time to grow...

[charlotteda]

I have been making soap for several years. I use the RTCP method , basic oils and goatmilk with water -non gell.

My receipes have done fine. Now I find the need to make larger batches. I was hoping to stir up a double batch and then pour it into 2 slab molds and then pop in frig.

I have searched the site but I am a little bit confused.

I need to recalculate my soap ingredients as I am going to have to shorten my molds by 1 inch so both will fit in the mini fridge at one time.
I can use soap calc for that.

I see info about pre-mixing lye but it seems that it still heats up when you add additional liquid so how does it help ?

I guess my question is in regards for pointers on how to streamline my process a bit. Right now, I have 4 receipes that I use. I melt the oils: beeswax, OO, PO and CO mix and leave to cool. Mix the lye water and let cool. Then add the frosty goatmilk, honey etc. Mix with lye, FO etc and pour in mold.

I am not too lazy to search the forum but I am a beekeeper first and soap demon second. Any helpful suggestions ?

 

[Aquarius]

What's RTCP method? And why do you put your soap in the fridge??

Sorry I know your looking for suggestions but I don't get your process of making the soap?

 

[Genny]

What's RTCP method? And why do you put your soap in the fridge??

Sorry I know your looking for suggestions but I don't get your process of making the soap?

RTCP is Room Temperature Cold Process and they put their soap in the fridge to either to help it from overheating or to help prevent gel.

As for the OP, I'm not really positive on what your question is. Probably due to my lack of caffeine this morning.

 

[charlotteda]

I guess I am interested in knowing how big your soaping containers (mixing) are. Do you premix your lye ? or oils in bigger batches and then mix together. That sort of thing.

 

[Loolee]

I've been doing a lot of reading of the older posts in this forum.

I've read where people have made "master batches" of lye... equal parts of water and lye. Then you further reduce your lye to liquid ratio by adding more water when you are ready to use the lye and make soap.

You can also make master batches of oils by making up a 5 gallon bucket full of a single recipe, then just pull out 16 ounces of oils or whatever you need to make your recipe.

You can also take your mold measurements and customize your recipe So instead of making new molds, you would just increase the amount of oil in your recipe. So say you use 16 ounces of oils, you may need to increase that to 18 ounces or whatever to fill your old mold. But you figure it based on the size of your mold.

 

[Lindy]

Actually with room temp you don't have to put your soap into the fridge. I do RTCP and I don't worry about temps at all, not do I fuss about gel...

I do know of people that masterbatch their lye....

 

[mechanolatry]

Wow I really like the idea of making a master batch of your oils, that's great! I think I'd be too afraid of messing up my soap if I did a lye-water master batch.