need voice of reason

[Marilyn Norgart]

I just made a orange/grapefruit/lemon EO swirl. it has saran wrap on top to hopefully help with ash and its under the towels to hopefully gel all the way. I thought it looked amazing for me.
NOW.…….I need a voice of reason to tell me firmly to keep away from it for how ever long I am supposed to--which time wise I don't have a clue. how long before I check to make sure its not too hot. keep your fingers crossed please. OMG I am so nervous/I just hope this is the one that makes me real happy with CP

 

[dixiedragon]

LOL. Alright - don't touch it! Here are some pics of gel phase:
https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/gel-phase/

Signs of it being too hot are bulging at the top, or even a crack.
https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soap-behaving-badly/

Scroll way down to soap volcano.

If you see it starting to bulge at the top, cool it down a bit. You could even just take it outside. If you see a crack forming, that means it is starting to overheat inside and it's pushing against the crust of cool soap on top. You can use a spoon to give it a quick stir, then gently tap the mold to get the soap to settle flat again. This should release the heat, plus now you don't have a crack on top.

 

[Zing]

It's sooo hard to be patient! I too cover with plastic wrap, cardboard, and towels. The next day I poke my hand under the towel to feel the mold and if it's still warm, I let it be. I use sodium lactate so can usually unmold after 24 hours but only if the mold is not warm. I try to gently pull a side of the mold away from the soap and if it freely pulls away, I unmold it. If there's no 'give' then I keep under the towels for another 24 hours. Hope that helps. Let us know how it goes -- the scent sounds awesome!

 

[amd]

It has occasionally happened that my soap brain has wandered off and I have forgotten that I have soap in a mold. If my soap brain happens to wander your way, DON'T ANSWER THE DOOR, I don't care how hard it knocks. That soap brain is a jerk and will have you poking (gloved) fingers into soap that shouldn't be poked into, or even trying to unmold soap that isn't ready to leave home yet. In fact, if that soap brain shows up don't even look out the window at it. It will start doing the Soap Shimmy and put you into a trance that you may not wake up from until it's too late.

Good luck!

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

thanks for the links dixiedragon--I reread the articles and took the temp of my soap its around 120 so hopefully it will gel, I put it on a heating pad on med to keep it warm

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

It has occasionally happened that my soap brain has wandered off and I have forgotten that I have soap in a mold. If my soap brain happens to wander your way, DON'T ANSWER THE DOOR, I don't care how hard it knocks. That soap brain is a jerk and will have you poking (gloved) fingers into soap that shouldn't be poked into, or even trying to unmold soap that isn't ready to leave home yet. In fact, if that soap brain shows up don't even look out the window at it. It will start doing the Soap Shimmy and put you into a trance that you may not wake up from until it's too late.

Good luck!

oh that's hilarious. the soap brain was here when I was making it--I almost started putting it in the mold before adding the fragrance. I usually try to get it out of the molds as soon as possible but I am going to leave this one alone-I am going to leave this one alone-I am going to leave this one alone...…………………………..

 

[cmzaha]

If you have it on a heating pad I would certainly check on it. Soap can overheat quickly when on heat pads. I do have to do such to force gel but I check every hour or soap to make sure it is not overheating. I do not suggest saran wrap because if it hits the top of your soap it will mar it. I fill my molds to their very top so I use low profile crates that will hold 2 of my soap molds, with a heat pad on the bottom and heat blanket on top, but I watch mine very closely. If I see overheating I remove them from the crate and direct a fan on the molds.

With my recipe and lye concentration I have to usually force gel

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

If you have it on a heating pad I would certainly check on it. Soap can overheat quickly when on heat pads. I do have to do such to force gel but I check every hour or soap to make sure it is not overheating. I do not suggest saran wrap because if it hits the top of your soap it will mar it. I fill my molds to their very top so I use low profile crates that will hold 2 of my soap molds, with a heat pad on the bottom and heat blanket on top, but I watch mine very closely. If I see overheating I remove them from the crate and direct a fan on the molds.

With my recipe and lye concentration I have to usually force gel

I already turned the heating pad off cuz it seemed to be getting warmer, it is gelling better than I have had it in the past--mine usually gels part way. if it starts to get cooler I will turn it back on. thanks for the thought on saran wrap-my mold was pretty full so I need to think of doing something else for the next time

 

[penelopejane]

You don’t need to turn the heat pad back on. Heat is really only needed to get the micro environment around the mold up to the temp to keep the natural temp for saponification at that cozy level for 8-12 hours. You can help maintain this temp by covering it with towels (or blankets if it is really cold).

The recipe, additives, mixing temp, environment in your soaping room, winter or summer make a difference to the amount of layers required to reach full gel. It is a matter of experimentation than sticking with your findings.

If you keep peeking you will change the mocroclimate and change your results. Instead write screeds or notes so you get a consistent result each time.

