Rebatching a cure-all?

[American Valkyrie]

I've read that rebatching is a great way to save failed soap. Does this mean that, even if my soap separates during the initial CP curing phase due to a lack of saponification or problems with additives, that I can still salvage it?

Haven't had that problem yet- honestly, I haven't even made my first batch yet. I'm just trying to get all the information I can.

Thanks!

 

[agriffin]

Rebatching has saved many failed CP batches for me. I keep a crockpot on hand just for this reason. If I have a failed batch, whether from seizing, weird color or whatever...I just dump it in my crockpot and HP it.

 

[ChrisShepp]

Building on what Amanda said...

Rebatching - for the vast majority - is only really useful in 2 situations:

1. Correct chemistry/measurements yielded cosmetically imperfect soap.

or

2. While soaping, your [correctly measured] soap ingredients became physically compromised - i.e., they seized/riced/separated in the mixing bowl or in the mold. Even then you're not really 'rebatching' so much as Hot Processing.

(A 3rd, albeit more rare, situation would be where a soaper mass-produces very large batches of unscented and/or uncolored soap with the intention of rebatching portions to add particular scents and/or colorants to produce multiple end products)

Rebatching will not fix lye-heavy or oil-heavy soap without further chemical modification (adding more lye, water, or oils as necessary), which involves some fairly complicated math. Even then you might not totally succeed. IMO its just better to pitch it.

That said, IME rebatching is AWFUL. Terrible. Conjured from the depths of hell. I only do it if I absolutely HAVE to, to save a substantial amount of product (and associated monetary expense) :twisted:

 

[American Valkyrie]

Thanks for the info! My biggest worry so far is issues like seizing or separation.

I'm also planning to do quite a bit of rebatching of my own successful soap so my kids can make their own fragranced soaps without coming in contact with the lye. They're 9 and 11, and one of them is autistic, so I'd rather go through the pain and hassle of rebatching, until they're a bit more responsible to work with lye.

 

[ChrisShepp]

How cool! That is a great activity

Have you considered doing Melt & Pour projects with them? Part of rebatching is the (potentially dangerous) high heat - anywhere from 140 to 190F, or even higher if you use the boil-in-the-bag method. And melted soap is sticky - trust me, Ive given myself nasty burns by glopping soap on my skin by accident when rebatching.

 

[American Valkyrie]

I may resort to melt and pour. If rebatching is too much trouble, I'll just add the colors/fragrance myself, and do MP with them. We have a very old-fashioned family, though, and we take a lot of pride in doing things "from scratch." But I'm open to all ideas.

 

[dubnica]

That said, IME rebatching is AWFUL. Terrible. Conjured from the depths of hell. I only do it if I absolutely HAVE to, to save a substantial amount of product (and associated monetary expense) :twisted:

AMEN to that....

 

[BakingNana]

I may resort to melt and pour. If rebatching is too much trouble, I'll just add the colors/fragrance myself, and do MP with them. We have a very old-fashioned family, though, and we take a lot of pride in doing things "from scratch." But I'm open to all ideas.

We are, too. Having said that though, I totally agree that rebatching is not a good idea for the kids. Stirring that stiff soap is difficult for little ones, and their coordination isn't that good. Potential for some burns there trying to pack it into molds. Even with M and P, you need to be careful of hot soap, but the melted consistency is pretty liquid so it's easier to stir and pour into molds. M and P is available in organic formulations. Do a Google search; this is just one of many:

http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/m ... p-603.html

Good luck...hope you find something that works for you and the kiddies!

 

[AZ Soaper]

I have a formula for playdough soap. Of course I am at work and do not have it handy but I got it on another forum.

As soon as I get home I will post it. It's M&P with corn starch and some other stuff added but I'll get you the forumla. that would be great for the boys to make.

 

[BakingNana]

AZ, that sounds sooooo fun! I'd be interested in that as well, for my grandkids.

 

[AZ Soaper]

It's super easy.
Play Dough Soap(I'll probally get a cease and dissist order from Play Dough!)
4 oz M&P soap
1 heaping T. corn starch
1 1/2 T Glycerine
1/2- 1 t. FO
Color
Preservative

Melt soap. Add everything except cornstarch and mix. Slowly add cornstarch. When you can't stir anymore put out on cornstarched board and kneed like bread. Store in an air tight container.

Have Fun.

 

[American Valkyrie]

Oh wow, thank you! Where would I get the glycerine, do you know?

 

[ChrissyB]

You can get glycerine from a soap supplier, or the pharmaceutical section in the supermarket, or chemist.

And I agree that rebatching is a form of torture. As much as it pains me to say this, I'd rather throw a failed batch out than rebatch it (or attempt to in my case).

 

[paillo]

i'm THRILLED to report that all my rebatches worked -- totally failed batches are now fine, and i guess i'll just rebatch all the soaps i plan to make with my lovely cosmetic-grade FOs from Wellington Fragrance. the crockpot method worked magic! thanks to whomever posted the link to the fantastic tutorial. i used goat milk instead of plain milk in the rebatch, and powdered milk at the end to make it smooth. it's still a form of torture, but if i can salvage my failed experiments i guess it's worth it