My Very First Soap (and other questions) Pic

[amodernjune]

After 3 months of research and gathering all my supplies I bit the bullet and made my first batch of soap. I had to overcome my anxiety first. Sounds silly, I know, but I was so nervous I'd mess up.
I was VERY pleased with my first batch of CPS.

I did take a few peeks at it and didn't realize the importance of keeping it insulated until after the fact. I think it cause it to crack a bit on the top, but over night the crack sealed back. I also had some problems with crumbling. I think this is because of the knife I was using. I cut the bars, then used a much thinner blade knife to clean the bars up. Maybe I should have cut it sooner? It had been about 18 hours and the loaf was pretty hard. I did loose about 3 bars due to the crumbling.
I also have alot of shavings from cleaning the soap up. The pieces that crumbled and the shavings....can they be melted down and used for embeds? I would hate to think they're just a wash (no pun). [/img]

 

[jax1962]

it's gorgeous!

i wish my first soap looked like that.

i find the best cutter for me is an old cheese slicer, the ones with a metal cutting wire and a sort of catapult shaped handle. also if the soap isn't too hard, you can use dental floss.......

 

[amodernjune]

Thank you for the compliment! I need to put in an order today, so I will probably get me a scraper/cutter. I deff need to add more FO as well. I only bought a few 1 oz bottles so I'd know what I'd like. They're perfect for my bath bombs and bubble bars, but the scent in the soap is very mild. Too mild.

 

[thesoapfairy]

wow i agree with jax, looks like you've got talent!

 

[Hazel]

Welcome to the forum!

You should be pleased because it's very beautiful! I'm impressed and if you hadn't said it was your first batch, I would have assumed you had been soaping for quite awhile.

It's not silly at all to be anxious when making your first batch. At least it took you only 3 months. It took me over 4 years.

You can use the crumbly sections for embeds or melt them for another batch. If you want to melt them for another batch, it's easier to do it sooner than later since the soap is still moist.

BTW, I'm not an expert but the crack could have been caused by overheating. It could have helped to release some of the heat when you uncovered it and that's why the crack sealed. I've had cracks develop in a couple of batches and it was due to overheating. I removed the towel I had covering them and the cracks sealed back up.

The heat is only important if you want your soap to gel. Gelled soap is normally ready to cut in about 24 hours are less. Ungelled soap takes longer to saponify - several days. I had a batch that took 5 days before it stopped zapping. Also, most people try to avoid a partially gelled batch. It's more a matter of appearance. It will still be good soap.

 

[brewsie]

gorgeous first soap! you got a lot in there for your first as well : peaks, swirling, coloring, oh my! glad to have you learning and sharing with us!

like hazel said, ive seen cracks from over heating too. i tend to gel my soaps so i have to keep an eye on this.

 

[dirrdee]

WOW...they are beautiful babies! I would think you had been soaping for quite awhile too...very nice, you have done your research well! It took me a year and Anne Watsons book to get brave enough...lol

Welcome to the forum, looking forward to seeing more pics!

 

[soapfan2012]

beautiful, its a pity I cannot also smell them...lol

 

[FOhoarder]

Awesome first batch! Great tops...love those textured tops!

 

[donna75126]

How do you do the swirls and peaks? I have been to scared to try

donna

 

[Pamela]

Looks wonderful!!! Very nice for your first batch...I remember mine...ugh
Got myself a book, supplies and was ready to dive in...did 100% olive oil soap...since it didn't turn out like I hoped I was discouraged and didn't soap again for a few years. With the help of a good friend who had been making soap, I dived in again....and can't stop!!!

 

[IrishLass]

Wow! A 2-toned layered soap on your first try! And very nicely executed, I must say! Congratulations! It looks great!

I also had some problems with crumbling. I think this is because of the knife I was using

.

While it is possible that the knife was the cause, just in case, I wanted to make mention of some other more serious things can cause crumbling as well- lye heaviness being the most serious, for one. If you find that your soap zaps when applying the tongue, or 'zap' test and continues to zap for too much longer than 7 or 8 days or so after unmolding, it's most likey lye heavy. Other things that can contribute to crumbling can be your formula, i.e., salt bars are notorious for being crumbly upon cutting, as well as batches with a high amount of certain hard fats. Certain additives can cause crumbling upon cutting, too, such as too much sodium lactate or stearic acid.


IrishLass

 

[MegaSoap]

The pieces that crumbled and the shavings....can they be melted down and used for embeds?

wonderful first batch, well done!! i am keeping all my shavings/crumbles and am planning on throwing them into another (maybe uncolored) batch at trace, to have a nice "confetti" soap. i've seen pictures of other soaps with grated soap bits and they look fun and lovely!