New with questions.

[Zephyr]

Hello all,

I am a new soap maker. I made my first soaps before Christmas. (GM rebatch) I gave them away for gifts and everyone is wanting more!Sunday I did more GM rebatch and my first M&P....they came beautiful.

I've been researching for months now,and starting to gather supplies to do either a CPHP or CP soap. I am so excited to do this!!!

I would like to know what supplies I really need to begin. I am aware of most,but would love a list (and maybe the best place to get them, I am in NY)

I have seen CP kits at various sites.(Bramberry being one) Most range between $60-90 to make 20 bars....but you get several things to keep,molds,thermometer,safety stuff.

Are these worth it?

Thanks in advance and BTW, love this forum. Great creativity here!!

 

[andreabadgley]

I don't know about kits - I kind of just gathered stuff from around my kitchen, and picked up whatever else I needed. Oh, and my husband made wooden molds for me, but I know a lot of people use milk cartons, Gladware, etc. So here's my setup for CP:

fats/oils, dH20, NaOH, and other soap ingredients
beaker filled with 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup soapy water (to neutralize lye)
various bowls for EO's and other additives
measuring utensils for EO's and additives
digital scale
protective gear for self (safety goggles, rubber gloves, apron)
protective covering for counter top (or at least a cardboard square to set messy utensils on)
thermometer (though some soap at room temp, and others just wait til the oil and lye vessels are cool enough to hold)
heavy duty pyrex beaker for mixing lye (others have warned against using glass to mix lye - perhaps stainless is better)
2 spatulas - one for oils, one for lye
medium stainless pot for melting fats
large stainless bowl for combining oils and lye
stick blender
molds (lined with something - I use freezer paper)
knife for swirling (if doing swirls)
rags for cleanup

I think that might be everything. Good luck to you!

 

[Zephyr]

Thank you Andrea!

I have a kitchen scale that I use to measure food,but I don't think it's sensitive enough.

My husband also made me soap molds...(he's a carpenter)

Oh one more question. I used my crockpot to do my first rebatch...can I use it to cook food in now? It's a fairly good one and I am not sure if I want to dedicate that one to soaping as of right now.

This is so exciting.

 

[unmouton]

Im excited for you! I made my very first batch of CP soap with this tutorial: http://smallnotebook.org/tutorials/beginner-soapmaking/ It's easy to follow, has a nice list of both ingredients and tools, and where she bought hers.

The tutorial is very basic, and assuming you like CP you will end up with many more things, but its a nice starting point.

As for the crockpot, I personally am too paranoid to mix my soap making things with my cooking things. I have heard of some people who do use their crockpots and pans for both cooking and soaping, they just clean them very thoroughly. I would suggest that if you think you are going to start soaping frequently (and let me tell you, just one CP batch and you'll be addicted!) then buy a second crockpot. They aren't super expensive and it will be worth the investment.

Good luck and don't forget to post pictures of your soaps!

 

[jbarad]

Oh one more question. I used my crockpot to do my first rebatch...can I use it to cook food in now? It's a fairly good one and I am not sure if I want to dedicate that one to soaping as of right now.

You're rebatching, so you're doing nothing but melting it down and remolding it. I can't see the harm in using the pot for food.

I did it the other week, needed my big crockpot for superbowl sunday and had just used it for a rebatch a few days before.

I mean it's soap right ? We wash our pots and pans in it every day. I don't think I'd use it for food if I'd made fresh soap in it, with the lye, etc. but a rebatch isn't the same

 

[andreabadgley]

I mean it's soap right ? We wash our pots and pans in it every day. I don't think I'd use it for food if I'd made fresh soap in it, with the lye, etc. but a rebatch isn't the same

I agree - rebatching in your crock pot is really no different that just washing it out with soap, right?

 

[Zephyr]

Thank ladies,that's what I thought,but wanted to be sure.

That link is very good and surprisingly not one of the half million I bookmarked!


OH! I just thought of another question!!!

Which soapmaking book would be the most beneficial for a beginner, but still would be relevant once I am a "pro."

 

[andreabadgley]

Which soapmaking book would be the most beneficial for a beginner, but still would be relevant once I am a "pro."

I reference Susan Miller Cavitch's "The Soapmaker's Companion" constantly, and it was also the book I learned CP from. I look to Delores Boone's "Handcrafted Soap" for pretty pictures and as a HP reference.

Those are the only books, I own, though I've checked lots out from the library. I am curious about other peoples' favorite books so that I can plan for building my personal soap book library ;-)

 

[AshleyR]

It can be kind of expensive to get everything you need to start up, but once you have it all, it's so fun!

Here's what I suggest you get, and where to get it:

Stick blender (cheap from Walmart)
Digital scale (Walmart has one for $20 that I've been using for a year, no probs)
Tall plastic juice jug (dollar store)
Stainless steel whisk (dollar store)
Plastic or wooden spoon (to stir lye - dollar store)
Plastic spatula (dollar store)
Plastic container to measure your oils (dollar store)
Large pot (thrift store)
Small pot (thrift store) - make sure these are not titanium!
Molds (you can make your own wooden ones or find several things at the thrift store that can be lined and used to start out with!)
Microwave or stove (you probably already have one)
Rubber gloves (dollar store)
Safety glasses (dollar store)
Rags & a couple of old blankets (thrift store)

That's all I can think of right now. You can probably find almost everything at the dollar or thrift store. I'd go to the thrift store first... you might come across a stick blender, scale, and crock pot if you're going to do CPHP. I got both my big enamel coated stock pots for $2 at the thrift store.

Good luck getting everything you need, and have fun! You will love making soap!

 

[honor435]

Thank you Andrea!

I have a kitchen scale that I use to measure food,but I don't think it's sensitive enough.

My husband also made me soap molds...(he's a carpenter)

Oh one more question. I used my crockpot to do my first rebatch...can I use it to cook food in now? It's a fairly good one and I am not sure if I want to dedicate that one to soaping as of right now.

This is so exciting.

i bought a used crock for 10$, hubby would freak if i used it to eat with!
I bought used stick blender too.