New At This - Help!

[NewNaturalista]

Last week I showcased my failed first batch. See link below:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/821/soap2.jpg/

Today I started from scratch again - this time following the recipe exactly. (I used olive butter instead of oil the last time.) I noticed in both cases when I poured there was a pattern left over on the top. See link below:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/253/soapphoto.jpg/

It looks like lumps or bubbles but the mixture is smooth. I'm scared I will end up with a hard batch again! Am I stirring too long? This whole tracing, adding essential oil thing makes me SO nervous!

 

[dieSpinne]

How long are you waiting to cut?
You may want to try cutting a little earlier, before the bar is so set.

Also, have you tried cutting with a wire?
When I was using a kitchen knife to cut my soaps, the wedge shape of the blade's cross section was causing the soap to break along natural faults instead of along the line I wanted... It created edges very similar to what you show in your pics.

 

[IrishLass]

Last week I showcased my failed first batch. See link below:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/821/soap2.jpg/

dieSpinne brought up a good point- how long did you wait before cutting? What I see in your picture could be one out of a few things: You could either have had a lye-heavy batch, which causes crumbling like that upon cutting; or it could be that you waited too long to cut; or it could be your formula itself. For instance, my 100% coconut oil soaps will do that if I don't cut just as soon as my soap comes out of gel while the soap is still quite hot, but firm to the touch. If I wait until they cool off, my soap breaks in pieces when cutting.

Today I started from scratch again - this time following the recipe exactly. (I used olive butter instead of oil the last time.) I noticed in both cases when I poured there was a pattern left over on the top. See link below:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/253/soapphoto.jpg/

It looks like lumps or bubbles but the mixture is smooth. I'm scared I will end up with a hard batch again! Am I stirring too long? This whole tracing, adding essential oil thing makes me SO nervous!

Those patterns (lumps/bubbles) that I can see from the above picture tell me that you have nothing to worry about- it shows me that your soap is perfectly traced and ready to pour. Those patterns are what we soapers call 'trace', and it's a good thing.

IrishLass

 

[Fragola]

Also, changing your cutting method may help with the crumbliness.

If the soap doesn't gel, it can stay soft for days, and practically any knife will cut smoothly, but if it gels, it hardens more quickly, and you need to choose a different tool or adjust your cutting technique.

 

[NewNaturalista]

Thank you!

Thanks I will try cutting sooner!

 

[nurse_75]

I am a newbie too and think your second attempt looks great! I get mine to a trace that is like custard... still pourable but not too runny. At the moment I dont add colours or EO/FO so have a very basic soap to work with. This helps me in knowing when I have got the process right. There is nothing to meddle with my mix unless I got some of those basic steps wrong... weights, dissolving lye, temps of liquids and trace.

Good luck. I look forward to seeing what else you come up with.

Sharna

 

[NewNaturalista]

@Nurse 75

That's really a good idea. I'll cut this latest batch in the morning instead of waiting a full 24 hours. I look forward to seeing your progress too!

 

[Fragola]

Poke it with a finger before you cut. You never know, this one may be too soft instead of too hard !

 

[NewNaturalista]

Saponify Process?

Fragola - I took the "covers" off my soap this morning and turned it over to pop out of the mold (it's in a plastic mold) and I saw the middle appeared to be "gelled" - as if it hadn't set all the way yet.

Now I'm worried that this batch will be ruined because I interrupted it? I covered it back up and I'll try to cut when I get home from work tonight.

My "How to make soap" book shows what I saw as a flaw - it says my soap didn't get warm enough to fully saponify. I hope this is not the case - if it is what suggestions do you all have to keep it warm? I cover with a wooden board and two towels. It's stored in the basement, it's not that warm down there.

 

[Fragola]

Slightly lower temperature doesn't stop the saponification process, only slows it down.

A partially gelled soap is mostly aesthetically flawed.

Once you create a recipe which you know like the back of your hand, you will know exactly how many blankets (electrical or not) your soap needs to gel.

Being a newbie myself, I am not there yet, so I apply direct heat - usually during the next day (I put my cheap silicone mold into a large tray with hot water, or you can use your oven, if it has a low enough temperature setting). Your plastic mold may not handle heat very well.