Cherrydene soapy
Well-Known Member
hi I am new at this forum and new to soap making and wondered what temperature people are mixing their oils and lye together. Cheers
Temperature
- Thread starter Cherrydene soapy
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jcandleattic
Well-Known Member
It varies by method and maker. 90 % of the time, I mix both my oils and lye at room temp, unless I'm doing the thermal transfer then it's room temp oils with hot lye, or if I run out of my masterbatched oils and lye and don't want to wait for them to cool down to room temp because I'm too impatient, then I soap at about 110-120 degrees f.
I soap at 110-120 degrees F also UNLESS I'm using the colorant titanium dioxide and then it's room temperature. Welcome to the forum and the adventure of soaping and have fun with your first batches! Let us know how it goes!
Cherrydene soapy
Well-Known Member
I am really looking forward to meeting you all. There maybe times when there is a delay in answering as I live in the UK and yes I will definitely post photos
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Hello & welcome aboard!
I usually soap at whatever the room temperature is, so with room temperature lye and oils that are as low as possible (if I've heated them, I like them to get cool enough to start clouding up again). But, I also do impatience, so sometimes I soap hotter ... and pay for that by having to work faster
Looking forward to seeing your photo's too!
I usually soap at whatever the room temperature is, so with room temperature lye and oils that are as low as possible (if I've heated them, I like them to get cool enough to start clouding up again). But, I also do impatience, so sometimes I soap hotter ... and pay for that by having to work faster
Looking forward to seeing your photo's too!
Cherrydene soapy
Well-Known Member
If you mix at room temperature will it still allothe soap to gel?
Yes I have only done 2 batches so far the first was just oils and I mixed at 110 f, I didn’t cover it and it only partially gelled however my second I added colour and EO and it traced really quickly and I panicked and got it into the mould covered it will a box and towels and it gelled fully. It had a few air holes but I was really pleased with the end result. I have added photo I will try it again at room temperature and see what happens.Hello & welcome aboard!
I usually soap at whatever the room temperature is, so with room temperature lye and oils that are as low as possible (if I've heated them, I like them to get cool enough to start clouding up again). But, I also do impatience, so sometimes I soap hotter ... and pay for that by having to work faster
Looking forward to seeing your photo's too!
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Dawni
Well-Known Member
Can't help with temps coz only my palms take them, and I HP hehe but I wanted to come n say that soap you posted is lovely!
@Cherrydene soapy ... nice!
Cherrydene soapy
Well-Known Member
Thank you
jcandleattic
Well-Known Member
That will also depend on the oils used, water/liquid content/amount, FO, and other factors.
My recipe tends to partial gel on it's own, so I wrap in towels to make sure it gels all the way
Cherrydene soapy
Well-Known Member
Thank you@Cherrydene soapy ... nice!
@Cherrydene soapy - that's lovely soap! I like that you've used a tone-on tone effect with the colours. I don't measure my temps but I'm guessing about 35 - 40 degrees celsius or maybe a tad cooler.
penelopejane
Well-Known Member
Your soap looks great!
I soap at 110*F (42*C) because I use a lot of Shea butter and I want to gel every batch and I don’t like spots in my soap. I cover and insulate my soap that is in a silicone mold in a timber box with lid.
I soap at 110*F (42*C) because I use a lot of Shea butter and I want to gel every batch and I don’t like spots in my soap. I cover and insulate my soap that is in a silicone mold in a timber box with lid.
Cherrydene soapy
Well-Known Member
I cover mine in a cardboard box and towels it worked really well. I have been watching lots of videos and my head is full of ideas.
I’m another one who soaps with my oils just warm enough to be clear, my lye is room temp. I gel all my soaps and use silicone lined wood molds with a wood lid. I lay 2-3 towels over and around to obtain full gel and get no overheating or cracking. I soap between 30-33% lye concentration. Unless I mess up like last weekend and forgot to change the concentration and therefore got lots of glycerine rivers.
Pat McGlothlin
Colorado Gal in Arizona
I only make goats milk soaps so my oils and goats milk/lye mixtures are at 100 F degrees or lower. The first time (20+ years ago) I made goats milk soap, I let the milk & lye get too hot and it was a stinky, ugly, orange mess. No more!
