Question about soap-calc

[Hales]

Originally I wasn't adding my superfatting oils (ones added after trace) in the soap- calc to generate the recipe. I would just leave the superfat at 5%, create my recipe (example: olive oil, palm and coconut), then add jojoba (for example) at trace.

But then, I read that I should include the joboba oil in my original recipe calcuation.

Now, I just read "When adding oils at the trace stage (superfatting) be sure to use a lye calculatation that gives you about 1% excess fat. When using our Soap-Calc program or any other lye calculator do not include the oils that you will be adding at trace in the calculation)"

So which way is it?

 

[TessC]

From what I've read since joining, a lot of people here are of the opinion that adding a specific oil at trace doesn't make that your superfatting oil in CP soap, that the saponification process continues in the mold and is indiscriminate and will end up "eating" the oil you stir in at trace just as it does the oils that are mixed together at the beginning. Because of that, you can't control which oils remain unsaponified.

I know that I'd read in a bunch of the soap making books that you should reserve your special oils to stir in at trace when making CP soaps, that doing so would leave them as your superfatting, but after reading the explanations here, I think the books have it wrong and that the soapers here are correct, it doesn't matter when you stir a particular oil in unless you're doing something like CPHP.

If you are doing HP, none of the above applies and I have no idea.

 

[IrishLass]

What TessV said.

In CP soap, only about a mere 10% to 15% of your oils have actually been saponified at trace time, giving the 85% to 90% of still active lye a huge window of opportunity to gobble up the fats you add at trace. This info is based on actual results of experiments conducted on a variety of CP formulas in a laboratory by a chemist who also happens to be a soaper who wanted to test the 'adding superfats at trace' theory. In theory, it does sound like it makes good sense to add your superfat at trace, but the actual ratio of still-active lye to unsaponified oils at trace is a lot larger than it was imagined to be in theory.

In light of this, and the fact that lye is such an equal opportunity 'oil-gobbler' with no discrimination or care as to which oils you would like to remain unsaponified, it just makes better sense for one to calaculate the superfat level for the entire batch right up front, and then add all the oils together at the same time.


IrishLass

 

[Barb]

exactly.

unless you do hp. then you add the supperfatting oils of your choice ( without them being calculated in your original formula). that way the lye has done the deed and you know for sure what's left.

 

[Hales]

Thank you! In a sense, that makes it easier adding all together at once.

 

[Cyndi]

okay I'm a bit confused here. I have been doing the cphp method and I am pretty new at this. I've made about 4 batches in the last couple of weeks and all but one has come out great, I'm still holding out hope for that one though. If I am reading this correctly I add the superfat oils into the recipe on the lye calc and then all of the oils go into the crock at the same time? Did I read this correctly or am I confused. HELP!!!

 

[Lindy]

With HP you can add your superfatting oil after it has "cooked" just before you put it into your molds.

Here is a site I really like on oil properties; http://www.soapies-supplies.com/shop/pages.php?pageid=4 Each oil obviously has its own properties and some have much higher unsaponifiables than others.

At any rate I found this page interesting and since I think I found on a forum (probably this one) it's worth sharing....

Cheers
Lindy

 

[Cyndi]

Thanks Lindy,

I'll check it out!!!