Really dislike palm...

[Obsidian]

Is it normal for lard soaps to be hard and brittle? I liked the hardness but the brittleness of the batch I made had all but a couple of bard crumbling in the center. Is there an amount of lard that should not be exceed?

No, lard doesn't make a brittle bar. I've made 100% lard soap before and while it hard, there is no brittleness about it at all. Any chance you use tallow or coco butter in the same recipe?

 

[judymoody]

I agree with you obsidian. I dislike palm oil as well. I have a 50lb bucket I'm using up then I too will find something else. The problem is it's so nice to make a hard bar without animal fats. It doesn't seem to matter the temp for me, I always get at least a few white spots View attachment 7285. I hate them but I can't figure out how to not get them either. I soap at 120-130 using palm. I've also tried 100 and no difference. So I feel your pain!

Those look like air bubbles to me, not stearic spots. I find that I always get some if I use a wire cutter but not if I cut with a blade. You also might want to check the rubber seal on your stick blender. They do wear out over time as caustic soap batter is not kind to rubber. That can let air in too.

 

[seven]

another palm lover here, in fact, i cannot imagine soaping w/o it. i find that just enough sb is the key to a workable batter. a bit too much then it's a mess. try it till just emulsification next time, then work with your colors/designs. i am able to do all sorts of intricate techniques with palm w/o a problem.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I agree that palm is a face tracer. I use a cooking product which is 80% palm and 20% rapeseed which works quite well.

If you didn't use palm or lard, what sort of things are you thinking of? Butters, or just softer oils?

On an unrelated note, my English mind is in a great deal of pain from this -

Most people around here could care less.....................

 

[Susie]

50 lbs? I feel for you too lol. I only have 7lbs not counting the jar of spectrum shortening I finally used up. If I had issues with animal fats, I would stick with the palm and try to find a recipe that works better. I'd probably give up making dark or bright colored bars though.
Is that a clay colored bar? I adore the colors made with clay but I hate how it feels in soap, dries me out something terrible.

Does this mean that the shortening causes the same problems? I was thinking to try that next, but won't if it is problematic. But then, I don't do fancy stuff with mine. Just plain bars and liquid soaps, so it might not really be much of an issue.

 

[OliveOil2]

I love using palm, without palm it is more difficult to keep a vegan recipe mild. I find the palm shortening a great way to stretch dollars without giving up quality. I can still get a firm bar without animal fats. For me it's one or the other, I either make soap with animal fats or palm.

 

[Obsidian]

Does this mean that the shortening causes the same problems? I was thinking to try that next, but won't if it is problematic. But then, I don't do fancy stuff with mine. Just plain bars and liquid soaps, so it might not really be much of an issue.

Try if if you've been thinking about. Don't let someone's opinion sway you away from trying new things.

 

[coffeetime]

I actually quite like the streaking. It adds an element of whimsy.

 

[coffeetime]

Obsidian, this is a charcoal and red clay soap with palm streaking. I don't mind the look at all.

 

[Obsidian]

Thats a pretty bar but I don't care for the streaks at all. They look ok in a light bar but not the darker ones.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I'm with Obi on that one - with the darker colours it just looks odd

 

[fuzz-juzz]

I love palm! I tried to make palm free soaps and while they are ok, they can't beat the smoothness of those with palm.
I use palm shortening and usually at no more than 25%, soap at around 100 degrees and never get those marks or streaking. My soaps are quite uniform in texture and looks, I rarely have problems, except when I use TD. And if I try to do elaborate swirls while the batter is thickening really fast. If it's gone really thick, I just glob one colour on the top of another one and let it be.
I do find it does rather set fast but if you plan ahead and do few colours max, without fancy design, safe FO/EO, it's will be fine.

 

[BabyPickles106]

No it was straight lard. I made a second batch today with lard, castor, olive and palm. Scented it with Lavender & Lemongrass. I can't wait till tomorrow to see what it looks like when I cut. Thanks Obsidian.

 

[BabyPickles106]

One question where do you find Palm shortening?

 

[Obsidian]

I found it at target, its spectrum brand. It should also be at most health food stores or any large grocery store that has a good organic section.

 

[BabyPickles106]

Thanks I'll try looking there.

 

[Susie]

Walmart has the Great Value shortening that is tallow and palm. Cheap and cheerful.

 

[shunt2011]

Another palm user here. I use it with PKO all the time and am still able to make some awesome multi color swirls and don't get streaking too very often. I but the non-stir in 50 lb blocks from Soaper's Choice. I generally use it at 20-25%. I soap RT and just bring my soap batter to emulsification. This allows me to separate and color and still have time to pour, swirl etc.

 

[Kansas Farm Girl]

Coffeetime, I love the looks of this charcoal and red clay soap. It's all in the eye of the beholder I guess. Thanks for sharing.

 

[OliveOil2]

I really like it too! The black is so black, and the red is a very pretty shade, the white streaks look good to me, if I didn't make soap, I would think they were supposed to be there.