seeking less crumbly gardener/mechanic soap

[Zing]

I have continued to tweak my gardener/mechanic recipe but it is still too crumbly for my taste. I no longer use sodium lactate. This recipe gets my hands clean in seconds -- BUT it tends to break apart at the halfway point. I'd welcome any tips for a harder, longer lasting bar. Thank you!

 

[KiwiMoose]

Needs soy wax! *ducks for cover*

 

[dibbles]

You could try a little beeswax.

 

[Jorah]

I wonder if reducing the palm and increasing the coconut oil by the same amount (swapping about 25% of the palm) would help.

 

[lsg]

Mechanics Dream is a recipe that I got from Cole Brothers. It will work as well for a gardener's soap.

24% Coconut Oil
5% Castor Oil
42% Olive Oil
5% Lanolin
24% Palm Oil
This recipe has a 6% lye discount

I used frozen, strong, black coffee instead of water for the lye mixture. Add 1 teaspoon of pumice and 1/8 cup finely ground coffee for every 16 ounces of oil.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

Your recipe is fine as is but I like @lsg's Cole Brothers recipe better -- definitely Old School

25% Coconut vs ..............................................24% in @lsg's Cole Brothers recipe
28% Palm + 5.5% Shea Butter = 33.5% vs ... 24% in ditto
12% Avocado + 23.5% RBO = 35.5% vs .......42% Olive Oil + 5% lanolin in ditto
5% Castor vs. ..................................................Same in ditto

I would keep 25% Coconut and 5% Castor the same.
I would lower the Palm and up the Shea Butter to 24% total
I would use 34% Oilve Oil instead of RBO; plus 7% avocado
Add 5% lanolin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That being said, If you wish to keep the recipe as is, then we need to look at technique and additives:

68g Borax = 4.5 Tbls (approx,) Added to water used to make the lye solution.

1 Tbls Coffee Grounds
1 Tbls Loofah shreds
1/2 Tbls Poppy Seeds

It is generally recommend that dry ingredients be added at a rate of
1 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon PPO max.

1090g Oils = 2.4 pounds
So. 2.5 tablespoons are the maximum. Consider 1/2 Tbls each.

Technique:
Add the additives (including fragrance) to the warmed oils and SB for one full minute before adding the lye solution.

Temps: 120-135°F is best for this formula.

Trace: Bring to full trace before pouring so batter better supports the additives and they don't settle or clump during cure.

HTH

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

Needs soy wax! *ducks for cover*

You’re the reason I’m now soaping with GW415, @KiwiMoose. Tried it and like it! No more palm after current supply is gone. But I do think beeswax would be better for @Zing to try to keep the bar from breaking up.

 

[KiwiMoose]

I like the suggestions so far - beeswax, soy wax or more shea. More 'bendy' fats, and less brittle fats.

 

[Zing]

You’re the reason I’m now soaping with GW415, @KiwiMoose. Tried it and like it! No more palm after current supply is gone. But I do think beeswax would be better for @Zing to try to keep the bar from breaking up.

Don't encourage her!

 

[Zing]

Thanks, everyone, I love all these suggestions. So glad my peeps got my back!