What soapy thing have you done today?

[bookworm42]

That's what I usually use too. I need to find some that are not very tapered. Mine are quite tapered and I feel like that isn't quite as good for the designs I use them for.

I recommend visiting an Asian store if you can. They normally have a huge section/selection of chopsticks. We picked up a bag of thick chopsticks at one near us and I kidnapped one for my soaping.

 

[Humblegoat]

Oh no! I may have a similar problem

@Cindy D. I don’t know, looks like a small silicone molded soap inserted into another. I have to think on this some more. Would soap dough work? I’ve never used that so idk?

https://www.amazon.com/Echodo-Column-Silicone-Making-Supplies/dp/B072FVBSSB/ref=sr_1_36?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W0URx6Kvcgi_oMGRXiK6qiDZlA8VFy6l_zsqe0wc-jd7r_1zzX2r7S8blQWksOmkyg01ekXIsGA1yRWOVxejCEqjUKkZxMYkFZ3lL0oySCiLdDVD8y55Zk-s9a6e8iF5-BTtS8Bcul-3_VEv3VtrvpYPuVYe6zYDmOIAGBa62vEv8mfbyZob7O2EHV6rPKLjtWbovT1UKg1AINg79gsvHIYqqCG9kmEan79A6eYBJfcKxFI05MLFKeyMez20zKwDMJPE4QuIkleqNteqFs-tmMSi7e2FBiXhU_QJsXQ5ctD9HQQJGnMcmYOYEPrRu8xp1n--5TZRVSOhWQl11LDK7oVZ40edRg9XPFsnjsp7_ClDEMJ0VOMLSwMV01NoiR6HLOGgV3H6h6FTKGF8a0YXKNjkcr2hf3s6A3zQ7TS_VD6i1vpbw7XfvmBMcPjyVvXr.0gDpMmQMTb_RBa4xG4yJz_uASKNygLV5GpsaDDRVlWw&dib_tag=se&hvadid=598724403302&hvdev=t&hvlocphy=9002375&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14957336026022165732&hvtargid=kwd-3174090765&hydadcr=4862_13229504&keywords=round+soap+molds&qid=1735575734&sr=8-36&th=1

Cindy D. could have meant a mold like this.
There are also heart, square, star molds etc. The round one would be good for a moon embed. Could also maybe use a small diameter (1") pvc pipe lined with freezer paper?

that seems to make done sense. How hard is it to cut with a wire cutter with an already saponified sosp imbedded?

 

[Servant4Christ]

I'm waiting for oils to cool. I just can't think of how I want to make this tester batch. It's mostly to see how this fragrance behaves before making a larger batch. After I add the lye, I'll have half white, half yellow soap batter. ITP swirl? I could split the white and add charcoal to some. Ideas?

 

[MrsZ]

I'm waiting for oils to cool. I just can't think of how I want to make this tester batch. It's mostly to see how this fragrance behaves before making a larger batch. After I add the lye, I'll have half white, half yellow soap batter. ITP swirl? I could split the white and add charcoal to some. Ideas?

You could do a tiger stripe with the white, yellow, and charcoal. That could be pretty. What fragrance are you testing?

 

[Servant4Christ]

You could do a tiger stripe with the white, yellow, and charcoal. That could be pretty. What fragrance are you testing?

Nurture's Orange + Ginger. Everyone I've let sniff it loves it and asks when I'll have it available in soap, so I'm testing it in a small batch.

Update: This one accelerates! Even in a lard heavy recipe soaping at 100°F, my batter turned to near-vaseline in an instant. The only fragrance I've seen move that fast is dragons blood! I barely managed to slam it all in the mold and smooch it down with the back of a spoon as fast as I could. I'm certain this will rival my ugliest soap on record, but I am so glad I only made a small batch. I'll try this fragrance one more time (tomorrow hopefully) in a one color batch and hand stir the fragrance into the batter after emulsion to see if I can make it work.

 

[Cindy D.]

@Humblegoat like this...

 

[Elise]

I cut my last soap of 2024
It is also my first attempt at a Taïwan swirl. I wasn't prepared enough and my swirls weren't close enough for my liking. Also I believe my batter was too thick for the result I wanted.
I'm still happy because it isn't that bad and I was mentally prepared for an epic fail.
I tried cutting to several different sizes to find what I like, since it is also my first horizontal cut.
Colored with cocoa and charcoal powders.

I don't know why the center of my bars looks grainy.


Here is also a glimpse at yesterday's battle field it was way messier than my usual soaping.


