Starting CP soon. Any tips?

[ShayShay]

Start with a simple recipe - 3 or 4 ingredients max and no scent or color. You will have plenty of time to experiment and explore after your have batch or two under your belt. Get the basic process down first before trying to get to fancy.
Have fun!

 

[bjbarrick]

you really really REALLY don't need to test the pH of your soap, the zap test is more than sufficient to make sure your soap is not lye heavy. Make sure you measure accurately and use some level of superfat in your recipe. Beyond that pH really doesn't matter.

If you absolutely MUST test the pH of your soaps, buy a very good pH meter, learn how to use it correctly (and dissolve your soap completely in water) and keep the meter well calibrated.

Ok, so how do you do a zap test? Haven't heard of that yet in all my research

 

[dixiedragon]

I'm going to disagree with ShayShay. If you choose a well-behaved fragrance, there is no reason you can't scent and even color your first batch. For example, you can find lemongrass essential oil at most health food stores for a decent price. And you can get beta carotene capsules at the grocery store. So, with a little lemongrass EO and a beta carotene capsule, you can make a nice smelling yellow batch of soap.

 

[bjbarrick]

I'm going to disagree with ShayShay. If you choose a well-behaved fragrance, there is no reason you can't scent and even color your first batch. For example, you can find lemongrass essential oil at most health food stores for a decent price. And you can get beta carotene capsules at the grocery store. So, with a little lemongrass EO and a beta carotene capsule, you can make a nice smelling yellow batch of soap.

I would like to try a scented and colored batch but kinda nervous to try that since I haven't even got a regular batch done yet lol. I'm so anxious to try it. I want to so bad but can't quite yet. My hubby bought me the stuff I need but I'm not allowed to do anything with it until after Christmas. I'm hoping that having CP will also help boost my sales

 

[Tienne]

My advice would be to go easy on the stickblender. Take things nice and slow. Reaching trace is not a race. Give the batter a few bursts with the stickblender and then stir a little. Then blast it again and then stir again and so on. Watch your batter and see how it changes as you go, from the mixing, to the emulsification, to the trace. Get to know what the different stages look like and most importantly; ENJOY the process.

Also, don't go overboard with expensive butters and oils in the beginning. You can make a fabulous soap with everyday cheaper oils and they are good "practice" oils. Coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil and castor oil are good oils to begin with. Sunflower, lard and canola are also cheap and slow-tracing oils that will give you time to experiment as you learn to do more and more of the fun things (designs, swirls, etc.) without it costing you and arm and a leg. Make small batches. When you get the hang of things and learn what to look for and get a feel for things, then you can move on to faster-moving and/ or exotic oils and butters and all the bells and whistles that inevitably will follow later on.

Miniature pieces of advice:

Rome wasn't built in a day.
Practice makes perfect.
And last but not least: HAVE FUN!!

 

[bjbarrick]

My advice would be to go easy on the stickblender. Take things nice and slow. Reaching trace is not a race. Give the batter a few bursts with the stickblender and then stir a little. Then blast it again and then stir again and so on. Watch your batter and see how it changes as you go, from the mixing, to the emulsification, to the trace. Get to know what the different stages look like and most importantly; ENJOY the process.

Also, don't go overboard with expensive butters and oils in the beginning. You can make a fabulous soap with everyday cheaper oils and they are good "practice" oils. Coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil and castor oil are good oils to begin with. Sunflower, lard and canola are also cheap and slow-tracing oils that will give you time to experiment as you learn to do more and more of the fun things (designs, swirls, etc.) without it costing you and arm and a leg. Make small batches. When you get the hang of things and learn what to look for and get a feel for things, then you can move on to faster-moving and/ or exotic oils and butters and all the bells and whistles that inevitably will follow later on.

Miniature pieces of advice:

Rome wasn't built in a day.
Practice makes perfect.
And last but not least: HAVE FUN!!

Thank you so much! I really can't wait to get started. I'm so excited

 

[Tienne]

Ok, so how do you do a zap test? Haven't heard of that yet in all my research

You touch the soap with the tip of your tongue. If your soap zaps, you'll know it!

Here's a thread about it;

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/archive/index.php/t-17196.html

 

[bjbarrick]

You touch the soap with the tip of your tongue. If your soap zaps, you'll know it!

Here's a thread about it;

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/archive/index.php/t-17196.html

Thank you for the thread. It sounds painful lol

 

[Lildlege1]

It's addicting and I'm sure you will do fine . The more batches you make the more you learn also. And you will continue to learn always . At least I do with every batch. Lol
Anyway welcome to soaping and good luck!!!!

