Nobody's favorite topic: Rebatching

[DWinMadison]

between trimmings and a few bad batches I really need to make a rebatch. This will be my first attempt. Any suggestions? I'm planning to grate it in the food processor into as small a crumble as possible (I'm thinking Parmesan cheese consistency if I'm lucky.) Then into the crockpot to force it into a gel. What sort of liquid do you recommend? Glycerin? Water? I've hears some people say milk is a better option.

I know you can scent it before molding, but what about color? I'm going to use a plunger to help pack it into a pvc cylinder mold. Clearly, I'm not excited about the process, but it has to be done...like having a bad tooth pulled.

 

[Badger]

Good luck with rebatching. I wish I had some answers for you, but it is a process I know nothing about.. yet. Hopefully, I will be learning from your questions also.

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

Which ever liquid you choose, I find letting the soap crumbles set in the liquid and soften, helps. I've only ever used milk, I make milk soaps so it make sense. I've also only ever used my oven, and a stainless steel pot. So I cant offer any advice regarding the crock pot.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

I cut or grate my soap up as small as possible and use a crock pot set on low with one of those new fangled plastic crock pot liners (in the grocery store with the Saran Wrap). I add about an ounce of liquid (I like Coconut Milk) per pound of soap if its older/dryer soap, or no liquid at all if its fresh...if as its melting it starts to look like its drying out, I'll add another ounce or so (I kinda eyeball it...like my cooking) to moisten it back up. You don't wanna add too much liquid or it will take forever to set up and will morph badly and shrink a lot as it dries. When I get it to as smooth of a consistency as possible (45 minutes - give or take, usually), I remove it from the crockpot, liner and all (with gloves...it's HOT!), and use the liner bag with a corner snipped off to pipe it into the mold like icing a cake. If you are coloring or scenting, add it right before you mold it (so before you remove it from the crockpot). If it needs some smoothing on top, I place Saran Wrap on top and smooth it with my hand. Or I just lump some left over soap on top and call it "rustic". This method is much easier than a double boiler and then having to cram it into the mold.
The only part I hate about rebatching is the chopping or grating up the soap to melt. Grrrr...but other than that, it's not really a big deal.

 

[Smee]

Don't think this qualifies as a rebatch. I call them my Bit Bars when I
grate all the pieces & parts, add the least water I can get away with,
and let it all sit until it softens. Then I smash it all up into soap balls or
a mold. Here's one that almost matches my countertop:

 

[lizflowers42]

You don't wanna add too much liquid or it will take forever to set up and will morph badly and shrink a lot as it dries.

True story.

Also, if it's pretty fresh soap, there should be plenty of moisture and you only need to add a tablespoon or so of liquid into your crock pot. It's tempting to add a lot more, but don't. I cannot express that last line enough. DON'T!

For my good rebatch, I used flat champagne left over from new years! It's my absolute favorite rebatch yet! My other good rebatch was done with coffee (makes a nice brown bar-which if you are using lots of colored shreds, will work nicely to cover up the poop color that red and green make

 

[lizflowers42]

don't think this qualifies as a rebatch. I call them my bit bars when i
grate all the pieces & parts, add the least water i can get away with,
and let it all sit until it softens. Then i smash it all up into soap balls or
a mold. Here's one that almost matches my countertop:

cookie dough scented!?!?

 

[DWinMadison]

...The only part I hate about rebatching is the chopping or grating up the soap to melt. Grrrr...but other than that, it's not really a big deal.

Have you tried the food processor? I'll throw it out before I hand grate it. I'm not to excited about this process already.

 

[Mommysoaper]

I specifically make plain CP soap to rebatch. I like to shred my bars with a cheese grater and put it into a crock pot on low. I add a tablespoon or so of water every so often to make sure it doesn't get to dry, but I don't want it too moist. I like to add purreed fruit to may plain rebatch like strawberries or blueberries. It comes out really pretty. Good luck! It's not that hard, just keep an eye on it! Here's an example of one of my rebatches with strawberries added:

 

[Smee]

cookie dough scented!?!?

OMG You are a GENIUS! I never thought of that!
Off I go in search of cookie dough EO....

(or something that would be close enough / maybe chocolate?)

 

[houseofwool]

Hmm, this has me intrigued. I have a batch that I had colored orange and scented with orange and peppermint. Only the mint stuck. Now I you have me thinking of rebatching it, using coffee as the liquid and adding a bit of cocoa powder.

I love you people and the way you spark my creativity. (at least that it what I consider it, because I would never, ever, ever indulge in plagiarism. Nope, never.)

 

[hoegarden]

i rebatch using milk, yogurt and strawberry puree before. The strawberry puree is still soft coz I overdo on the amount of puree.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

OMG You are a GENIUS! I never thought of that!
Off I go in search of cookie dough EO....

Cookie Dough would be a FO ( Fragrance Oil), not an EO (Essential Oil) meaning it is derived from a natural source such as a plant/flower/leaf/root/bark/stem/resin.

Though I wish there was a cookie dough tree...I would have an orchard of them...right next to my Brownie tree grove...across from my Creme Brûlée pond...

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Have you tried the food processor? I'll throw it out before I hand grate it. I'm not to excited about this process already.

I killed my food processor. And the last one, too. O I just chunk it up in small pieces...or when I need to work out my demons, I use the cheese grater...

 

[houseofwool]

Cookie Dough would be a FO ( Fragrance Oil), not an EO (Essential Oil) meaning it is derived from a natural source such as a plant/flower/leaf/root/bark/stem/resin.

Though I wish there was a cookie dough tree...I would have an orchard of them...right next to my Brownie tree grove...across from my Creme Brûlée pond...

I think I want to be your neighbor.

 

[houseofwool]

I think I want to be your neighbor.

And I just looked at your location and realized that if I were to actually live in FL, where my job is located, I would be only 1.5 hours from you. hehehe

 

[Smee]

Cookie Dough would be a FO ( Fragrance Oil), not an EO (Essential Oil) meaning it is derived from a natural source such as a plant/flower/leaf/root/bark/stem/resin.

Though I wish there was a cookie dough tree...I would have an orchard of them...right next to my Brownie tree grove...across from my Creme Brûlée pond...

Oh, no, that simply cannot be.
What could be more ESSENTIAL than cookie dough?!?!?!

 

[lizflowers42]

Though I wish there was a cookie dough tree...I would have an orchard of them...right next to my Brownie tree grove...across from my Creme Brûlée pond...

"I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel." Buddy the Elf

Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

"I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel." Buddy the Elf

Sorry, couldn't resist!

I love Buddy the Elf! "You sit upon a throne of lies! You smell like beef and cheese!"

 

[lillybella]

Don't you need a preservative if you add fruit or milk?