scraps

[whisks]

Recently I've been melting them with alcohol to get transparent bars.

how do you do that?

 

[knicelyr]

Whisks,

It's really easy...

Melt your scraps down either in a microwave or on the stovetop. The microwave works best for me because you don't end up burning the soap. Do not add any water...

I use about 2 lbs of soap scraps and 20% - 30% alcohol. At 20% the soap is not totally see through but is no longer opaque. At 30% it's see through but can be a bit soft if your soap is not high in hardening ingredients like PKO, CO, LARD, Stearic, Myristic or Lauric.

Melt the scraps in the microwave with 30 second bursts until the soap is melted or mostly melted.

Check your temp and be sure that the temperature is not high enough to flash your alcohol.

Measure out 20% - 30% of the weight of your soap in alcohol.

I usually slowly add about 50% the melted soap to the alcohol and then pour the soap/alcohol back into the soap. If there is still some un-melted soap then I use the microwave at 15 second burst being careful not to boil the alcohol.

Once all the soap is melted you should be able to see through it. It will be very thin, much thinner than you are used to.

Make sure it's cool enough to pour in your molds and pour into your mold.

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I use BDG so I have a high ratio of glycerin. You might want to add about 12% sugar water. The sugar water should be about 50% sugar and 50% distilled water. Be sure the sugar is totally dissolved before you add it to your soap.

The alcohols I have been using are - ethanol (everclear), Isopropyl and sorbitol. I really like the sorbitol because it has a boiling point of over 200*F and will not evaporate out of the soap.

I have been using Catherine Failor's book "making transparent SOAP".

If you do not use any castor oil in your soap you may need to add more alcohol. You could also add some castor oil to your soap.

 

[whisks]

thanks, rick.....will it work if the alcohol i use is methylated spirits? also, to melt the soap, does it have to be fairly fresh or can it have been cured for a couple of months?

 

[Bubbles Galore]

You surely meant baking soda, not baking powder.

NO I meant baking powder also known as washing soda or 100% sodium carbonate if finding it in pool supply section.

Baking powder is bicarb soda and cream of tartar (over here in Australia at least). :wink:

 

[carebear]

here in the US as well.

names are so funny - that's why they had to come up with INCI an CAS and such - to try to clarify things. INCI is my fave cuz the names are supposed to be used INTERNATIONALLY. Cept they aren't LOL.

 

[knicelyr]

whisks,
The mentholated ethanol will work, I would do some research as to wheather or not you should introduce the methanol into the soap.

When using BDG we distill the methanol out of the BDG before we use it.

The only denatured ethanol I can get also contains methanol so I've decided not to use it and opt for sorbitol and ethanol.

 

[knicelyr]

Here are some of the soaps I made from BDG scraps for Christmas presents this year.

I also made some from scratch...

 

[whisks]

very nice, rick....nice moulds, too.

 

[knicelyr]

Thanks whisks I'm happy to be able to use scraps to make BDG MP soap, It sure beats tossing them out!

 

[whisks]

i wouldn't toss scraps either, rick - not with all hte nice oils and things i've put in them...besides, waste not want not, eh?

 

[Stinkydancer]

Here are some of the soaps I made from BDG scraps for Christmas presents this year.

I also made some from scratch...

Wow that is interesting and very pretty- I might have to try it!
I love soaps that break the mold- no pun intended!

 

[knicelyr]

Thanks stinky!
Let us know how it turns out!

 

[Stinkydancer]

Thanks stinky!
Let us know how it turns out!

Oh I meant to try your soap Knicelyr. My DH is already skiddish about the lye I use. I can only imagine if I started bringing in alcohol too. It would really freak him out. LOL I love sandalwood and you have it.

 

[knicelyr]

Stinky,

Send me a PM with your address I'll send one out to you.