new member but not a new soapmaker only some new problems

[herbalorigins]

I've been making cp soap since 1998 or there about. In the past year and half I've started going to a different technique, working with cold lye so lution and cold oils and butters It seems my troubles started after that. When I look up troubleshooting on the soap making websites I don't find a description to fit what is happening to my soap. The soap cures fine, gets hard, slices fine no crumbling, etc., great lather, but the texture isn't smooth all the way across like regular cp soap. It has areas where there are marks going through the bar that don't look anything like the rest of the soap bar. Nothing leaks from these places but the marks go all the way through the bar for the most part. It almost looks like stain glass at times depending on the colors used. I've got to find out what's causing it so I can correct it. Is it possible for lye to loose it's strength? I didn't have any problem getting it to trace and it was ready to take out of mold 24 hrs later. I don't heavily insulate anymore so maybe that contributed? I am totally stumped and appreciate any help from anyone. Wish I could post a picture so you could see this bizarre bar. thanks, Judee

 

[cwarren]

I think a picture would be very helpful.

 

[soapbuddy]

I don't have a pic to go by, but since you soap cold, could it be some of the stearic hardening from one of your soapmaking oils?

 

[Microdot]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[MsDee]

Hi and Welcome SMF

 

[AmyW]

Welcome! I'd guess you are soaping too cool and it's something with the stearic acid and or veins of the harder oils that didn't get saponified? Still new myself so I'm not sure. Up your temps and it should go away.