Mechanic Soap Recipe?

[hmlove1218]

Hi everyone! My husband is a mechanic and I am occasionally the "gofer" so we both naturally get really greasy and nasty. I had made a batch using my regular recipe trying to make a mechanics soap. However, after tearing down an engine today for my '66 Mustang, I realized that my regular recipe does not make a very good mechanics soap... So i figured maybe something like this:

40% coconut
40% olive
12% avocado
8% almond

SF ~10%-12% since I use 15% in my salt bar recipe without a problem

What do you think?

 

[Dorymae]

Are you opposed to using lard or tallow? If not I would cut out the avocado oil and the almond oil and use 30% tallow, 30% coconut and 40% olive oil. Then I'd add in some pumice and activated charcoal.

The reason I would cut out the avocado and the almond oil is simply to save them for more face or body bars. Lard or tallow has very good conditioning properties.

 

[hmlove1218]

I can't say im opposed to it, but the first and only lard recipe i made has been the only recipe I've found drying. It was 20% coconut 60% olive and 40% lard i believe. I don't have my notes in front of me to double check, but i know the coconut amount is correct.

I forgot to say the batch i made had pumice in it. The reason i don't particularly care for it is it doesn't bubble at all until most of the oil and grease is gone. I was hoping that upping the coconut oil would help with the bubbles

 

[Dorymae]

I've never heard lard or tallow being drying but then again I certainly don't know everything.

To tell the truth my mechanics bar does not have huge fluffy bubbles but it does cut through heavy grease quickly. I have always used activated charcoal in it to help carry the grease away so it rinses clean.

Maybe try using the higher CO oil with the olive oil and a bit of castor if you really want the suds. I'd try the lard again but it's up to you to make the choice. (animal fats are off putting for some.) If it is for your family and not to sell then just make it so you like it. I'd make small batches (like 1 lbs) measuring in grams and find exactly what you like. (the rest will probably be fine to give away as gifts)

 

[Seawolfe]

I just made a 80% coconut oil, 80 % salt bar at only 5% superfat - and Im loving it as a grubby paw soap. Im not sure why its not making my hands feel all dry - even started a thread about that. So something to think about, but you may want pumice and charcoal instead - or as well

 

[hmlove1218]

I'll probably try the lard again. I probably just have really weird skin as i can use at least 25% coconut oil with a 5% SF without a problem lol. This is all theoretical at the moment since i haven't run anything through soapcalc. Ill piddle around and see what numbers i can come up with with what oils.

I just made a 80% coconut oil, 80 % salt bar at only 5% superfat - and Im loving it as a grubby paw soap. Im not sure why its not making my hands feel all dry - even started a thread about that. So something to think about, but you may want pumice and charcoal instead - or as well

I saw that and thought it was really interesting! I've been watching it to see what theories are proposed lol

 

[Susie]

I forgot to say the batch i made had pumice in it. The reason i don't particularly care for it is it doesn't bubble at all until most of the oil and grease is gone. I was hoping that upping the coconut oil would help with the bubbles

The reason it does not bubble until most of the oil and grease is gone is because the oil and grease on your hands inhibits the lather. Unless you intend to add some sort of syndet(like the commercial soaps), I doubt even adding sugar will boost the bubbles enough to really make a difference. It has been pointed out that the lack of bubbles really does not affect the cleansing ability, but in the end, if you don't care for it without bubbles, that is all that matters.

 

[hmlove1218]

I figured the grease had something to do with it. You don't figure that upping the coconut oil will help it start bubbling sooner?

 

[judymoody]

I would lower the SF if you want to cut grime quickly. I'd try 25% coconut, 40% lard, 5% castor, and 30% liquid oil of choice, at 5% superfat. Maybe add some citrus EO and either pumice or finely ground oats.

 

[hmlove1218]

It actually was 5% SF so I may even drop it down lower to 3% or 4% and see what that changes. Thank you for the suggestion of citrus EO. I usually only use FOs but I do have an EO/FO blend that's grapefruit and lemongrass that might work.

 

[Sarah87]

When using coconut oil at a higher percentage rate than 35% it will make your skin feel dry. I use 54% vegetable oil, 23% coconut and olive oil and never feel dry and it lathers up very nicely.

 

[seven]

When using coconut oil at a higher percentage rate than 35% it will make your skin feel dry. I use 54% vegetable oil, 23% coconut and olive oil and never feel dry and it lathers up very nicely.

by vegetable oil, did you mean soybean?

if so, how is the soap holding up? no DOS?

 

[kmarvel]

Dorymae, I have been introduced to fresh lard and tallow and I LOVE it. (The lard when I cut it to measure and put in my pan turns my stomach) I have made 3 batches of different soaps and they are all curing atm. I love the color! I was wondering instead of the charcoal I could grind up some oatmeal for scrubbiness?? Any suggestions??

Kathie

 

[Dorymae]

Kathy, oatmeal is really nice for a face or body exfoliant but I don't think its scratchy enough for hands, at least not for greasy man hands! For a gardeners soap I think it would work great. If you wanted something organic (in the original sense of the word) you could try poppy seeds with lemon peel would be good, or I think they have some nut husk grinds although I haven't tried them myself.

 

[eucalypta]

@seven
Vegetable oils are all (liquid) oils, not from mineral or animal origin - so olive, almond, evening primrose, peach, sunflower etc.

I agree with Judy on this.
As a "mechanic" soap is a special purpose soap, (goal is cleaning) I wouldn't lay the emphasis on SF - 5 is fine.
High on coconut guarantees good cleaning. (not everyone finds it drying) 25-40%
Tallow and lard give good props too. 25-40%
Castor of course 5-10% and
Liquid oils for the remainder.

Limonene is a super cleaner; hard to find on its own, but all citrus kinds of EOs help.
Scrubs - from baking soda to ground apricot kernals can be added.

A good handcream may be applied after using the soap.

 

[Sarah87]

by vegetable oil, did you mean soybean?

if so, how is the soap holding up? no DOS?

By that I mean Vegetable shortening. It's very moisturizing and good for the skin.

 

[kmarvel]

Thanks, Dorymae. Maybe I will make Gardeners Soap instead!! lol