Just getting back into CP soap making after three and a half years off. Not that I was very experienced, but I had been addicted for 12 month...thanks to the wonderful Anne Watson ! Then circumstances changed... we sold our farm...which had the perfect soap making lab.... an old poultry processing works ! Incubating cabinets with racks for drying...stainless steel benches, lots a shelving and space....all to myself and my soaps ! A soaper's dream !
After having been spoilt with this space there was no way, I thought, that I could make soap in my kitchen.... until I stumbled on this forum
....an the urge came back !
So.... I have been avidly reading for a few weeks/months?now. You are a such lovely group with so much knowledge that you so willingly and happily share.... and every time I read something that I like the sound of, I rush off and try it.... and any questions I've had, I've always found the answer somewhere in the forum
I happily finished my 15th batch two days ago.... and disaster struck ! I had been having a bit of trouble with soda ash, so decided I wasn't keeping my log mould warm enough after pouring. It was a pretty regular batch... all okay with soapcalc... fatty acids good for what I wanted. Reason for making was to experiment with beetroot colouring....as I'm a natural gal. I peeled, grated, dehydrated and powdered a fresh beetroot and add 2 tsp to half my batch (500g total) at light trace. All went well, poured, swirled and covered with cling film, put lid on box, then wrapped in towel.... then a blanket.... determined that it was going to go through gel phase and not get soda ash. Couldn't wait until next day to unmould to see what the beetroot had done ! First disappointment.... I could only see specks of brown and some light brown swirling It unmoulded easily, but did seem harder that usual.... then I tried to cut it... it was like trying to cut a 100% salt block !! It just crumbled !! I'd never rebatched before so thought now is the time to try. Did some reading...watched a couple of Youtubes, thought I had a handle on it.... wrong !! Was just wishing I had a chemistry degree to know what was happening. Won't go into detail because I obviously did everything wrong... it was either ditch it or keep going until I had something that I could pour into a mould. I lost track of how much liquid I added in the end, I was recording detail to start with.... but as I said I was just trying to get something to pour and would have added at least another 250ml plus....water, buttermilk, frozen goats milk....anything I could get my hands on 
. Finally I poured.... 4 hours later it was firm enough and unmould and cut. This morning I have tofu 
... really, that's exactly what it looks and feels like ! I won't toss it yet but will keep an eye on it...have a feeling that it will just go mouldy ! PH currently 9 btw.
Good lesson learned though... soap making really is science and I have a lot to learn !
I know I've come to the right place .... thank you
After having been spoilt with this space there was no way, I thought, that I could make soap in my kitchen.... until I stumbled on this forum
....an the urge came back !So.... I have been avidly reading for a few weeks/months?now. You are a such lovely group with so much knowledge that you so willingly and happily share.... and every time I read something that I like the sound of, I rush off and try it.... and any questions I've had, I've always found the answer somewhere in the forum
I happily finished my 15th batch two days ago.... and disaster struck ! I had been having a bit of trouble with soda ash, so decided I wasn't keeping my log mould warm enough after pouring. It was a pretty regular batch... all okay with soapcalc... fatty acids good for what I wanted. Reason for making was to experiment with beetroot colouring....as I'm a natural gal. I peeled, grated, dehydrated and powdered a fresh beetroot and add 2 tsp to half my batch (500g total) at light trace. All went well, poured, swirled and covered with cling film, put lid on box, then wrapped in towel.... then a blanket.... determined that it was going to go through gel phase and not get soda ash. Couldn't wait until next day to unmould to see what the beetroot had done ! First disappointment.... I could only see specks of brown and some light brown swirling
It unmoulded easily, but did seem harder that usual.... then I tried to cut it... it was like trying to cut a 100% salt block !! It just crumbled !! I'd never rebatched before so thought now is the time to try. Did some reading...watched a couple of Youtubes, thought I had a handle on it.... wrong !! Was just wishing I had a chemistry degree to know what was happening. Won't go into detail because I obviously did everything wrong... it was either ditch it or keep going until I had something that I could pour into a mould. I lost track of how much liquid I added in the end, I was recording detail to start with.... but as I said I was just trying to get something to pour and would have added at least another 250ml plus....water, buttermilk, frozen goats milk....anything I could get my hands on . Finally I poured.... 4 hours later it was firm enough and unmould and cut. This morning I have tofu ... really, that's exactly what it looks and feels like ! I won't toss it yet but will keep an eye on it...have a feeling that it will just go mouldy ! PH currently 9 btw.Good lesson learned though... soap making really is science and I have a lot to learn !
I know I've come to the right place .... thank you
