Soap on a stick!

[ADQKD5]

Hello all!!! I’m not technically new here, but this is my first time posting! I’ve been lurking in all the post trying to absorb as much knowledge as I could until I became brave enough to make my very own batch of CP soap!!! Well today was the day!! I finally did it!!! Everything was going SUPERB!!! Until I went to blend my lye water with my oils and booom just like that my soap seized . I was so confused as to what I did wrong and then it hit me like a ton of bricks I got to happy with my stick blender I mean I was blending that stuff like I was whipping up a batch of body butter . Lesson learned! I’m still just so excited and proud of myself for making my first batch of CP soap!

 

[A-Polly]

Congrats — on both your first batch and also on recognizing an issue! I'll bet it will look fine when you cut it. BTW, there are a number of reasons for soap batter to accelerate; here is one succinct article about it (with a video demo as well), and I know you can find lots more info right here on the forum.

 

[ADQKD5]

Congrats — on both your first batch and also on recognizing an issue! I'll bet it will look fine when you cut it. BTW, there are a number of reasons for soap batter to accelerate; here is one succinct article about it (with a video demo as well), and I know you can find lots more info right here on the forum.

Thank you so much! And thank you so much for the article I’m about to go indulge myself in it before I take another attempt at making a new batch, lol. I was just so excited to finally be making CP soap that my brain was like LETS DO THIS!!!! This is a bit off topic, but since I’m here maybe you can help . The recipe I used was from a book. I would like to eventually start making my own or tweaking ones from all my books to personalize them… But I can’t figure out the soap calc to save my life! I for some reason get so confused & lost in translation.

 

[lsg]

Congratulations!

 

[ADQKD5]

Congratulations!

Thank you

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I can still recall how confusing the soap calcul@tor seemed at the beginning, but you can get past that stage with a little guidance and some practice. Plus, it’s important to double check published recipes because they sometimes have typos or other issues that are hard to catch without running the recipe through a calculator. I no longer use SoapCalc, but it’s a perfectly good calculator and is featured in a number of tutorials, such as this one that I think is done well:

 

[Ekuzo]

Imagine my disappointment when I was promised soap on a stick and when I take a look - it's already inside the mold. That's not fair

Congrats!

 

[dmcgee5034]

I used the BB calc when I started. It’s really simple and easy.

 

[ADQKD5]

I can still recall how confusing the soap calcul@tor seemed at the beginning, but you can get past that stage with a little guidance and some practice. Plus, it’s important to double check published recipes because they sometimes have typos or other issues that are hard to catch without running the recipe through a calculator. I no longer use SoapCalc, but it’s a perfectly good calculator and is featured in a number of tutorials, such as this one that I think is done well:

Thank you so much for this! I hope to one day be on your level and not even need a calculator . Fractions percentages and decimals have never been a strength of mine I’m basic level math addition subtraction multiplication and some division are as far as I can get I guess that’s why all the formulations seem so confusing I just draw a blank feel overwhelmed and think to myself there’s no way I can do this! I’m not sure why I’m not able to see past what I don’t understand. But my goal is to put my fear and anxiety of the unknown to the side and work through it until it makes sense!!

Imagine my disappointment when I was promised soap on a stick and when I take a look - it's already inside the mold. That's not fair

Congrats!

I’m sorry!!! Thank you!! I’m so excited it’s taking all of me to not unmold it and cut it. I’m like well it was already getting really solid so do I need to wait the full 24-48 hours

I used the BB calc when I started. It’s really simple and easy.

Thank you! I’m going to give that one a try! I’m hooked now I’m patiently waiting for my children to take a nap so I can soap

 

[dmcgee5034]

Thank you so much for this! I hope to one day be on your level and not even need a calculator . Fractions percentages and decimals have never been a strength of mine I’m basic level math addition subtraction multiplication and some division are as far as I can get I guess that’s why all the formulations seem so confusing I just draw a blank feel overwhelmed and think to myself there’s no way I can do this! I’m not sure why I’m not able to see past what I don’t understand. But my goal is to put my fear and anxiety of the unknown to the side and work through it until it makes sense!!

I’m sure @Mobjack Bay will clarify, but I’m sure she still uses a calculator, just not the one she referenced that is in the video.

 

[Ekuzo]

I’m sorry!!! Thank you!! I’m so excited it’s taking all of me to not unmold it and cut it. I’m like well it was already getting really solid so do I need to wait the full 24-48 hours

I'll forgive you this time

It's all about the recipe you use ‐ some need at least a couple of days before you can unmold, and for others even 12 hours are too much. But you'll get there and you'll know when

 

[Elise]

Show us a pic when you'll cut it ! You seem to have managed to make it fit into your mold very well, I'm sure it will look good !

 

[artemis]

I’m like well it was already getting really solid so do I need to wait the full 24-48 hours

No. I rarely wait that long. Every recipe is different. If you press on it and it feels like a block of cheddar cheese, you can probably unmold it.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

@ADQKD5 - Yes, absolutely - @dmcgee5034 is correct! I use the Soapmaking Friend calculator to check my recipe every time I develop a new recipe or resize an existing recipe. I'm not aware of a tutorial for that calculator which is why I linked the SoapCalc tutorial. Once you get basics down, it's not difficult to switch.

As for the math, I can do it, but online tools make it easier. One of my favorites is this percentage calculator:

https://www.calculator.net/percent-calculator.html

 

[Firefly24]

 

[Firefly24]

@ADQKD5 it's like driving a car. You have to get out there and just start! I was the same way and now I have so much more confidence. Kenna is an awesome instructor and there are so many wonderful, experienced people here willing to help & give advice. You got this!

 

[KimLynn]

I’m sure @Mobjack Bay will clarify, but I’m sure she still uses a calculator, just not the one she referenced that is in the video.

Math is not my strong suit, either (if I add up a column of numbers I get multiple answers; I quit when I get the same number twice), but I still ALWAYS use a soap calculator (I use Soapcalc), and a regular calculator since I once made a batch of lye-heavy soap and had to throw the whole thing out. I take a picture of my completed Soapcalc page (store it in my phone in a photograph album exclusively for soap along with pictures of the finished product); I’m also a bit OCD and AR so I keep a written soap journal with all my recipes and notes plus batch numbers for sales purposes. While it’s kind of a pain in the patoot to do all this, it gives me confidence in my process and product, and forces me to be more disciplined. I can still be creative and spontaneous within limits, but when working with lye, I will err on the side of caution every time. Welcome to soap making!

 

[akseattle]

@ADQKD5 , I don't know what your soap is going to look like once cut, but I think it looks like a perfectly good loaf from the top.
To me, it looks like you were able to scoop it into the loaf and smooth it around.
I'm reasonably new at soapmaking, but I think of soap on a stick as soap that INSTANTLY seizes.
Like, can't get your stick blender out because your soap is a huge chunk of rock.
I've only had this happen once, to my last loaf I made- I think on September 6.
So, girl, if you were able to scoop it, you haven't yet experienced soap on a stick! If you haven't, I don't wish it upon you!
But, please post pics of your soap once you've cut it! I think you will have a soap you'll like!

 

[Tammyfarms]

I found the calculators so confusing! I have always used soapcalc but may switch at some point. I love @Firefly24’s analogy of driving a car. It seems so hard at first then becomes second nature. The calculator is the same. Honestly, all the chemistry is still a bit of a mystery so don’t get too hung up on that either. Just focus on the basics and ask questions if you get hung up. Also make small batches. There are a lot of great recipes here that people have shared. Welcome to soapmaking!