Loaf or Mould?

[SoapieCP]

I have been having mixed success with soap log moulds.

I love the look of a fresh batch of soap in log form ready to cut, but I have a few issues yet to resolve.

First is the varying gelling of the soap batches poured into the wooden log mould I have, it seems no matter what I do I dont seem to be able to get consistency between batches.
Second issue and most problematic is cutting the log to the correct weight each time with minimal waste n fuss. I have tried cheese wire cutting with a board and stopper set supposedly for 1" bars. I get 1" bars, but the weight of each bar can vary too much for my liking and my budget wont stretch to a Tank cutter inc P&P to UK just yet.

I would like to stick with the log set up but until I can come up with a consistent batch and cut I think I m going to shelve this plan. :?

I also have some gorgeous silicone moulds which are giving a much easier and more consistent performance.

To date I have been pouring the excess into these moulds, initially for use as sample bars. But, it seems now they are producing the most consistent soaps. No gelling and consistent soap weights.

I now am faced with the decision to give up on the cut log bars for now unless I can come up with a method of getting every batch to perform in the same way. Or change to moulded CP soaps for all my soap batches. Thus minimising waste cutting issues.

Any ideas on getting the soap log batches to come out the same non gelled and creamy looking throughout the bar or do you guys think it would be best to invest in more silicone moulds and move on with them?

All ideas and suggestions welcomed.
Namaste
X

 

[carebear]

sounds like you are getting partial gel. to get completely non-gelled soap I suggest
- soaping cool
- discounting water (less water means slower reaction and less heat produced)
- chilling your mold before hand
- putting your mold into the fridge as soon as you have poured the soap
- not soaping with milk or sugar. if you must soap milk then use less.

this said - I've had a terrible time stopping gel, and have given up and embraced gel.

 

[SoapieCP]

Thanks Carebear Great Tips

 

[Absinthe]

Ok this is the second time I have heard this term "gel" perhaps I just experienced it for the first time myself. What exactly are we talking about when we say "gel"

 

[krissy]

Ok this is the second time I have heard this term "gel" perhaps I just experienced it for the first time myself. What exactly are we talking about when we say "gel"

this question gets asked a lot. if you do a search of pics AND gel, you will get a bunch of results, some with pics to show you what it is... here is one post that has a bunch of pics and info on the resulting issues that are had...
http://www.soapmakingforum.com/forum/vi ... t=pics+gel

there are plenty more out there though. search feature = your friend

 

[Absinthe]

sorry, sometimes the fingers work a little faster than the brain. No sooner did I hit submit than I went to the search and found it.

I apparently have just experienced my first gel (I have been unaware of them in the past) and it completely threw me. But it all reconstituted and seems very much like soap now

 

[krissy]

not a problem...every one asks a lot of questions at the beginning but there are some truly wonderful posts that give you great, unconfusing info without having to wait on a response form whom ever is on the boards. which is why everyone suggests using the search

 

[Absinthe]

it was kind of a kneejerk "Gel, gel, gel, what is all this talk about gel, and is that what just happened to me?" kind of thing.

not to self: think before hitting submit

 

[SoapieCP]

Hi Absinthe
I know what you mean.

I often think I have the hang of something then.... :shock: what happened?????

Here's a pic of mine showing the first batch of soap I ever made back in Jan of this year. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9718021&id=39654670371
I came here because I wasnt sure what the dark area was running through in the middle of the soap.
Thanks to the lovely peeps here I found out it was caused by partial Gelling.

My understanding of Gel now is that it is something that happens with heat.

The more insulation a soap is given during curing, the more of a Gel you get. ie More of the soap is Gelled, so it appears more translucent if you like.

Gel isnt a problem for the soap unless its not wanted, as in my case.

However, there are a great many Soapers that embrace Gel and actively encourage it. Horses for courses really.

 

[Absinthe]

Wow that's pretty cool looking...

It just threw me when I saw all the liquid on top and what was not 10 minutes prior the consistency of very dry mashed potatoes was now like liquid but amazingly it is fine and looks pretty good. As a matter of fact I licked it and it is like paraffin. I guess it is soap already. It is nice and hard, and I wouldn't even be afraid to use it, if I didn't know that I jsut made it last night.

 

[SoapieCP]

Wow that's pretty cool looking...

Thanks Absinthe, I wish I d seen it that way back then. 8)
It kind reminded me of a Scotch Egg which Im not personally very keen on. :?

Making Soap is such a fascinating area , its no wonder its such an addictive subject. :shock:
Learning the process is also teaching me to have a little patience too, something I need to learn quick.

Namaste
XX

 

[Absinthe]

Not sure what a scotch egg is, but I am not sure it sounds yummy either.

Here is a funny thing on patience. I can cook just about anything on top the stove, but have not the patience to enjoy baking. However, I enjoy making CP soap, but can't stand MP soap? Does that make any sense?

-- Never pray for patience.

 

[SoapieCP]

Not sure what a scotch egg is

Oops good point...
Heres a link to the explanation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_egg
My first soap reminded me of the pic top right shown in the link.

I very much enjoy the blending process of CP Soap and the chemistry of the process, but find the wait to see how it turns out a nail biting roller coaster experience. :?

Not tried MP soap and to be honest I dont think I ll go there either. MP takes the fun out of the actual process that I enjoy the most. :wink:

X

 

[Absinthe]

Looked up the scotch egg, I stand by my original opinion. But who knows, maybe it would be yummy.

I am still not certain about the whole gel thing, and it seems now that there is some debate about

1. Letting it happen
2. Helping it happen
3. Forcing it to happen
4. Preventing it from happening


Most of the arguments seem to merely be "it is a mater of preference" with no strong argument why one is better than the other.

I have never had a soap do what the one Sunday night did, and I am blown away by the fact that it just seems done. It is hard, pretty, and licking it has the same effect as licking a candle... literally. If this is a result of gel then I like it, but if your pictures are a result of gel then I don't like it.