No trace

[staceyg]

HI,
I am a newbie and am having trouble getting my recipe to trace. One batch finally did after about 2 hours. The second batch is not thickening.
Here is the recipe:

21.8 oz olive oil
5.3 oz palm oil
5.3 oz. coconut oil
4.2 oz lye
11.9 oz water
4 t fragrance

Someone mentioned it could be taking longer because of the use of olive oil. Is this a lost batch, or should I give it time. It's been close to 2 hours again with this batch.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Are you using a stick blender?

And yes your hardness is 31 so yes...your olive is like 67%
it will take a while for this soap to harden as well.

your lye should have been 2.19
and your water should have been 6.08

your fragrance is always .5 - 1oz per pound

save it...well if it never traces ...no ..

eda: opps..did mine for a 1lb batch

 

[PhillipJ]

Your lye and water looks right for a 2 pound batch. I heard that if it don't trace after a long time, to pour it anyways. If the lye is mixed in good, it has to harden up sooner or later. Warming the batch a little might help to kick start the reaction.

 

[staceyg]

Hi,
Well, it finally started to trace afterall, so let's hope it will be ok!

Thanks for the help

 

[IanT]

Im sure it will be fine! just think...back in the old days it used to take WEEKS for them to even make the lye solution required to make the soap, I think we are a little spoiled by the speed of things nowadays! The soap would take sooo long to make and wasnt nearly as high of a quality as we are able to produce today (from what we know at least).

(im sure you ll be checking it like every 10 mins like i did...and still continue to whenever I make soap...its so exciting!!)

 

[mainframe]

I tried my first batch last night and didn't notice a trace either after a hour of using a wooden spoon to mix(I actually enjoyed listening to some miles davis and zoning out mixing :shock: ) . Maybe from the lack of experience on my part for not noticing the trace but I did notice the texture change and got a little thicker. I poured it anyways hopefully it works out :?

I'm gonna try another batch tonight though. Good luck and hope it turns out well

 

[WilsonFamilyPicnic]

when it starts to thicken that is trace. after a few batches you'll get better at recognizing it.

wooden spoons give that great old timey soaping feel...but i'd recommend a stainless steel spoon or over time you'll end up with a wooden stick! :shock:

 

[Soapmaker Man]

I like a stainless steel whisk on fast moving fo's. I have never had a batch take over 5 minutes to trace.

 

[IanT]

I think im a little spoiled ...i started with a stick blender lol

 

[Soapmaker Man]

Me too, Ian. I seldom need them with my RTCP method though. When I used to heat my oils and lye solution, I did indeed use them. I have 2, a stainless steel Braun, and a Wally World cheapo.

Paul :wink:

 

[mainframe]

Yay I noticed a trace with my next batch though after 45mins with mr wooden the spoon

 

[IanT]

congratulations!!! nice little forearm workout huh?? did you just pour it??? happy with the results??? I always make my soap in the wee hours of the morn

post some pics and stuff if youve got a cam when you get some time (dont have to tonight..probably going to bed after this post!), i looooove pics

 

[lotionlady]

Anyone who makes soap without a SB has my respect. Me, I'm waaaay too lazy.

 

[IanT]

amen to that!