Using the Double Broiler Method

[Rains Mirage]

I am in the process of reading two M&P books and the one I am working on right now..kinda reading it in spurts as my bestie ignores me lost in her own head. Anyways I have gotten to chapter of the recipes. But I read that microwaving the soap melts it yea, but also cooks it. Our microwave is a retarded thing only cooks on high.

So I am going to do the double broiler method for melting my soap. It's going to take longer, but I don't want to mess up the base. Mom wont let me use the crock pot and no rice cooker.

Who else uses the DB method?

 

[Lindy]

The double boiler method is just fine. It will take you longer to melt, but you will also have more control of it. Play and have fun :wink:

 

[Rains Mirage]

I know the DB method will take longer, but i have patience with my crafts, just no patience with anything else. My mom has been on vacation for 2 weeks and is returning home tomorrow. she went for a trip on her Harley. Anyways talked to her about the CP. Said no cause of my extremely weak upper respiratory system. She also knows what a klutz I am and how i even burn the freak out of myself with M&P.

So in a silly way using the DB will make me feel like i doing something besides just simply melting, pouring, scenting, color.

 

[semplice]

I use the microwave and haven't had any problems. Either way is fine as long as you're mindful of what you're doing.

 

[Rains Mirage]

I used to use the microwave.

 

[lisamaliga]

So in a silly way using the DB will make me feel like i doing something besides just simply melting, pouring, scenting, color.

It's not silly at all -- it's very true!

 

[Rains Mirage]

Well health risk and mom's veto on CP have made M&P my only option for soap. Mom don't want the lye in her kitchen or anywhere in her house.

So in place of CP I am just going to take the long way around to do M&P

 

[Sanctuary]

I use a DB....I like it better...I can do other things while it's melting (med heat). I go in and slowly stir it....it may take longer, but I have more control over it too. When it's melted and cooled slightly....I add my oher ingredients and pour into my mold....no problems.

Sanctuary

 

[birdcharm]

I also prefer a double boiler, as it's really supposed to melt slowly.
If you use the microwave, you need to do it only on very short bursts
of power ... for instance, 7 seconds and turn it off, another 7 seconds,
a third 7 seconds, and so on, until it is fully melted and do not go
beyond when it's melted. I have heard that even with that, the
temp of the heat is hot, (even in spurts), and the longer, slower
heat of a double boiler is better. From what I understand, the
slower it melts, the less sweating you will have ... I don't know
for sure if that is true, but it makes sense.

Instead of a traditional double boiler, I use a small porcelain
tea pot and place it inside what is supposed to be a "cake pan"
for a crock pot, and place a metal ring in the bottom, such as
what goes on a Mason Jar ... I only fill it to the ring with water,
but with a very, very low flame, this heats up nicely.

Kathy

 

[sperry]

I've been using a double boiler. No problems. (Unless you are careless/stupid... see below.) Does anyone use a crock pot? My double boiler is a "Two quart." (Right. That means the top half has a bit over a quart of useable volume.) When I start increasing my batches, I will need more. My options are buy more "two quarts," buy a bigger double boiler, or use a crock pot (micro isn't a viable option). Ideally, I want to pour almost continuously... so my question is this: say I have 5 quarts of completely melted soap in a crock pot. I throw in, say, 4 ounces of tiny chips of solid base. How long would they take to melt? (RE: careless/stupid. The base had hardened in my double boiler. In order to wash it more quickly, I put the pot directly onto a flame. BIG mistake. Vile smelling smoke instantly filled three rooms of the house. I have a little bird that I suspect is vulnerable to fumes, and you should have seen the contortions I went through to assure his safety.)