stearic acid
- Thread starter Emilee
- Start date
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G
Guest
The recommended rate on my pkg is to use 1/4 to 1/2 oz PPO . You sprinkle it on your melted oils and let it melt, it can take awhile.
HTH
kitn
HTH
kitn
ChrissyB
Well-Known Member
Emilee why do you need to use stearic acid? Is it to make your soap harder?
yeah, it is.
up until now I've not gelled my soap, as i've liked the creamy look.
my hubby just made me a log mold with wood (up until now i've used a slab mold made of perspex type stuff) and the only time i've had a soap gel is with my honey bee. i usually do rtcp, so i don't usually melt my oils.
but lately i've been thinking of trying to gel my soap to get it harder and longer lasting (although that lavender i sent in the swap doesn't seem to run out too quickly)
so i thought using the wooden log mold (as opposed to the perspex) would help my soap automatically gel, but i've just made my first 2 logs, and neither gelled, so I'm thinking if i want gel i'm going to have to melt my oils.
i've tried to use the idea of leaving my goats milk to sour a bit to increase the sodium lactate? or whatever it is that helps made soap harder, but i don't really like doing that. i prefer to use fresh milk.
so, tomorrow i thought i'd melt my oils, and see if gelling the soap makes it much harder, otherwise i've had some stearic acid sitting there for ages and thought i'd try a log with it.
why do you ask?
up until now I've not gelled my soap, as i've liked the creamy look.
my hubby just made me a log mold with wood (up until now i've used a slab mold made of perspex type stuff) and the only time i've had a soap gel is with my honey bee. i usually do rtcp, so i don't usually melt my oils.
but lately i've been thinking of trying to gel my soap to get it harder and longer lasting (although that lavender i sent in the swap doesn't seem to run out too quickly)
so i thought using the wooden log mold (as opposed to the perspex) would help my soap automatically gel, but i've just made my first 2 logs, and neither gelled, so I'm thinking if i want gel i'm going to have to melt my oils.
i've tried to use the idea of leaving my goats milk to sour a bit to increase the sodium lactate? or whatever it is that helps made soap harder, but i don't really like doing that. i prefer to use fresh milk.
so, tomorrow i thought i'd melt my oils, and see if gelling the soap makes it much harder, otherwise i've had some stearic acid sitting there for ages and thought i'd try a log with it.
why do you ask?
ChrissyB
Well-Known Member
You could also put your mould into a low oven to force gel. I do that with most of my soap now and it works a treat.
I like to gel because I know that the saponification process has completed. I have not had one batch of soap that has been gelled in the oven zap me, and I test it as soon as it cools down.
I like to gel because I know that the saponification process has completed. I have not had one batch of soap that has been gelled in the oven zap me, and I test it as soon as it cools down.
G
Guest
If you don't want to put your mold in the oven , a heating pad works . I have one of those neck things that you warm in the microwave , it is almost as long as my mold, it works like a charm heated for 5 minutes on high and set the log mold on it ( I put the heated neck thingy in a plastic bag) and cover up the mold.Not as drying as the oven on your soap imho.
Kitn
Kitn
ok, thanks. so say if I were to put in an oven or use a heated pad, would it work with rtcp, or should I still melt my oils?
unfortunately i don't have a big enough oven for my soap log, so i'd prob have to go the heated pad way. i wonder if a heated wheat bag would do the trick too? i tried putting in the hot water cupboard, but that didn't work either. just gotta get this puppy to heat up more.
unfortunately i don't have a big enough oven for my soap log, so i'd prob have to go the heated pad way. i wonder if a heated wheat bag would do the trick too? i tried putting in the hot water cupboard, but that didn't work either. just gotta get this puppy to heat up more.
