Time for me to learn how to rebatch!!

[jcandleattic]

So after soaping for approximately 8 years with a 2 year hiatus in the middle, it's time for me to learn how to rebatch... LOL
This is my backward swirl - that did not turn out at all -

It's still applesaucey looking (even though it's stiff now) and has free oils floating all over the top of it. The oils may sink back in, but at this point, it's just fugly and I wouldnt' keep it anyway, so this afternoon, I'm gonna get my crock pot out and try and start the process.
I've read up on it, but have never done it. Does anyone have any tips?

 

[jcandleattic]

Rebatch is in process!!
Wish me luck!
I chunked it into small pieces then dumped it in the crockpot, then took my manual potato masher and mashed it a bit more - set the crock to low and am leaving it for about an hour.
Then I'll give it a good stir and leave for an hour and repeat the process until it's "pourable" and remold it, cut tomorrow and cure for about 4 weeks and hope it's all good... LOL
We'll see...

Oh and BTW - it was really very very oily and even started soaking through the freezer paper - I've never had that happen. I think I may not have stirred it quite enough before adding the scent and trying to pour and that's what the problem was. If that wasn't it, then surely I don't know...

 

[MeadowHillFarmCT]

I hope it works out for you. I actually had this happen to me yesterday. I think it overheated. The first time I ever used Stearic acid to harden my bars..ugh

I didn't add any liquid to mine because I made the soap yesterday. I did scrape off the gel on the bottom of my loaf before cutting up and putting in the crock. I think it will turn out ok - just not what i intended..

Good luck

 

[jcandleattic]

I hope it works out for you. I actually had this happen to me yesterday. I think it overheated. The first time I ever used Stearic acid to harden my bars..ugh

I didn't add any liquid to mine because I made the soap yesterday. I did scrape off the gel on the bottom of my loaf before cutting up and putting in the crock. I think it will turn out ok - just not what i intended..

Good luck

Thanks, I'm getting ready to post new pics.

 

[newbie]

Whew! I'm sure that wasn't at all what you intended! I had a similar thing happen when I poured without stirring enough- trying to go for that very liquidy state for swirling and underdid it. I hate rebatching! I hope your is going alright.

 

[judymoody]

Rebatched soap can be very nice even if it rarely wins any beauty contests.

Given that it's fresh, I'd not add extra liquid, or very little.

Make sure to bang the mold well after pouring - helps with air pockets.

Good luck! I had a perfect soaping record and then started to push the envelope of the possible and voilá - rebatch!

 

[jcandleattic]

Rebatched soap can be very nice even if it rarely wins any beauty contests.

Given that it's fresh, I'd not add extra liquid, or very little.

Make sure to bang the mold well after pouring - helps with air pockets.

Good luck! I had a perfect soaping record and then started to push the envelope of the possible and voilá - rebatch!

I didn't add any liquid/oil at all since it was just poured the day before. Once I put them in the molds, it was very "pourable" so I just banged the mold a little bit...
It's done, out of the mold and cut and on the cure racks now and they didn't look like they had any airbubbles in them.
I used to push the envelope all the time - never had problems. But took 2 years off, then soaped a little last year, and am trying to get back into it heavy again this year, and nothing but probs since I started back up a couple weeks back. Oh well...
Pics to come in a few minutes.

 

[Beccah]

What was the cause of this problem? I made soap yesterday and when I went to unmold it today, I found that it had separated badly. It looked something like cottage cheese with oils soaking through the freezer paper. So, I quickly rebatched it, but it appears that my rebatch is doing the exact same thing! I'm new to soaping, but I would like to be able to troubleshoot better, know the exact cause of these screw ups so I can avoid or fix in later batches.

 

[jcandleattic]

What was the cause of this problem? I made soap yesterday and when I went to unmold it today, I found that it had separated badly. It looked something like cottage cheese with oils soaking through the freezer paper. So, I quickly rebatched it, but it appears that my rebatch is doing the exact same thing! I'm new to soaping, but I would like to be able to troubleshoot better, know the exact cause of these screw ups so I can avoid or fix in later batches.

I believe for me it was not stirring it enough and getting the oils/lye emulsified enough - I was trying for a very thin trace so I could swirl and then it separated a bit...
My rebatch came together perfectly and didn't separate again...

 

[Beccah]

Thanks! I will keep that in mind next time and mix a little longer.