Saturday is Soap Day - Sorta - (EDIT - PICS)

[photoshadows]

ROTFL! Love the 2001 shot! You should have your own soap-based TV show. Or perhaps do a radio call in thing like the Car Guys on NPR
Your soap looks great. As for the stuff on top, it's probably just ash. You could cover it with saran wrap and let the wrap touch the soap, but I don't find that very practical. I usually spray my tops with rubbing alcohol (make sure it's 90%) and it does an ok job preventing ash. It's not perfect, but definitely an improvement and a life saver with fancy tops. Keep up the enthusiasum (5am? Really? )

-Christine

 

[Dennis]

Why does everyone get excited about 5am? Must have small children or been out too late. Or both! HA!

I'll try the saran wrap and the alcohol. Not sure why but the alcohol thing just doesn't appeal to me. I'll make two batches next and try saran wrap and alcohol. See which I like.

Thanks.

 

[JackiK]

Dennis,

I've had the same issue with almost all of my batches, except one. The trick for me was to build a cover for the entire wooden mold out of cardboard. The reason being that I texture my tops and putting saran wrap or a tight-fitting lid would have messed them up. Cardboard is a wonderful insulator and really helps hold in the heat.

Let us know what you end up doing and how it works. You may come up with a better solution.

Jacki

PS - 5AM - EEKS! I'm still dreaming at that time of morning :wink:

 

[AmyW]

You give the best commentary And that high tech cutter tool is a must have!!

 

[sudsysarah]

Okay since no one has said it... Your soap looks just peachy

 

[Dennis]

Okay since no one has said it... Your soap looks just peachy

It took two pages, but someone finally said it.

 

[ikindred]

The commentary on this post has been hilarious! Dennis, I think your soap looks great and I actually like the "Apricot" color...reminds me of the Mango soap I make. Happy soaping!

 

[cerelife]

LOVE the commentary...and I too have the same high-tech tool! I just placed an order that included a mundane, low-tech crinkle-cutter...AND I forced the DH to make me a mitre box for cutting...WHAT WAS I THINKING???
I may have missed some posts, but I'm curious as to why you put your soap in the oven. I use the same type log molds and just wrap a beach towel around them for insulation and put them away. I've only made 17 batches so far, but ALL of them have fully gelled, with the exception of the one batch that I intentionally prevented from gelling just to see the difference.
As others have said, I put saran-wrap over my soap right after I pour it into the mold...I squish it down with my fingers so that no air is in direct contact with the top of the soap. The only ash I get is in the corners, where I didn't get the wrap directly on the soap. HOWEVER...on the non-gel batch that I mentioned I got a TON of ash...I'm guessing it's because I stuck that bad boy out on the back porch in 19 degree weather totally naked...no insulation, no saran wrap...the top of the soap was just covered in ash!

 

[Dennis]

Youse guys are too nice. You've given me so much help, you just don't know. I am planning a new thread with responses that I hope will help others as well as show my appreciation.