I have now tried fresh skin and mystic moments and must say that of the 2 i prefer mystic moments fragrances , I dont make large batches of soap as just a hobby so I usually make either 1lb or 2lb batches. Just to let you know I have just had my first success!! will post a photo when I get timeXX however just one more question how much fragrance should I use in a 1lb or 2 lb batch as the fragrance seems to magically disappear in my soap?:think:

 

[happyshopper]

:wave: from the UK

And puts a vote in to keep everything on the same forum, I like speaking to people all over, if you put in a sub forum for the UK, UK citizens might think they are only allowed to post in that bit, besides then you would need to do the same for the rest of Europe/elsewhere and would end up with sub forums for every country.

Re making small batches I plan to do this as it will be cheaper if I make a mistake and as there is only me and my son who will be using the soap, I don't want to end up with loads of the same type.

(I have to go now as I have realised I need to speak to my neighbour about the colours in the catalogue )