I used to do it in the oven and it was so easy. Heat oven to 115*F turn it off put soap in cardboard box wrapped in a blanket in oven and not touch it for 12 hours. Perfect every time.
Then I got new molds that didn’t fit in the oven so I had to work out a new system. It is time consuming - overheating caused hard soap, not enough heat partial gel. So very annoying and $$ because of failed soap. I learnt not to heat it. Just provide a nice snug environment and let the soap do it’s own thing.
It is much more relaxing than hovering.

 

[cmzaha]

You don’t need to turn the heat pad back on. Heat is really only needed to get the micro environment around the mold up to the temp to keep the natural temp for saponification at that cozy level for 8-12 hours. You can help maintain this temp by covering it with towels (or blankets if it is really cold).

The recipe, additives, mixing temp, environment in your soaping room, winter or summer make a difference to the amount of layers required to reach full gel. It is a matter of experimentation than sticking with your findings.

If you keep peeking you will change the mocroclimate and change your results. Instead write screeds or notes so you get a consistent result each time.

I used to do it in the oven and it was so easy. Heat oven to 115*F turn it off put soap in cardboard box wrapped in a blanket in oven and not touch it for 12 hours. Perfect every time.
Then I got new molds that didn’t fit in the oven so I had to work out a new system. It is time consuming - overheating caused hard soap, not enough heat partial gel. So very annoying and $$ because of failed soap. I learnt not to heat it. Just provide a nice snug environment and let the soap do it’s own thing.
It is much more relaxing than hovering.

...and this is why we all have choices and need to learn what works with our recipes. The nice thing with clear crates is you do not have to open them, just turn back the blankies to peek. What works for me may not work for anyone else.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

alright---my soap appears to be gelled all the way to the end. I have been reading a lot of articles on gel that say it needs to be left covered for 24 hours? I am kinda confused about this--in my mind I think I should be able to uncover and start cooling it down...……..please can anybody tell me why it needs to stay covered for that long if it is gelled. I don't know if it matters that I only do 2#s

 

[Meena]

If you see it starting to bulge at the top, cool it down a bit. You could even just take it outside. If you see a crack forming, that means it is starting to overheat inside and it's pushing against the crust of cool soap on top. You can use a spoon to give it a quick stir, then gently tap the mold to get the soap to settle flat again. This should release the heat, plus now you don't have a crack on top.

I Love this advice!! No doubt, i will need to use it someday!!

It has occasionally happened that my soap brain has wandered off and I have forgotten that I have soap in a mold. If my soap brain happens to wander your way, DON'T ANSWER THE DOOR, I don't care how hard it knocks. That soap brain is a jerk and will have you poking (gloved) fingers into soap that shouldn't be poked into, or even trying to unmold soap that isn't ready to leave home yet. In fact, if that soap brain shows up don't even look out the window at it. It will start doing the Soap Shimmy and put you into a trance that you may not wake up from until it's too late.

 

[DeeAnna]

If it's fully gelled, then peek all you want, pull back the blankets, and turn off the heat. Relax -- the excitement is over.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

If it's fully gelled, then peek all you want, pull back the blankets, and turn off the heat. Relax -- the excitement is over.

thanks--I finally found an article that addressed that too--good to have some one else say it--eegads this has been nerve racking. I need to maybe do it all over again this weekend so I get over it

 

[cmzaha]

alright---my soap appears to be gelled all the way to the end. I have been reading a lot of articles on gel that say it needs to be left covered for 24 hours? I am kinda confused about this--in my mind I think I should be able to uncover and start cooling it down...……..please can anybody tell me why it needs to stay covered for that long if it is gelled. I don't know if it matters that I only do 2#s

Yep, DeeAnna is correct. If I left mine in the mold for 24 hrs I would not be able to cut it without it crumbling

 

[penelopejane]

alright---my soap appears to be gelled all the way to the end. I have been reading a lot of articles on gel that say it needs to be left covered for 24 hours? I am kinda confused about this--in my mind I think I should be able to uncover and start cooling it down...……..please can anybody tell me why it needs to stay covered for that long if it is gelled. I don't know if it matters that I only do 2#s

This is where it all depends on your recipe, additives, your environment etc because I wait until my soap reaches room temp before I uncover or unmold it. For me this prevents ash and gives me the best finish when I cut it with a wire cutter.

Soap is so variable that you will have to experiment to work out the best system for your soap. Even different recipes will be different.

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

well the soap smells amazing--99% gelled, I got the bars cut and they are all even and straight. unfortunately the awesome swirling I did almost totally disappeared. I don't know why that happened but am wondering if I should have traced it a little longer?

 

[JanelleTrebuna]

well the soap smells amazing--99% gelled, I got the bars cut and they are all even and straight. unfortunately the awesome swirling I did almost totally disappeared. I don't know why that happened but am wondering if I should have traced it a little longer?

It sounds lovely. Those scents sound like they will smell great and be energizing.
I'd love to see a picture of your cut soap.

Janelle

 

[penelopejane]

Deleted. I read OP’s other thread.