Rebatching - some people have to learn the hard way

[Ruthie]

I am generally fond of rebatching. It fills my need to soap when I'm low on oils, as we live FAR from WalMart where I get most of them. However, my last rebatch did not turn out so well. It is crumbly on the bottom and even after it hardens, it looks like it will stay that way. Been trying to figure what went wrong. The only thing that seems to make sense is maybe it was not fully melted. It is the highest superfat I have ever done (10%) and maybe it just looked like it was ready when it was not. Any ideas? Again, til I make it to WalMart, I do not have batteries, so can't post a photo.

 

[lsg]

If your soap has cured, then it doesn't hurt to run it through the food processor grater, I do it and my bowl doesn't retain any scent. There should be no active lye present either.

 

[lizflowers42]

The heart shaped soaps are my latest rebatch. This is the first time I have put rebatch into a silicone mold and I understand where the headache comes from-there are some air bubbles, but it's all mine for me and the hubs to use, so whatever! The wedges are my last rebatch further along in their drying time. I love that rebatch so much, but wish I didn't do the wedges because they are a little weird to hold in the shower

 

[Ruthie]

Liz, I love the rebatch wedges! Is that chocolate? Maybe not, but I have chocolate on the brain, as that is what I made this morning.

I'm attaching a photo of the soap I mentioned above; my rebatch that is crumbly. Perhaps someone more knowledgable than me can tell if my problem is from not melting it long enough.

 

[lizflowers42]

Well, you are close Ruthie! It's Mocha! I posted on here earlier with my pictures fresh out of the mold. Just took plain soap, rebatched it with coffee grounds (peppermint mocha on clearance after Christmas), and some liquid coffee. I rebatched it once with tooooooooo much liquid, so then I rebatched my rebatch, and it came out very smooth and richly chocolate colored!

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f22/peppermint-mocha-cake-rebatch-rebatch-soap-31159/

 

[chicklet]

While waiting on someone to help Ruthie (cause I've only done 3 rebatches and hate them all) I just wanted to say that I think a stainless steel pitcher would be excellent for mixing lye and I will definitely be on the lookout for one. In the meantime, I use an old lard bucket. PP #5 is the best plastic for mixing lye and the lard at Walmart comes in PP#5. HDPE #2 is fine for storing mixed lye after it has cooled (if you're into master batching) but not for mixing the lye. I would never use glass.

 

[lizflowers42]

While waiting on someone to help Ruthie (cause I've only done 3 rebatches and hate them all) I just wanted to say that I think a stainless steel pitcher would be excellent for mixing lye and I will definitely be on the lookout for one. In the meantime, I use an old lard bucket. PP #5 is the best plastic for mixing lye and the lard at Walmart comes in PP#5. HDPE #2 is fine for storing mixed lye after it has cooled (if you're into master batching) but not for mixing the lye. I would never use glass.

I just keep wanting to rebatch my rebatch until it gets a better consistency! I have some that I used whole lavender buds in and now they are yucky brown blobs and the soap is still very spongy...thinking about pulsing it up in my food processor (not afraid now that it's been rebatched once and "cooked" through any left over lye.) I'm hoping that the lavender buds get grated down to just specks. I'll keep you posted. I'm still new to rebatching too, but it's a fun process Even if it's ugly, it's moisturizing and I can make it smell yummy!