to gel or not to gel...

[krissy]

i have only done HP so far but want to try CP. i keep reading about geling and how some want it to gel and some don't. what exactly is the difference and which is better if i want my colors to be bright? how does one prevent or cause geling? thanks!

 

[honor435]

to gel you need to cover or keep in warm oven, not gel, put in fridge, i like the look of gelled myself, but some like ungelled. try some of each and you will know what you like? good luck, i do hp and cp, love them both!

 

[Guest]

to gel you need to cover or keep in warm oven, not gel, put in fridge, i like the look of gelled myself, but some like ungelled. try some of each and you will know what you like? good luck, i do hp and cp, love them both!

The gel think is something I have been so confused about, so is it my understanding that achieving gel doesn't change anything about the soap?

The reason I ask is because my first batch of cp gelled in the center, it visually appeared dark in the center, I would have perfered a whitish creamy bar like the edges were, so after I pour into the mold I should place the mold in the refridge?

This week I want to make a white bar using cp and titanium dioxide, definately refridgerate?

 

[SimplyE]

I don't gel. I think the colors are more true (IMO), and I can get it more consistent. It seems like when I gel (I use GM), it is a fine line between gel and overheating. Of course, it seems like I go in phases, but I have not been gelling for a while now, mostly because I like the looks. As stated, try both.

 

[SimplyE]

The reason I ask is because my first batch of cp gelled in the center, it visually appeared dark in the center, I would have perfered a whitish creamy bar like the edges were, so after I pour into the mold I should place the mold in the refridge?

This week I want to make a white bar using cp and titanium dioxide, definately refridgerate?

Make sure that you use white oils for a white bar, though. I have found that ungelled does make a whiter, lighter, creamier bar. So I would refridgerate.

 

[Guest]

Here are some pics of gelled and ungelled soap . These soaps are from the same batch .The ungelled is softer in color and feel , other than that I don't think that there is any difference. I am going to test them to see if one lasts longer than the other . I am really curious to know if the ungelled will be gone faster.
When you make ungelled soap it definitely takes a lot longer to cure and harden up .

Gelled

Ungelled

HTH

Kitn

 

[Sibi]

Kitn,

It looks like your ungelled bars are whiter. I've always gelled but I want to try and put my next batch in the fridge to see the difference. Heck, we all must experiment to see what works best for us right?

Thanks for sharing the pics

Sibi

 

[heartsong]

x

www.peacockdyes.com lots of info for using in high ph-cold process soaps.