Newbie question - why are the calculators different?!

[KnitchyFingers]

Okay, so I am absolutely brand new to this soap thing, but it looks like a fun way for me to get creative, since I have zero "regular" creative talents (i.e. singing, painting, drawing... you get the idea!).

I just got my first shipment from BB and had a ton of fun sniffing at all my EOs. I've carefully collected my supplies and necessities and did a ton of reading. I checked out the "The Natural Soap Book" by Susan Miller Cavitch from the library and read that cover to cover. I've been lurking here for awhile. Ready to go? Not quite.

Just for the heck of it, I plugged Ms. Cavitch's basic recipe (50% olive oil, 18.75% palm oil and 31.25% coconut oil) into a few different lye calculators (MMS and SnowDrift and I even tried SoapCalc). All things being equal, they each gave me different amounts of recommended lye! I'm left scratching my head here and a little nervous about diving into my first batch now.

I would love to be able to play around and make my own recipes soon. I can't wait to experiment with shea butter and almond butter and making fabulous scents. But how am I supposed to do that when I can't get a solid answer on some of the basics? Am I doing something wrong? Does anyone have a particular calculator that they trust over another one?

 

[Soapmaker Man]

Well, there is a general value for each oil. If you look, a lot of variables exist for each oil. Most calculators use the average SAP value for that oil or butter, but there are minor differences in what SAP value the owner chooses to input into their calculator. Diane-"Woodie" on this forum, and her hubby Crawford have a dandy soap calculator you can download and use for 30 days for free. After that, there are 2 versions of it, the deluxe has inventory control and lotion calculator. A great free web sop calculator that most soapiers use and is probably the most used on-line free calc is; www.soapcalc.com/calc/SoapCalc.asp

Just remember to take a 5% lye discount, use a reputable calculator, and the minor variables won't make any difference, you will get a safe soap as long as you accurately weigh all ingredients used.

Paul :wink:

 

[KnitchyFingers]

Thanks, Paul, I feel better now! The differences weren't really big, maybe an ounce or even less in most cases, but I'm just an exacting person and like to follow directions... precisely. I think I'll just dive in and try it now!

 

[Soapmaker Man]

Lauren, have you seen this topic by Ian? He describes and lists most all the lye calculators;

http://soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3515

Paul :wink: