Water above 38%?

[Luv2Soap]

In an effort to elongate the time it takes for a recipe to go to trace, could you up the water % to over 38% (default for soapcalc) ? I know this would take longer to cure, but wanted to hear your thoughts.

Maybe the better question is...is there ever a reason to go over 38%?

 

[dixiedragon]

I have gone as high as 40% water when I am HPing so it will be smoother.

 

[Obsidian]

I go to 40% when I HP but I would worry that too much on CP could cause the bars to warp while curing. I prefer to use a slow tracing recipe and soap cool to slow trace for swirling.

 

[hmlove1218]

I agree with e others. I've used 40% when HPing, but in CP I have no need. I soap with RT oils and chilled lye water with a 33% lye concentration and I have tons of time to swirl.

 

[lionprincess00]

I say it's too much. I do 40% lye concentration, or about a 1.5:1 (21% as % of oil weight as opposed to the 38% default) and so long as I stop at emulsion, or even light trace, I still have plenty of time to swirl. It has also eliminated my ash problems. Your recipe or over sb may be to blame. That, or adding an accelerating fo before colors or split etc can cause problems.

 

[Cactuslily]

Luv2soap, I too initially had big problems with my soap thickening way too fast. I found a few things helpful. 1) keep your oils high, and your butters lower. 2) soap cool 3) probably most important at least for me, was to ease up on the SB! Just bring to emulsion, as lionprincess00 stated. Remember, if you're splitting your batch into colors, you'll SB again. I use a spatula and my SB to get it emulsified, then split, color and SB. I use 38% water, but can now go down in my %. Hoping that will help with ashy tops. If I'm saying anything incorrectly, please more experienced soapers, correct me. BTW, your SB will thank you by hanging around a lot longer too by not burning it out. Also SB on low setting. Hope this helps. I'd really love to know I'm helping someone by passing on info I've gained from this great group of people, and other soapers, rather than just taking.

 

[Luv2Soap]

These are all awesome suggestions and I appreciate you guys so much...you have no idea. I am thinking about getting a tall mold so I can start doing some swirling in it. I just wanted to make sure I was going to have enough time to do those amazing swirls that I see out there. I plan on following the advice here - especially about he stick blending. I think I may be a little heavy handed with that currently

 

[DeeAnna]

You also risk emulsion failure and a messy separation in the mold if you use too much water, especially with a recipe that wants to heat up a bit more than usual. I think even "full water" is borderline too much for CP, but that's just me.

 

[Susie]

I routinely use the default 38% on soapcalc. I used a higher % ONCE. I used 40%. I still have those ugly warped bars.

 

[Seawolfe]

For me, the single biggest struggle has been to get to the thinnest trace or emulsion and go no further. My inclination is to just do "one more zap" with the stick blender, and then by the time I've separated the batch and adding colors, its pudding...

 

[DeeAnna]

I totally get you, Seawolfe!!!!! I'm very familiar with that "just one more buzz with the blender" syndrome. I wish there was a vaccine for that.

 

[Luv2Soap]

I totally get you, Seawolfe!!!!! I'm very familiar with that "just one more buzz with the blender" syndrome. I wish there was a vaccine for that.

LOL - I've only made (2) batches and I'm totally guilty of this

 

[Cactuslily]

I almost think for the first couple of times hand stirring may help identifying trace vs emulsion and slow the process down. I do SB, but between using the stickblender as a spoon, with intermittent short buzzes, I am achieving emulsion easier. Like the others said, that "one more buzz mentality" can be a killer of swirls especially if you don't have someone experienced showing you. If you can find somewhere or someone nearby that offer classes or at your side assistance, I think that would be infinitely helpful..

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

And with pine tar it is the difference between having a pourable batter and needing to use a knife and fork!

 

[DeeAnna]

My pine tar soap came to mind when I wrote earlier, Gent. That is one recipe that will teach a person to not stir too much even when hand mixing with a spatula.

 

[Luv2Soap]

Pine Tar soap is something I am excited to make someday - but for now, I'm sticking with the basics

 

[Cactuslily]

If you know for sure your FO behaves, I'd try recipe high in OO lower in butters. Looking forward to pics!