Soapmaker 3 questions

[jenneelk]

Can someone tell me if they think it's worth it to buy if I only want it to keep track of my recipes? Is it a good sub for Soapcal also?

Trying to decide if it's worth it to buy as I have 44 recipes I've now done with very minor changes between some but I want to keep track of all the separate details for each and my binder is busting. LOL

I don't need it for tracking sales or anything like that, but may use it for cost per bar if it's not a pitb to do.

 

[tryanything]

I bought the "lite" version (non-professional - no sales) and I've enjoyed it so far. Honestly, I still use soapcal every now and then to check numbers since it doesn't have the same "measuring" system (hardness, bubbles, creaminess, etc). But I do like that I can store tons of recipes, add oils (as long as you have the SAP and specific gravity), and track prices. It's not too hard to track prices, just enter any orders you make and what the costs and quantity are of the oils, shipping, etc. You can even add stuff like packaging to the price. Every time you enter the info into a recipe it automatically calulates it at the top of the recipe. I've also had my computer crash and had to re-load everything and didn't have any problems re-downloading the program and thankfully since I back it up (it prompts you every time you close the program) and had backed up my computer, none of my recipes were lost.

 

[jenneelk]

Thanks.. that's helpful. You can add pictures to that one can you? Think it said pro only?
And it doesn't give the breakdown characteristics like soapcal? what does it do then in terms of calculating?

 

[tryanything]

There are four measures. it does give a value but it's it's not really in relation to anything like soapcalc. The measures are harness, fluffy lather, stable lather, and moisturizing. The numbers it give are on a scale of 1 to 10. It has a set benchmark for each value but you can adjust that. I don't remember seeing anything about pictures...Might be a pro only thing.

Oh and random side note, their customer service is very nice and quick. I had a question about adding an oil and they responded quickly and helped me figure out what I was doing wrong.

 

[soapsydaisy]

I have the pro version but I prefer Soapcalc. IMHO the software is not flexible if you don't use it for everything. I got really aggravated when I tried playing with the SM3 to make up new recipes. You have to input every ingredient into your supplies before the software will allow you to use something in a recipe. I don't use the software to track my inventory so it is annoying if I want to make a recipe with 30 ounces of olive oil but it wont allow me to use it if I only have 25 ounces listed in my inventory even if 6 liters are sitting on my counter. I do like that it calculates the cost per bar/ounce.

 

[CaraCara]

I have the pro version and while it's a bit tedious to input all of your additives and other ingredients (there is an extensive database in place for oils), once they're in there you are good to go and you will have an accurate cost per batch/bar. There's so much more to it that I just haven't gotten around to figuring out yet. It takes time to go through it all but it's a great tool to have if you're planning on selling, and it's not limited to just soaps, either.
Not sure if you will be able to see what's in the photo but it's a snapshot of what I usually play around with.

 

[savonierre]

I have the pro version and love it. It does awhile to input everything but after that it is smooth sailing.

 

[Lindy]

I can't imagine life as a soaper without this program. Take the time to input your ingredients and you're off to the races. It tells you everything you need to know about your recipe. You will get used to how it calculates and you can rely on it, there are an awful lot of us that use it exclusively without checking any other lye calculators.

 

[jenneelk]

Thank all. I just downloaded it and it looks ominous (just like that scren shot!) lol but I hope to learn I slowly over time.. And not try to cram learn in a few days. Will see how that goes.

I have so so many oils that it would be helpful to track them somehow with cost and types. I can't use for tracking their inventory since I use them also for other products so can you turn that part off?

Guess I will learn that soon enough right.
Thanks again.. Hope it help out with recipes at least.. Worth $50 to have those all in one place and out of my binder.

 

[Lindy]

Jeneel what other products? SM3 handles all our B&B stuff including MP

 

[jenneelk]

We have things like wool wash, lotion, diaper creams, a few hair products, eo roll on blends, and some other cd specific baby items.

 

[sistrum]

You can use it to track those items if you want, it just depends on what category you put them under. I use it to figure in labor which you should track also. If you don't want to keep track of cost you can add oils without a invoice the price will just say zero.

