Reusing Soap Making Equipment?
- Thread starter hmlove1218
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I've heard about glass being etched from the lye, but does that also apply to borosilicate/ Pyrex ? Should I go ransack my lab at work for glassware or switch to a hard plastic pitcher for mixing lye water and oils with lye?
A neatly organized dedicated soaping container and tool storage system makes life much easier. I've got the dedicated part down pretty well. Neatly organized is optional, some would say it's overrated. Maybe I read that somewhere. 8) I
hmlove1218
Well-Known Member
Kind of off topic, but along the same lines.. Has anyone used just a plain old bucket like from walmart to mix lye and water? Or does it get too hot for a plastic bucket?
What about a hand mixer for reaching trace? I have a spare one that I never use, but I don't have a stick blender.
What about a hand mixer for reaching trace? I have a spare one that I never use, but I don't have a stick blender.
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I've used the buckets from hardware stores. I use the heavier ones mostly but the lighter ones will work for melting your oils in the microwave. I masterbatch my oils into 5 gallon buckets and use it as I need it to make 5 lb batches.
seven
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Yes. Soapmaking Tommy made a post about this. He used a stand mixer and it worked fine. I forgot the title of his thread though, but it's still a new one. Should be on the first 2 pages.
Lin
Well-Known Member
He used a hand mixer.
"...I've heard about glass being etched from the lye, but does that also apply to borosilicate/ Pyrex ?..."
Yep, it does.
"...What about a hand mixer for reaching trace?..."
Yes, that works. Nizzy (Australian soap maker) makes whipped soap (floats on water) using a stand / hand mixer. Just be careful when starting the mixer to avoid splashing. Obviously the consequences of splashing lye-heavy batter around are worse than splashing cake mix. But with care it works.
If I remember Tommy's post, it's the one about using rosin in soap. I believe he used a heavy duty stand mixer to whip the rosin into submission.
Yep, it does.
"...What about a hand mixer for reaching trace?..."
Yes, that works. Nizzy (Australian soap maker) makes whipped soap (floats on water) using a stand / hand mixer. Just be careful when starting the mixer to avoid splashing. Obviously the consequences of splashing lye-heavy batter around are worse than splashing cake mix. But with care it works.
If I remember Tommy's post, it's the one about using rosin in soap. I believe he used a heavy duty stand mixer to whip the rosin into submission.
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Lin
Well-Known Member
Tommy stated he used his kitchenaid hand mixer, there's photos of it in one of his threads but I think its the zebra striped soap not the rosin that shows it. He did have a problem with incorporating air into the batter due to the issues with the rosin but the end result was still good.
I posted a thread recently asking about using a stand mixer, I got resounding replies of don't do it. But as a result of asking a member is sending me her spare stick blender so I can start making soap again! And lots of good suggestions on getting a stick blender when finances are a concern.
I posted a thread recently asking about using a stand mixer, I got resounding replies of don't do it. But as a result of asking a member is sending me her spare stick blender so I can start making soap again! And lots of good suggestions on getting a stick blender when finances are a concern.
Why chance it?
I bought the majority of my soaping equipment from the dollar store and Goodwill. The rest I dug out of my attic and my sis-in-law's little used appliance cabinet. Total cost for above: $12
I got a cheap pitcher from Wal Mart that melted the first time I mixed KOH and glycerin in it. I then re-purposed an old glass coffee carafe (that I had been using to water a plant) to mix lye water. Lesson learned. I have since saved another coffee carafe from a neighbor's coffee pot that conked out. They may not last long, but they are free.
I did buy some molds from Amazon that I would not be using for anything else anyway.
Bottom line is this: Even on a super limited budget like mine, I still managed to dedicate a set of equipment just for soap. I would rather not have to worry about crossing soap and food. I just would not feel comfortable risking my family.
I bought the majority of my soaping equipment from the dollar store and Goodwill. The rest I dug out of my attic and my sis-in-law's little used appliance cabinet. Total cost for above: $12
I got a cheap pitcher from Wal Mart that melted the first time I mixed KOH and glycerin in it. I then re-purposed an old glass coffee carafe (that I had been using to water a plant) to mix lye water. Lesson learned. I have since saved another coffee carafe from a neighbor's coffee pot that conked out. They may not last long, but they are free.
I did buy some molds from Amazon that I would not be using for anything else anyway.
Bottom line is this: Even on a super limited budget like mine, I still managed to dedicate a set of equipment just for soap. I would rather not have to worry about crossing soap and food. I just would not feel comfortable risking my family.
I don't feel that there is much risk assuming everything gets a good wash, especially if it's in the dishwasher.
That said, I do most of my soap making in the laundry room so it doesn't make much sense to carry everything back and forth. I bought most of my soaping equipment at Ikea, Harbor freight, or at thrift stores. It's really not that expensive to keep separate tools for soaping, though for me it is about convenience more than safety. If I need to borrow a funnel or measuring cup from my soap room to use in the kitchen I don't give it a second thought.
Also FWIW I do not use any glass containers. Only Stainless steel, HDPE plastic, or silicone.
That said, I do most of my soap making in the laundry room so it doesn't make much sense to carry everything back and forth. I bought most of my soaping equipment at Ikea, Harbor freight, or at thrift stores. It's really not that expensive to keep separate tools for soaping, though for me it is about convenience more than safety. If I need to borrow a funnel or measuring cup from my soap room to use in the kitchen I don't give it a second thought.
Also FWIW I do not use any glass containers. Only Stainless steel, HDPE plastic, or silicone.
KOH and glycerin get VERY hot, hotter than boiling. That technique is best used in a stainless steel pan! You can pick up a very cheap one at yard sales, thrift stores, or big box discount stores. PLEASE do not use glass! Not even a coffee carafe! If you absolutely insist on continuing to do it, please at least set the carafe down inside a sink or outside where if it shatters it will do less damage and be contained. It may work a dozen times, but you never know when the last time will be, and cleaning it up will be both miserable and dangerous.
As for keeping things separate, putting something that has had FO in it through the dishwasher with your food dishes will usually disuade most folks. Who doesn't want a yummy bowl of patchouli cereal for breakfast? You will never stop tasting it.
I went to the dollar store and spent maybe $20, and all of my soaping supplies are red which makes it very easy to see what's what.
Hey! I have that same set of red stuff, LOL!
I went last week to a restaurant supply store(the only one within 100 miles), and found SS containers that they use for salad bars with hinged lids. I got a 32 oz and a 64 oz one. They were cheap enough, and will fit inside my slow cooker for liquid soaping to minimize splashing. I got to thinking about the imminent demise of those coffee carafes. And I got to thinking it might not be worth risking people's safety. So, add another $20 to my equipment costs.
I went last week to a restaurant supply store(the only one within 100 miles), and found SS containers that they use for salad bars with hinged lids. I got a 32 oz and a 64 oz one. They were cheap enough, and will fit inside my slow cooker for liquid soaping to minimize splashing. I got to thinking about the imminent demise of those coffee carafes. And I got to thinking it might not be worth risking people's safety. So, add another $20 to my equipment costs.
Lin
Well-Known Member
My soaping supplies are pretty much all red or white. I even found red silicone muffin cups and a red silicone loaf mold at the dollar store. Ruined it when I bought a cheap silicone loaf mold off ebay and it came YELLOW.... so sad. The photo showed red or blue! lol. Too bad I couldn't choose the container. The OCD part of me is twitchy now.
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