seriously behind for Christmas

[lenarenee]

I bought 3 fos for Christmas soap gifts, but life got in the way and couldn't soap them. My father has passed from a long illness, and will receive special military honors that will delay the funeral a few days, so I'd like to make these soaps tomorrow. My hope is to have them well cured before shipping in December and I also wanted to try a water discount to hurry the unmolding/cutting. We fly back out Thurs morning.

What do you think is a good water discount for my first time? There won't be any swirling...I just want to get these done. Thank you for your help.

 

[new12soap]

I am sorry for your loss.

It would really depend on your recipe, but I would say to just use a 33% lye solution (NOT the same as water as a percentage of oils) if you are going to be able to make them tomorrow. They should still have time to cure before christmas. If you want, dissolve a tsp of salt in the lye water or use a little sodium lactate if you have any.

 

[gaerwen]

I just found I have some Christmas fo's in a box that I forgot about. Ill be soaping them up tomorrow! Im sure it'll be fine with the above tweeks. Good Luck!

 

[dixiedragon]

Have you considered hot process? That speeds things up.

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[cmzaha]

Sorry about the loss of your Dad...
I have to say I disagree that hp speeds things up. I find they take at least a month longer to cure out since hp usually requires the average full water of 38% water as percent of oil weight. If you go for the 33% lye solution know your fo's will not accelerate. If they are spicy Christmas fo's they will very possibly accelerate. If I know I have a know accelerator fo I go with a 30% solution, but then I do usually color and swirl. Making soap tomorrow will give you enough time for cure by Christmas

 

[Consuela]

Awh, so very sorry about your Dad I hope you're holding up okay.

I think you'll have enough time to get your soaps cured for Christmas. And I don't see why a water discount wouldn't help you harden them faster - I always soap with a water discount.

And kudos to you for soaping during this difficult time.

 

[Meganmischke]

I just started my Christmas soaping yesterday. I wish i had started earlier but as long as i finish this week they will get about 7 weeks cure before they are wrapped. I think that you still have plenty of time. If you have never done a water discount start slow especially with new fos. You say no swirling so i would think 33-38% lye solution will be fine if you color then hand stir fo in and pour. I know what I just said is contradicting and it will also depend on recipe.

 

[lenarenee]

Aw, thank you all so much; I appreciate your condolences. I am doing just fine because he was 84 and is now free from Parkinsons. Do you remember the Waltons from tv....the father? That's my dad - hardworking and wise, and raised in the Waltonesque way. He could hammer a 3 inch nail into a 2x4 in two strokes, so parkinsons was a special torture for him.

He loved nature and working with his hands, so dd and I have honored him by spending the weekend hiking, visiting a farm, and now....soaping . Oh. He also loved my grandmother's burnt sugar cake....so we'll be baking that too!

I tried the 33% lye solution like suggested, to make a "man friendly" soap scented with BB shave and a haircut, blue mica. Then BB Christmas spice, red, (well, as red as I could get it...a little nervous as it gels) and topped with left over green soap bits. I loved working with the discount!!! Going to do that again for BB Christmas forest....thought I'd hand stir, do a simple in the pot swirl with green mica.

In the future I think I'll be using a water discount often...this soap might be ready to cut tonight! Almost instant gratification!!

Thanks for all your help!

 

[new12soap]

What a beautiful way to remember and honor him

I am glad your soaps are turning out well, too.

 

[shunt2011]

So very sorry for your loss. I too am behind due to life getting in the way, My mom was put in the hospital 2 weeks ago with massive blood clot on her lungs. I agree that HP does not speed things up. It still requires at least a 4 week cure. There's more to soap than saponification.

 

[lenarenee]

So very sorry for your loss. I too am behind due to life getting in the way, My mom was put in the hospital 2 weeks ago with massive blood clot on her lungs. I agree that HP does not speed things up. It still requires at least a 4 week cure. There's more to soap than saponification.

Shunt I'm sorry to hear that; that's such a precarious situation...how is she doing?

 

[CaraBou]

Really sorry you won't see your dad again but glad he is no longer battling that awful disease. I love your way of honoring him

 

[lenarenee]

I have to thank you all again, Christmas soaps are done, cutting tonight and they'll have nothing to do but sit and cure while we deal with life.

Fyi, BB neroli fo mixed 50/50 with eucalyptus eo is works well together. Even dd and friends like it. The neroli was a sample I really liked, but wanted a fresher, more herbal side so added eucalyptus. At first the euc was stronger, but as the soap sat the neroli came through more. We'll see where it ends up. But I'll use the combo again.

 

[KSwiderski]

Sorry for your loss.

Maybe you could hot process them so the cure time isn't as long?
Whoops! Just read that you already made and cut them

 

[new12soap]

Maybe you could hot process them so the cure time isn't as long?

Cure time with HP is just as long as with CP, IME. The only difference with HP is that it speeds up saponification, not cure, which makes a difference of a couple of days at most.