Happy new year to you all.

 

[Servant4Christ]

Those look great @Humblegoat! Looks like a mantra swirl to me (I think that's the name of the swirl).

I just cut my tester soap and after some creative spackling to fill in the air holes, my kids dubbed it "colby jack soap"

 

[Humblegoat]

@Humblegoat like this...

WOW!!

 

[Misschief]

Yay me!! Just made a batch of Just Peachy soap, made with Real Peach FO from Village Craft & Candle. It did accelerate a little but I thought it might so I was ready for it. It feels like it's been way too long since I made any soap even though I did make a batch of salt soap last week; from here on in, I'll have to make at least 1-2 batches per weekend.

 

[dmcgee5034]

Yay me!! Just made a batch of Just Peachy soap, made with Real Peach FO from Village Craft & Candle. It did accelerate a little but I thought it might so I was ready for it. It feels like it's been way too long since I made any soap even though I did make a batch of salt soap last week; from here on in, I'll have to make at least 1-2 batches per weekend.

You are on a roll, @Misschief - glad you are back! Looking forward to pictures!

 

[justsomeguy]

I bought 32 pounds of lye for 2025. I'm pretty sure it's too much. But, sale

I bought 50 pounds of soy wax for free shipping. $100 cheaper than buying 25 pounds twice. I'm gonna make pretty shaving soaps

I bought iron oxides (red, yellow, blue, and black) to okay play around with.

Now to find an extension charm for the dining room to hold all these goodies

 

[MrsZ]

I made 2 separate batches of soap today, and planned 4 tester batches for tomorrow. I'm hoping to make the batter all at once, keep it fluid enough to split and color 4 ways, and then pour. I think I might just do single color soaps this time instead of designs. Hopefully that's not biting off more than I can chew! I just need to test out some more of these fragrances and empty out some space on the FO shelf.

 

[dmcgee5034]

Finally made a new MB of fats, which is only 5 batches. I weigh them out into batch containers for ease of storing and soaping. Kept 2 out for tomorrows soaping session.

 

[Vicki C]

I have been cleaning up from the end of market season - really glad to have a break tbh. Wrapped a bunch of soap for my stepson and family who my husband is headed out to visit, driving to NC. Made some conditioner bars. Cut up some soap for mini bars. Grated a ton of soap scraps. Getting ready to do some fragrance testing. Trying to plan what to make next year so I’m not scrambling to make soap during the market season!

 

[Tammyfarms]

So pigments are different from micas? I have seen a couple people mixing colorants on a piece of glass with a pallet knife. I think one of them is Lisa from I Dream in Soap. Uh-oh - now I "need" more equipment?

Does anyone know if pigments are more "natural" than micas?

I think the answer is - it depends. You would have to look at the suppliers information. The micas I use from Brambleberry just say they are inorganic (salt is also inorganic). Both pigments and micas can be natural or synthetic.

 

[ackosel]

My DH surprised me with a Bud soap cutter for Christmas. So of course I had to make some soap today during nap time so I can christen it tomorrow !

My husband and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary yesterday - New Year's Eve. He got me a Hercules soap cutting station! So today, guess what I'm hoping to do during nap time?!

 

[bookworm42]

My husband and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary yesterday - New Year's Eve. He got me a Hercules soap cutting station! So today, guess what I'm hoping to do during nap time?!

That's awesome! Got to use that valuable nap time wisely

 

[Mobjack Bay]

So pigments are different from micas? I have seen a couple people mixing colorants on a piece of glass with a pallet knife. I think one of them is Lisa from I Dream in Soap. Uh-oh - now I "need" more equipment?

Does anyone know if pigments are more "natural" than micas?

The oxide and ultramarine pigments that most of us use are manufactured pure versions of pigments that may be found in nature. Using manufactured pigments helps to ensure that you don’t end up with undesirable impurities in your tub or your lip gloss.

Some of the commonly-used micas are produced from manufactured pigments that have been combined with mined mica in an industrial process. Other micas are entirely manufactured.

 

[ackosel]

The oxide and ultramarine pigments that most of us use are manufactured pure versions of pigments that may be found in nature. Using manufactured pigments helps to ensure that you don’t end up with undesirable impurities in your tub or your lip gloss.

Some of the commonly-used micas are produced from manufactured pigments that have been combined with mined mica in an industrial process. Other micas are entirely manufactured.

Thank you. I know I've read that somewhere, but I couldn't remember what I read. I'll have to see what I can find around the house for dispersing the powder.