Newbie Rebatch Basics

[Stacy]

Hi everyone,

I do my best to check for answers with the search engine but I didn't find exactly what I was looking for. Please point me in the direction if I missed it!

I'm still in the process of understanding different techniques and the situations they're best in and I have a question about rebatching. Please correct my on any/all of the following.

From what I've seen, it produces a HP like product.

Rebatching is often used if you forgot something, (eg. crap I forgot the fragrance!) but is it viable to use it as a M&P type soap.

For instance, let's say I know I'm going to need more soap next August but I don't know exactly which kind, so this winter, I make extra of my base recipe and then in August I can rebatch, mix my additives in and make what i need without having to wait the 6 week+ cure time.

My limitations are that I'm now working with a HP-like product to designs and swirls are limited.

Is this correct? Is it appropriate to use rebatching like M&P or am I misunderstanding the purpose entirely? (I understand M&P is a vastly different product with glycerin etc, I'm just talking technique limits and the like)

TIA for any guidance!

 

[Obsidian]

Rebatch isn't like M&P at all, M&P is a very liquid product when melted but rebatch is more like oatmeal or mashed potatoes. I would compare rebatch to HP as far as texture goes.
Yes, you can make a base soap and rebatch it later to add in scent/additives. It quite a bit more time consuming IMO and often its more rustic looking then even HP.
I only rebatch to save failed soap as I've found I don't generally lie to use the resulting ugly bars. Using a bit more water then recommended can help produce a better looking bar but then it will need longer to dry after unmolding. It doesn't need to cure like fresh soap but it still needs 2-3 weeks to dry and harden, extra water can extend dry time to 6 weeks or so.

 

[Stacy]

Ok so it is more of a rescue operation than a work around to curing time in a pinch or the like

This is exactly what I needed to know, thank you!

 

[Seawolfe]

I've always been curious about rebatching, and while browsing Brambleberry I saw that they sell soap shreds for rebatching - and pics of what the finished soaps will look like here: http://www.brambleberry.com/A-Rebatch-Soap-Making-Kit-P3298.aspx