rough pencil line

[lionprincess00]

My second soap batch has passed the 4 week mark. I've been using a bar, and once it melted down some, I've noticed my pencil line has some qualities I dislike.
It was cocoa powder. It is currently flaking off in small flakes. In addition to little brown flakes all over me as I wash, I've noticed the more the soap melts the rougher this pencil line is. It's like the soap above and below the line are melting faster than at the pencil line. It's causing the portion containing the pencil line to be chiseled and *almost* sharp. Chiseled is accurate I believe. And this line is poking out further than the flush side.

Do all pencil lines have this quality as the soap is used?

 

[goji_fries]

I could literally shave off pounds with this?

 

[lionprincess00]

Lol! Not quite... but it's noticeable and it's there and thus I am wondering if it's normal. I'll upload some pics.

 

[lionprincess00]

Flaking pic 1
Look for blackish raised line around the edges. Maybe because it's cocoa powder and it caked once it got wet???
Pic 2 &3, line.
Keep in mind I scraped off most the raised part before I decided to ask you all about it. The raised edges were along the entire thing before I posted. Thx!!

 

[IrishLass]

I think this is perfect vindication of my theory that cocoa belongs in your mouth, not in your hand (or soap). :wink:

I've never used cocoa powder for a pencil line myself, but I've used gold or bronze mica before without issue. I think what is happening here is that the cocoa powder, which normally turns into a paste when mixed with water, is trying to stick together and form a cement-like paste when the water from your faucet hits it. Mica, on the other hand, does not like to stick together to form a paste so much.

Well, at least that is my theory, and I'm sticking to it (at least for now). :mrgreen:

IrishLass

 

[CaraBou]

My experience with cocoa powder is that less is better. Just a light dusting is all one needs. I haven't had your trouble with cocoa but I have had soap come apart when I used too much. But now that I know that I go pretty light with it. I like using it because it's already in my cupboard

 

[lionprincess00]

I liked it because I wanted brown, and being so green with it being my second batch, I didn't have a ton of colors...but I'm leaning towards irishlass in that it isn't the best choice in this situation. I may try it for a speckled look or something next time. Thx all!

 

[goji_fries]

Good stuff lionprincess, proud of your mad scientist experiments! I never did cocoa as a pencil line but it crossed my mind... I did do nigella sativa, aka black seed for a line and it is like a metal wool comb. The top overheated and it looks like a hot dog in the microwave splitting up the sides. Muahahhahaaa..

 

[Spice]

My second soap batch has passed the 4 week mark. I've been using a bar, and once it melted down some, I've noticed my pencil line has some qualities I dislike.
It was cocoa powder. It is currently flaking off in small flakes. In addition to little brown flakes all over me as I wash, I've noticed the more the soap melts the rougher this pencil line is. It's like the soap above and below the line are melting faster than at the pencil line. It's causing the portion containing the pencil line to be chiseled and *almost* sharp. Chiseled is accurate I believe. And this line is poking out further than the flush side.

Do all pencil lines have this quality as the soap is used?

what are pencil lines? Sorry, I have never heard that term. I use cocoa power to make a peppermint soap since I started soaping and never had a problem.:shock:

 

[LunaSkye]

what are pencil lines? Sorry, I have never heard that term. I use cocoa power to make a peppermint soap since I started soaping and never had a problem.:shock:

Post 21 in katsntx's thread shows a picture of what a pencil line looks like. Post 26 has a video tutorial on it. Both post can do a better job explaining it than I can (the technique is out my pay grade).

 

[lionprincess00]

I'll try to help. When you pour a portion of your batter, poured at around medium trace, you then take a sieve and sprinkle a powder over the top. Oxide, cocoa powder, mica are some examples. Don't sprinkle too heavily or the soap may separate at the line after curing, but you do want to coat the entire soap. Then pour over a spatula to prevent breaking through the line the remaining batter. To cut, turn the soap on its side or some of the powder may make drag marks from where your knife was. This is done best in a loaf pan, btw. The soap will look like, after being cut, a bottom layer, a line (the powder) as though you drew a pencil mark across the side, and a top layer. If done right, it looks smart and neat I think.

I broke through my line my first time. I forgot to pour gently onto a spatula.:thumbdown: