It’s such a pain… looking on FB marketplace right nowI remember DeeAnna talking about a sous-vide soap method - not sure it was shampoo bars, but that might be a fun thing to try. I also am on the hunt for a larger microwave for my soap room- which is at the opposite end from the kitchen where the microwave is located (which microwave is about 1” too short for my soaping pails).
Soapalooza.comBlue chamomile is one of my all time favorite EOs! May I ask where you got the FO?
I tried a pourable shampoo bar recipe and had the same issue. I kept reheating after pouring each single bar. I was so afraid I was going to overheat my preservative. I used a glass measuring cup and next time I’ll probably use my smaller silicone measuring cups just for easier pour. Once I got it all into the molds I tried using a heat gun to make the tops a little smoother, but wasn’t too successful.I made my first batch of syndet bars yesterday - it was an adventure! This was supposed to be a pourable recipe, but I couldn’t keep it hot enough to do anything but glop it into the mold. I seem to remember someone talking about making syndet bars via sous vide or boil in the bag method, maybe @KiwiMoose? Maybe @AliOop? In any case I mostly made a gigantic mess but I did like the way it performed.
Rewards?!? For reviews?!? I need to get in on this!!! I just realized I could get money off orders at iHerb (not soap related) for posting reviews of previous purchases & did several today. But I have to wait a month before those rewards kick in. Hope I remember. (tongue-in-cheek)Got to cash in my rewards for making a ton of reviews on Nurture Soap!
Yes, video is a great idea. You can easily fast-forward by X times to let the lye and oils cool down fasterPlaying with my MUCH newer camera/phone and trying REALLY hard to wait until oils/lye cool down.
Maybe some day I’ll learn to make an actual video!
That looks like a clever mould, that is super rigid, but with just two locks loosened, it comes apart with ease. DIY?Second recipe made and poured into mold. First one still curing.
Actually it has two more on other side but your comment got me to think maybe hinge one side and only have two locks. That way I don't have to keep track of the ends. Yes DIY. I found the idea online.Yes, video is a great idea. You can easily fast-forward by X times to let the lye and oils cool down faster
That looks like a clever mould, that is super rigid, but with just two locks loosened, it comes apart with ease. DIY?
I actually had a hefty sum to cash in this morning! I like writing reviews with my coffee in the morning. And I try to give info that I would find helpful.Rewards?!? For reviews?!? I need to get in on this!!! I just realized I could get money off orders at iHerb (not soap related) for posting reviews of previous purchases & did several today. But I have to wait a month before those rewards kick in. Hope I remember. (tongue-in-cheek)
Off to look up this rewards deal at Nurture....
I love a good decelerator, me.I actually had a hefty sum to cash in this morning! I like writing reviews with my coffee in the morning. And I try to give info that I would find helpful.
On a marathon quadruple pill through run. I’m getting the whole process pretty dialed in. If I didn’t have to wait for my oils to cool down each batch it’d go faster. Maybe I’ll try nuking the hard oils before I start the pour of the batch I’m on. I love me a good assembly line!! I find it very soothing!! Testing new FOs in pull through a does add an unknown variable that is a bit stressful. So far today one that accelerated and one that actually DEcellerated! Both said “no acceleration”. I soap at 90F though, so I always have to try for myself.
Scrape all my left over pull through batter into these molds, swirl, then add whatever soap dough embed ends I have laying around.
@Vicki C and @violets2217 - message me to discuss : )I tried a pourable shampoo bar recipe and had the same issue. I kept reheating after pouring each single bar. I was so afraid I was going to overheat my preservative. I used a glass measuring cup and next time I’ll probably use my smaller silicone measuring cups just for easier pour. Once I got it all into the molds I tried using a heat gun to make the tops a little smoother, but wasn’t too successful.
It was @DeeAnna talking about the boil in a bag… for moldable shampoo bars. Just make sure you follow her advice about double bagging with tough bags (like the vacuum sealed ones) or you melt your bag and ruin you shampoo bars
ETA… link of post
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/syndet-shampoo-bar-trials.77482/post-880839
oh oh please include me, too!!@Vicki C and @violets2217 - message me to discuss : )
I do too! Black raspberry vanilla decelerated! winter wonderland had a normal working time, but felt like it’d accelerate if I mixed it much. And, smell the rainbow accelerated a little, but I could work with it. If I mixed it less next time it may work better. I do love the fruity skittles smell!!! May save it for bath bombs.I love a good decelerator, me.
On a marathon quadruple pill through run. I’m getting the whole process pretty dialed in. If I didn’t have to wait for my oils to cool down each batch it’d go faster.
You’d think my device would know me by now. *sigh*
Or you could sub out the tranqs with some bennies. LOL Drugging your soap!?! Isn't that a drastic solution to the whole slow-moving vs acceleration of batter situation? Better watch out you don't have to get it approved by the FDA!
One of my favorite and easy ways to use soap dough is to hand roll embeds. It’s easy to make either raindrop or circle shapes, when they’re cut.View attachment 62328
My first soap dough! I didn't set out to make it, but after a Monday-evening-semi-soapy-disaster-that-actually-turned-out-pretty-well-despite-the-well-behaved-FO-accelerating, I ended up with extra soap batter that was to a stiff pudding-like trace. Not knowing what to do with it since I'd already filled my excess-soap mold, I did a bit of hasty online research on soap dough and put it in ziploc bags as a doubtful experiment. Yesterday it looked pretty hard, but I decided to try kneading it anyway...and here you have it!
I really don't have a good idea of how to use it, but nevertheless I sense that I may be hovering on the edge of a deep, deep rabbit hole. Should I turn back?
I've always had mixed feelings about soap dough. I admire the creativity that soapers display through it, but I think some creations look pretty impractical as functional bars of soap.
So we'll see...
I usually buy my tallow. But, I’ve been given a bunch of fat for free! How much do you render at once? Wet or dry render?I'm rendering today, my favorite thing to do!
I don't really like rendering tallow so I do put much as will fit in my insta pot at once. I wet render it- outside! It's my favorite oil to use in soap.I usually buy my tallow. But, I’ve been given a bunch of fat for free! How much do you render at once? Wet or dry render?
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