Puckered cp

[carrottop]

Hey All,
I gel all my soaps (don't know why). For the sake of space I stack my molds three deep over the soap making day. Many of them pucker badly on top. Am I too hot? Does gel matter? What would you do?
Thanks,
Carol

 

[newbie]

The puckering sounds like overheating, if it's consistent regardless of FO's, colorants, recipe, etc...

I assume you're stacking them for space reasons. Is there some way you could put a spacer in between the molds, like a couple blocks so there's more air circulation, or stagger them if they are long and narrow so every other one is going crosswise from the one below?

 

[Rob K]

You might also try dropping the temperature you soap at... For example, if you are currently soaping at 110-115, you might try reducing it to 100-105. This would lower the peak temperature that your "stack" is reaching.

 

[carrottop]

I soap between 80 and 90 most of the time. I think the stack is really the problem. Do I want to continue to gel? What are the advantages if any?
Thanks,
Carol

 

[carebear]

Gel results in soap that holds up better to water, and it speeds the reaction considerably so you can unmold sooner. Plus it can be very hard to prevent!

 

[musiccitysuds]

Yup, it's because of the gel. I use a piece of wax paper and press it onto the top of the soap during insulation, which seems to help prevent it (also prevents ash).

 

[carebear]

it's not gel, exactly, but overheating.
my gelled soaps don't pucker unless I've over-insulated or soaped too hot.

 

[agriffin]

Here's a pic of one of my carrot/cream soap logs overheating.

http://www.lovinsoap.com/?p=1077

(scroll down)