Partial Gel Advice Pls

[orumble]

Hi,
I am using a large slab mould with my CP recipe and I want to ensure I force gelling all the way through. With all my previous attempts I got a partial gel which looked terrible. This is a large mould (8lb)and I have used a heated blanket and still only got about a 75% gel. (But soap depth is still only 2.5 inches so not really really deep) I left the heated blanket switched on all night on a low setting to help -but still a partial gel. Not sure if I should leave heated blanket on for longer Any tips?
Thanks:?:

 

[Saswede]

Did you consider not gelling the soap? Saponification does take a little longer, but if you soap at cool temperatures and keep the soap in the fridge for 4 to 6 hours, you could avoid gel. (This is my standard way of making soap ...... mainly because of similar problems with partial gelling, as well as "loss" of EO with the heating up of the soap during the gel phase.)


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[orumble]

Thanks. The mould does not fit in the fridge, and thought it would be easier to force gel all the way through, than prevent gel - but perhaps this is not the easier option!

 

[Saswede]

I also have a mold that doesn't fit in the fridge - so only use it in winter when the temperatures are low enough(!!!) that I can leave it out on the veranda (with the doors open) to keep it cool enough to avoid gel! Crazy - but true!!


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[orumble]

Maybe I will try it that way next time! Could I stick it in a warm oven for an hour to get it to full gel? Not sure it is going to make it with the heated blanket..

 

[Saswede]

Sorry - but I pretty much never try to get my soap to gel, so I really can't advise you on this ......


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[orumble]

Thanks. Does anyone else have any other tips? I would like to salvage the batch if at all possible. I know it will be OK to use - but it will not look pretty. It has been gelling for about 16 hours now. Not sure if there is anything else I can do

 

[pamielynn]

I run into this with my big log molds. If I heap on the heat, I can sometimes get cracking down the middle and still not get gel all the way through. I try to concentrate on insulating the sides now- I've lately begun to use pieces of styrofoam from an old cooler to tape to the sides. It's not pretty, but it works.

 

[shunt2011]

I would also insulate it with towels or a blanket. I have a slab mold very similar and always get a good gel on it. Sometimes it even starts to overheat.

 

[orumble]

Sorry should have made it clearer, I do have towels on top but removed to take picture!

 

[sistrum]

Try covering your soap with a board that fits your mold instead of towels. Towels let to much heat out. You can still put the towels on top of the board if needed. That's what I do and it works for me.

 

[lpstephy85]

Maybe get a heating mat to stick under the bottom to force it to gel from the bottom up. Not an expert here as I don't care if mine gels or not, but just an idea for you

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PAGPVO/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20



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[Moody Glenn]

Hi Orumble! I do a 'somewhat' similar method like you do except I do not have that large of mold and I use a flower nursery heating mat (but the heating blanket is almost the same). I also cover with towels but also have a wooden lid for the mold. Do you have a lid to cover your mold? This helps to trap heat. BUT.... here is one thing you can do and it greatly helps me to have full gel all the way to the sides..... before you pour your soap batter make sure to have your mold nice and warm. That is, turn on the blanket about a half hour or more to thoroughly pre-heat your mold before pouring your soap batter. This helps to retain the soap heat longer especially where heat escapes faster which is on the sides and edges of your mold. Pouring in a relative cold mold even on a warm blanket drops the soap batter too much and causes gel to stop on the outer areas of the mold. I think this should help you quite a bit.

 

[shunt2011]

You could also place your mold in a warm oven for a bit before pouring that may assist as well. I put a large Fed Ex box unfolded on top before I put the towels over it.

 

[orumble]

Thanks so much - never thought of pre-heating the mould, Glen. Do you use a similar size mould and manage to get a full gel?

 

[jenneelk]

For gel I always CPOP and when I don't I fridge.. never had a partial gel yet. But I'm still fairly newer at some 45 batches done.

I turn my oven to 170 after I'm done pouring. Once it's hot the mold goes in on a cookie sheet and then the oven goes off. Stays there overnight or at least 8 hours. I also like it because it's out of the way of dust, dirt and kids. Oh .. and I do put a towel over it after the oven has cooled a bit to keep the heat a little in there longer.
Some keep the oven on for like and hour.. but I only tried that once recently and not sure why I did it since my other way works fine. Well my soap overheated and separated.

 

[la-rene]

Try a heating pad on low. But watch it close.

 

[Moody Glenn]

Thanks so much - never thought of pre-heating the mould, Glen. Do you use a similar size mould and manage to get a full gel?

Hi Orumble!
I use a slightly smaller mould but I believe that pre-heating it before hand will help in having full gel. Pre-heating in an oven, like others have written is a good idea or, like I previously mentioned, just turn on the heating blanket and allow it to warm up the mould. After pouring the batter I will cover with some towels and then let it set for about 3/4 of an hour and turn off the blanket (or mat). I use a cooking timer alarm so I don't forget - otherwise everything will greatly overheat and ruin the soap - not to mention become a fire hazard! I leave the towels on until about 24 hours later and see how the soap turned out. Wood is a good insulator so the heat will remain for several hours.

The main reason I gel is no matter what I did I always got at least partial gel. I do not have room in the fridge or freezer. So, if it wants to gel, so be it, and I will help it along! :wink: I found out pre-heating the mould did wonders to insure complete gelling. I soap in my basement 'studio' and the stairway is not wide enough to bring down a stove with oven. So I use the heating mat method instead. Anyway, I hope this helps you!

 

[judymoody]

Maybe get a heating mat to stick under the bottom to force it to gel from the bottom up. Not an expert here as I don't care if mine gels or not, but just an idea for you

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PAGPVO/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20



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I do the same. I also preheat my mold in a 170 degree oven.