Why not try the challenge and then gift the soap? Two birds, one soap!
SMF Soapmaking Challenge November: Drop and Skewer
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Why not try the challenge and then gift the soap? Two birds, one soap!
gigisiguenza
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Ok so I'm going to try this tonight, but after the last few teeth gnashing batches, I'm looking for some feedback on the recipe first. I am low on supplies and don't want to waste them on another batch that goes mega hard and crumbly, or too thick too fast, etc.
This looks to me like it will stay fluid for a bit, but please let me know if you see any issues.
TIA
Pics below
This looks to me like it will stay fluid for a bit, but please let me know if you see any issues.
TIA
Pics below
gigisiguenza
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I didn't hear back fast enough so I went for it LOL.
And I'm officially in LOVE with the heat transfer method! I was so worried that the lye solution would start trying to saponify the hard oils while they were melting, but nope, not a single problem. As soon as the hard oils were dissolved, I added the liquid oils and it brought the whole thing down to a perfect temp that felt warm to the touch, but not too warm.
And, I purposely used a 33% solution rather than full water, hoping it would slow it some more, and sure enough it did! I only SB to emulsion to separated out my portions. Never had to SB again because by the time I added colorants and stirred them in,they were at a perfect low/med trace. It was the perfect consistency so I got my colors poured beautifully, did my drop swirls exactly as I wanted, and was able to do the skewer swirl without a hitch.
Ah it felt so good to have a nice soaping session without problems or gremlins LOL
Now the hardest part - waiting to cut!
And I'm officially in LOVE with the heat transfer method! I was so worried that the lye solution would start trying to saponify the hard oils while they were melting, but nope, not a single problem. As soon as the hard oils were dissolved, I added the liquid oils and it brought the whole thing down to a perfect temp that felt warm to the touch, but not too warm.
And, I purposely used a 33% solution rather than full water, hoping it would slow it some more, and sure enough it did! I only SB to emulsion to separated out my portions. Never had to SB again because by the time I added colorants and stirred them in,they were at a perfect low/med trace. It was the perfect consistency so I got my colors poured beautifully, did my drop swirls exactly as I wanted, and was able to do the skewer swirl without a hitch.
Ah it felt so good to have a nice soaping session without problems or gremlins LOL
Now the hardest part - waiting to cut!
gigisiguenza
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Thanks! It's the first time I've used micas (I only have two colors I got for couple bucks lol) and figured might as well try them out. I can't wait to cut and see what's inside!
penelopejane
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I've been SBing to just past emulsion/very very light trace and it works much better for me as well. I have a deep mixing jug and I think previously I was SBing the base and not the top.
So much better now.
Glad you got a mix made for the challenge. Mine is a disaster - not enough swirl.
gigisiguenza
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We will see if there's enough swirl in mine when I cut it later tonight after work. If not, it will attempt number two happening LOL
A
amd
Attempts #2 & 3 were a bust. I'm just gonna sit back and watch the successes when they post. It was fun to try so not all was lost!
Cactuslily
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I'd love to see others attempts. I've done lots of drop swirls, but never drop/skewer. My first attempt was disastrous. My second attempt better, but I"m not sure what exactly I'm supposed to be looking for. The few "failed" attempts that have been posted sure look awesome to me.
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I thought about using these but I finally just made a batch that I am totally happy with. That feels amazing to me because I have such a hard time with drop swirls. Honest to pete, why do the photos post sideways from my phone every time?
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snappyllama
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newbie, those are lovely!
Very pretty Newbie. Can't wait to see your entry.
I made another attempt tonight. Might have been a little heavy handed with the mica. Hoping for a good surprise when I cut it.
I made another attempt tonight. Might have been a little heavy handed with the mica. Hoping for a good surprise when I cut it.
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Today was my first day soaping since surgery and I was seriously behind on Christmas soaps so I made two batches I dropped swirled then hit them with the skewer. We shall see in the next couple days of I had any success. I'm a little worried my trace was to thin so I tried to keep the swirling to a minimum but was sure to hit each soap section. Fingers crossed!
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Thank you for the compliments. I thought I would try dropping multiple thin strips. It wasn't quite what I envisioned but good enough for Christmas soaps! I hope more people post their non-entry soaps; they are fun to see.
penelopejane
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I agree with newbie! If anyone is willing, please post some of your "didn't make the cut" soaps. We love looking at soap here
Made two more attempts yesterday. I did things a little differently by mixing the entire amount of soap batter for both batchlets and then splitting the batter into the portions needed to color the two different loaves. I soaped a little hotter than before, not intentionally, but that may have been a good thing because that put my first batchlet at medium trace when I poured. I thought about our earlier discussions and remembered to pour from as high up as I could manage. Second batchlet was heading toward heavy trace by the time I got to it, so I thought at the time I was not going to get as much swirly-ness nor get the colors as deep into the batter as the first.
Cut the loaves today. Second batch -- yep, the pattern was not as successful throughout the loaf as I wanted, but it turned out decent. Certainly nothing to apologize for, along with the bars from my earlier tries. But the first batch from yesterday ... yeah! ... nailed it! Whoooeeeee!!!!
Showed DH the bars from the first batch and he oohed and ahhed appropriately. I laughed and said I was happy with it, but this was only one success out of five tries! He made me feel better by reminding me of the quote: "The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried." (by Stephen McCranie)
I don't feel like a master at all, but it's so gratifying to have met this goal.
Cut the loaves today. Second batch -- yep, the pattern was not as successful throughout the loaf as I wanted, but it turned out decent. Certainly nothing to apologize for, along with the bars from my earlier tries. But the first batch from yesterday ... yeah! ... nailed it! Whoooeeeee!!!!
Showed DH the bars from the first batch and he oohed and ahhed appropriately. I laughed and said I was happy with it, but this was only one success out of five tries! He made me feel better by reminding me of the quote: "The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried." (by Stephen McCranie)
I don't feel like a master at all, but it's so gratifying to have met this goal.
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