 

[seven]

The tongue test isnt that bad, really. I got zapped quite regularly when i'm making hp, i'm used to it now. Dont rub your tip of the tongue, instead, put it under running water for like 30 secs and it'll be over soon

 

[lizflowers42]

Never put raw soap down the drain--meaning, do not wash your equipment right away when you are done. Scrape out as much as you can into your mold. Then using old rags/t-shirts/socks/whatever, wipe all of your equipment down, and let everything sit overnight. The raw batter left on the rags will saponify and you can just toss everything into the wash the next day (or let it all build up like I do after a few batches). No need for detergent! Also anything left on the stick blender or your soap pot, spatulas can be washed in hot water later too!

 

[soap_rat]

I know that real scientists don't trust pH strips, but they do work very well for me as a soapmaker. I use them when I make hot process soap, not cold process (bj, hot process (HP) is when you cook everything for awhile until the chemical reaction is done.)

The first time I did HP I was actually burning my tongue on hot soap, not getting zapped. The second time I was getting zapped for real, over and over, and it sucked. With the pH strips I don't lick the soap until the strip says it's done--and the strip has been correct so far. To me, worth $4-$7 for the pH strips. But bj, if you don't think you'll do HP, just use a good scale, don't be distracted when you're measuring, and be brave and lick the soap!

 

[bjbarrick]

I know that real scientists don't trust pH strips, but they do work very well for me as a soapmaker. I use them when I make hot process soap, not cold process (bj, hot process (HP) is when you cook everything for awhile until the chemical reaction is done.)

The first time I did HP I was actually burning my tongue on hot soap, not getting zapped. The second time I was getting zapped for real, over and over, and it sucked. With the pH strips I don't lick the soap until the strip says it's done--and the strip has been correct so far. To me, worth $4-$7 for the pH strips. But bj, if you don't think you'll do HP, just use a good scale, don't be distracted when you're measuring, and be brave and lick the soap!

Lol ok I'll build up the courage to lick the soap. Or just have my hubby do it hehehe

 

[ShayShay]

I'm going to disagree with ShayShay. If you choose a well-behaved fragrance, there is no reason you can't scent and even color your first batch. For example, you can find lemongrass essential oil at most health food stores for a decent price. And you can get beta carotene capsules at the grocery store. So, with a little lemongrass EO and a beta carotene capsule, you can make a nice smelling yellow batch of soap.

I suggested no fragrance or color because until you have some experience, it's hard to know which are the well-behaved fragrances and colors. I have read lots of posts from first timers here who tried to do too much on their first batch and it didn't work out and they get discouraged.

 

[Lin]

Never put raw soap down the drain

why?

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

I suggested no fragrance or color because until you have some experience, it's hard to know which are the well-behaved fragrances and colors. I have read lots of posts from first timers here who tried to do too much on their first batch and it didn't work out and they get discouraged.

I think that's appreciated, but some simple scents are fine. Maybe it's better to suggest to keep it simple and only use some basic and non-seizing scents rather than using none at all?

 

[seven]

why?

I would like to know why too. Is it gonna block my drainage? I did put some lye in water and just toss it down the drain. I did this perhaps once every two months. So far so good...

 

[ShayShay]

I think that's appreciated, but some simple scents are fine. Maybe it's better to suggest to keep it simple and only use some basic and non-seizing scents rather than using none at all?

Again, until you have experience, how do you really know for sure which scents are non-seizing? Yes, you can take a some suggestions from this board or read reviews on sites like WSP, but the more your read, the more conflicting info you get, making it more confusing. What seized for one soapmaker, didn't seize for another. A color that morphed for one, worked great for another, etc.

To each his own. But this was advice I got from a very experienced soapmaker (almost 20 years). She could have very easily suggested a scent or color to use that she knew would work, but she wanted me to focus on the process first. Not worrying about the extras, my first batch came out perfect, giving me confidence to do scent on my second batch and color on my third and further experiment with subsequent batches. When I finally did have a batch that didn't come out they way I wanted, I took it in stride because I knew I knew how to make soap, I just messed up this one batch. If it was my first batch, I would have cried and been really frustrated. I thought it was great advice that she gave me, and wanted to pass it on, especially since I see so many posts here about first batches that didn't work. I guess my philosophy is better safe than sorry. But again, to each his own.

 

[dixiedragon]

If a new soaper doesn't want to do fragrance or color on their first batch, that's totally cool. And probably a bit wiser. However, I think a lot of people feel like the fragrance is the best and most fun part (like me!) and want to jump right in. My first batch I divided in half and scented half with lavender EO and half with mint EO, and I added green food coloring and camillia buds (which is a terrible idea, BTW). It turned out fine (except for the camillia buds, lol).

 

[mbaldwin]

my advice, just do it.
you can watch all the videos you want and read all you want, but the only true way to know what is being talked about is to experience it.
After your first batch or two, you will find out where you need more advice, and where things went well for you.
Your first batch will probably be better than anything you bought in the store. Try all your recipes yourself, and give them out to friends and family to try. I would not even think of selling soap for a year or so.

Michael