I like the fact that you can go over 100% on your oils so you can get an idea of what your superfat adds to your formula. Something that soap calc won't let you do. It's easy to check out the fatty acid profiles of your batch and its fun to watch the graph change when you adjust your recipe.

One of the best things, I think, is it will wean you off the "numbers" that soap calc uses. Did I mention I really like this program?

 

[jenneelk]

I'm working on my first recipe and the water/lye is making me a bit crazy. It differs from Soapcal which has 1319.669 gr of water to 1309.45 and lye goes from 483 to 479.27.

Input my superfat as the 5% lye discount.
They don't have a 'water as % of oils' so I used the soapcal lye concentration number of 26.794% for 'lye strength solution'.
Are they always going to differ a bit? Am I missing something? The oil values seem correct for each in terms of sap values. Pretty run of the mill ingredients for this first one I made a while back.

Also.. I'm used to using the water as a percentage of oils %.. and sometimes go to 35 or 30. How will I do this now with SM3? So used to one way my mind can't wrap around the new way to translate.
Thanks for all the help!

 

[onugs]

I bought the pro ver# last week. I really like it.

 

[houseofwool]

I'm working on my first recipe and the water/lye is making me a bit crazy. It differs from Soapcal which has 1319.669 gr of water to 1309.45 and lye goes from 483 to 479.27.

Input my superfat as the 5% lye discount.
They don't have a 'water as % of oils' so I used the soapcal lye concentration number of 26.794% for 'lye strength solution'.
Are they always going to differ a bit? Am I missing something? The oil values seem correct for each in terms of sap values. Pretty run of the mill ingredients for this first one I made a while back.

Also.. I'm used to using the water as a percentage of oils %.. and sometimes go to 35 or 30. How will I do this now with SM3? So used to one way my mind can't wrap around the new way to translate.
Thanks for all the help!

I bought SM3 last week and still cannot wrap my head around the water discount calculations. I keep comparing my soapcalc print outs when entering recipes and fiddling with the water concentration amounts until it nearly matches was SC gave me.

The difference in the water and lye amounts in your recipe is due to the SAP that they a calculating on. My guess is that because you are making a fairly large batch, that the actual percent difference is pretty small.

 

[sistrum]

Another good reason not to use "water as percent of oils" and always go by "lye solution" on sm3 I just don't use the "water discount" button at all, i havent talked to anyone that does, just put in what you want into the "lye strength solution" (33% or what ever you use) box and it will figure it out for you. You can also just set this amount in your "Prefs" box and then it will stay the same for all your recipes.

All soap calculators have different sap numbers so your lye amount will be a bit different on each one. There is a bit more wiggle room in lye amounts than most new soapers realize. Just use the one and your bars will stay consistent.

It takes a while to learn to use SM3 but the time is well worth it.

 

[jenneelk]

just put in what you want into the "lye strength solution" (33% or what ever you use) box and it will figure it out for you.

I've never worked my recipes around this %.. again I can't wrap my head around how to do it.. :/ I've only ever used the water discount and understand that part and the number ranges that are ok to work in for certain recipes.. like 30-35 for higher OO and such. Although I still usually just stay with 38% for consistencies sake.

what is the 'lye concentration' a concentrated % of? I can't seem to find the answer through the wizard thing. If I know what it entails i can likely figure out how to work it right.
Thanks again for all the help with this step.

 

[sistrum]

See, that's my problem. I've never used water as percent of oils or "water discount" and can't even begin to explain or understand it. Lye solution percent is how much water you use to dissolve your lye. Again I have no idea how it relates to the other way and can't show you a comparison. Sorry but my brain just won't go there, i never even heard of it until the last few years so I know your frustration. Maybe one of us should start a new thread on just this? ( You?). Because it drives me crazy. Lol

 

[Lindy]

Some people call lye concentration a water discount....

You have to commit to working with it and trusting that the program is right or you will, quite frankly, drive yourself crazy....