My First Salt Bars

[ChrissyB]

Hi
So you would all remember me crying into my coffee the other day over my failed batch that seized,well I followed the recipe on www.soap-making-essentials.com and made some salt bars.
Next time I am going to use the same idea of using the grated soap into the new batch at trace, I like the two tone effect that it gives.

Here are the pics, comments more than welcome. I have not made salt bars before so this was a new experience. Crumbly little buggers aren't they??

IMG]http://i33.tinypic.com/dmy811.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks for looking everyone!!

 

[heartsong]

soap

congrats! good job! wait til you try one-they make your skin sooooo soft!

yeah they are a challenge to cut-some use the plain silicone muffin pans to avoid cutting or cut the bars after 6-8 hrs, as soon as they firm up. i have an 18 bar wooden mold that the grid drops into after you pour the soap. forgot about that, or i would have warned you.

if you click on search -then keyword salt bars-on the top right of the forum page, you can get all the posts.

anyway, luck handed you lemons and you turned them into lemonade, learned some new tricks including soapmaking can be an emotional rollercoaster and had some fun doing it!

job well done!

 

[ChrissyB]

Thanks Heartsong
They actually look better in real life than in the photos, i'm pretty proud of them for a first attempt.
Thanks for sending me that website, lots of inspiring info on there!!

 

[Deda]

Oh, ChrissyB - Those are NICE! I love love love salt bars! They my 'most made' soap.

 

[Lindy]

Very nice!!!!!

 

[ChrissyB]

Thanks guys, you are very kind.

 

[Pug Mom]

Stupid question...what is a salt bar??

 

[ChrissyB]

I got the recipe from www.soap-making-essentials.com, I had a batch that seized that I wanted to be able to do something with. Lots of great reading on there.

 

[topcat]

Gorgeous salty soap Chrissy!

I like heartsong's idea of silicone muffin pans so no cutting necessary

Now I will have to try this too!!!!

Did you use mostly CO in the salt part of this? I know the rebatched soap makes up a portion - just curious as I have read that lather can be an issue in salt soap......query: will the rebatch make it lather better? Hmmm.....

Tanya

 

[ChrissyB]

Hi Tanya!
Yes it is mainly coconut, there is a little bit of grapeseed and a little bit of castor oil in there as well, and yes the re-batched grated soap. There is about 570 grams of salt in there, it feels really nice to hold, I will have to wait and see after they cure how they go. The recipe is also superfated to 15% I think to compensate for the high level of coconut. I think the muffin pan is a great idea, because they are quite tricky to cut, I actually cut them a little thicker than my normal bars just to give them a bit more strength!
(I ordered a heap of stuff from aussie soap supplies, can't wait!!)

 

[mjmccauley]

Beautiful!! I do love making salt bars. They work up so quickly. I love that I don't have to babysit the mold and can have them cut by the evening and set to rest. I also love the fact that you get more bars for the amount of oil that you use since you add the same amount of salt as the weight of oil.

 

[xyxoxy]

<Sigh...>
OK... now I have ONE MORE thing I need to add to my "Let's try it" list.

 

[ChrissyB]

They have actually hardened up really well since the other day and are no longer crumbly like they were when I first cut them. I had a little bit of leftover that I used to wash my hands with to try and they are great. They still lather heaps because of all the coconut and castor, but they almost feel like a pebble that has been in the water, they are sooo smooth and hard. I love them, I am definitely going to be doing these ones again!!

 

[Tahara]

Hi Pug Mom!

A Salt Bar is a CP soap recipe that contains salt.

Some people use all coconut oil, some cut the coconut with other oils.
I personally use 75% Coconut, 18% Safflower, 3% Castor and 4% Shea.
My salt volume is 80% my total volume of oils. The salt bar requires a faster cut (I cut mine as soon as it gets solid - around one to two hours after I pour in the mold) and a longer cure than regular CP soap.

I find the soap so leaves your skin really soft - kind of like after you return from the beach.

<edited to adjust salt percentage>

 

[Deda]

Hi Pug Mom!

A Salt Bar is a CP soap recipe that contains salt.

Some people use all coconut oil, some cut the coconut with other oils.
I personally use 75% Coconut, 18% Safflower, 3% Castor and 4% Shea.
My salt volume is 80% my total volume of oils. The salt bar requires a faster cut (I cut mine as soon as it gets solid - around one to two hours after I pour in the mold) and a longer cure than regular CP soap.

I find the soap so leaves your skin really soft - kind of like after you return from the beach.

<edited to adjust salt percentage>

Listen to Tahara - she is the Queen of Salt Bars!

 

[mamaT]

How long of a cure time on a salt bar until these can be used?

 

[heartsong]

soap

they dry the same as regular c/p bars. i keep mine on the dry racks until they are ready to use or sell. i cover the racks with a white flat bed sheet to keep out dust. if i run out of room, then i box them.