SMF September 2024 Challenge - Feathered Mantra Swirl

[bookworm42]

I'm curious which brand of lye.

This one from Amazon. It's my third batch with this lye and the only one that acted like this.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

@bookworm42 Do you add anything, like sugar or salt, to the water before trying to dissolve the lye? What lye concentration are you using?

 

[bookworm42]

Do you add anything, like sugar or salt, to the water before trying to dissolve the lye? What lye concentration are you using?

I disolve 1% sugar before my lye and I do 33% lye concentration.

My plan was a 3% superfat but given my loaf is still soft 48 hrs later I think it's either a high superfat or the cocoa powder I used for coloring decided to do something.

 

[Servant4Christ]

This one from Amazon. It's my third batch with this lye and the only one that acted like this.

I've ordered and used that brand many times so I don't think it's the lye.

 

[Momma Hoot]

I noticed that the container from Amazon lists ingredients as follows: Shea, PEG-100, sodium hydroxide. I've always tried to buy lye that is around 99% sodium hydroxide. Might that make a difference?

 

[AliOop]

I noticed that the container from Amazon lists ingredients as follows: Shea, PEG-100, sodium hydroxide. I've always tried to buy lye that is around 99% sodium hydroxide. Might that make a difference?

Weird, I'm not seeing that at all. When I click the link provided above, the product ingredients say 100% sodium hydroxide.

 

[bookworm42]

Same. I also check my bottle and all it lists is sodium hydroxide.

 

[Momma Hoot]

No, that's good if it is 100% sodium hydroxide. It could be that I'm in Canada and when I clicked on the link, the item that came up wasn't showing the same ..... ? Hopefully you can figure out what the problem was.

 

[Servant4Christ]

My new stickblender should be here this weekend. I sure hope I get this technique at least decently right the first time because I might not have time for more than one attempt.

 

[Barefoot Farm Girl]

Sign-up list:
1. Servant4Christ
2. Vicki C.
3. dmcgee5034 - hello, my feathered friends! I’m in
4.justsomeguy -
5. bookworm42 - my DH talked me into this
6. Barefoot Farm Girl as long as I can talk my dh into making the soap mold, I can’t cut a straight line to save my life!
7.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

How are the soaps coming along? There's still plenty of time left to adorn a batch or two with fine feather plumes!

 

[justsomeguy]

I made two of them.
This is the two colors on top but three colors in the mold one (the base was at to light a trace). I didn't use a separator in the mold.

I never thought I could do such a thing as this

 

[AliOop]

@justsomeguy that looks great! This is not your entry soap, though, is it? Want to be sure you aren't disqualifying any possible entry by posting pictures outside of the entry thread (or that someone else who is new might think it is ok to do that).

@Mobjack Bay I'm still working on my soap room organization, so I'm holding off on registration until some soap has actually been made. It's going way more slowly than I imagined, and I still don't know where some supplies have managed to hide themselves.

 

[justsomeguy]

@justsomeguy that looks great! This is not your entry soap, though, is it? Want to be sure you aren't disqualifying any possible entry by posting pictures outside of the entry thread (or that someone else who is new might think it is ok to do that).

Nah. It's not. Because only two colors are visible on the top. The entry is beside it. Looks a little better and 3 colors are visible

@Mobjack Bay I'm still working on my soap room organization, so I'm holding off on registration until some soap has actually been made. It's going way more slowly than I imagined, and I still don't know where some supplies have managed to hide themselves.

I should've made some body butter and body cream, but I realized that if I didn't make it today I wouldn't have an entry, so, ta da

 

[ackosel]

My new mold with dividers is supposed to come tomorrow, but it says it hasn't been shipped yet. I'm planning on making a small practice batch today without dividers to try and zero in the colors I want. Like @AliOop I'm holding off on registering until I know I can get a batch made...

 

[justsomeguy]

I cut it. Didn't know where to put it. So, here. Each slice is different. Didn't use the wire cutter.

I'm really really really happy with it

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I cut it. Didn't know where to put it. So, here. Each slice is different. Didn't use the wire cutter.

I'm really really really happy with it

This is really pretty, but I’m so hoping that it’s not your entry soap.

From the General Challenge Rules:
“A separate Entry thread will be created towards the end of the month. Please do not post photos anywhere of your entry until the Entry thread is opened. Breaking this rule will disqualify that soap from this Challenge. The Entry thread is for challenge entries only; please don't post any comments there.”

 

[justsomeguy]

This is really pretty, but I’m so hoping that it’s not your entry soap.

From the General Challenge Rules:
“A separate Entry thread will be created towards the end of the month. Please do not post photos anywhere of your entry until the Entry thread is opened. Breaking this rule will disqualify that soap from this Challenge. The Entry thread is for challenge entries only; please don't post any comments there.”

Nah. It's still the first one with two colors on top.
I'll cut the entry once later tonight or tomorrow

 

[dmcgee5034]

Got my entry done - was a fun swirl to do. I used something thicker than I normally would to swirl, since I was worried my FO might speed up trace.

 

[justsomeguy]

Nah. It's still the first one with two colors on top.
I'll cut the entry once later tonight or tomorrow

I cut the other one. Only got two bars. Looks like I'm gonna miss this one cause next week is gonna be hell