I just made a batch of powder for the first time a couple of weekends ago. After making two 33% masterbatches, I decided I wanted to increase the SC from 1% to 1.5%. Since I also MB my lye most of the time and work at a high lye concentration, I really didn't have water to spare. The end product dissolves easily and I haven’t noticed anything weird in my soaps. The making process is easy enough, but it’s a bit time consuming. I’m probably going to buy SC as this batch gets low.
The only issue is that CA has gone WAY up in price lately, and availability can be spotty. So it might be worth checking into sodium gluconate just in case...I’ve been thinking about adding a chelator in my soaps. First citric acid then sodium citrate because I didn’t want to worry about adjusting lye, and now I will need to look into this making my own. An update on your trial would be awesome!
Love it and so good to hear an update! These days when I don't see someone posting for a long stretch I get concerned they may have covid. So glad to hear all are well.
I used to think that I would like a trailer for that, as well. However, I realized that I would soap less if I had to walk out the door at night, in inclement weather, etc.
My soap studio is in an outbuilding which I don’t mind at all. I used to carry over my soap to the oven for cpoping and then I realized, duh, just use a heating pad in a styrofoam cooler. That’s my current setup and it works great. I too finally bought a small microwave because I was making so many trips back and forth from my studio to the house. However, I have slight buyer’s remorse - I wish I had chosen one with a little more headspace. Something to consider.I used to think that I would like a trailer for that, as well. However, I realized that I would soap less if I had to walk out the door at night, in inclement weather, etc.
I've always used one bedroom as a home office; with my closed soap cabinets in there, a folding craft table against one wall, and some creative draping of blankets over one spot, it is now my soap room, as well. The blankets create an orderly background for all those Zoom meetings and online court hearings.
My Christmas wish-list includes a small microwave and a single electric burner, both of which will mean no more walking to and from the kitchen for melting oils, surfactants, and the like. And I'm so blessed that the laundry room, with a nice deep sink and good-sized counter, is next to my soap room. It's a great set-up for me.
As for my soapy thing, the day before yesterday, I made an unscented batch of soap for the large ladies' retreat order. It's still a little soft as of today, so the cavity molds may go into the freezer today. I need the cavity molds to make the last batch for this order. I'll be using these cute Amazon bags to wrap them, along with labels from OnlineLabels.com.
That's my exact issue, as well! My microwave barely fits the Dollar Store mixing bowl. The reused coconut oil pails that I prefer to use for mixing batches don't fit inside unless I take out the turntable and ring. I hate having to melt in one bowl and then transfer to another for mixing - BOO to extra dishes to wash!
We are having supply chain disruptions here, so random things aren't on the store shelves from day to day. For about two weeks, I couldn't get distilled water anywhere. Yesterday Walmart had it in stock, so I bought a bunch. Citric acid is normally quite plentiful and cheap, but when it is sold here as kettle descaler, or canning ingredients, it is quite pricey (because it is in very small quantities and most folks don't know that it is just CA). The larger suppliers have been out of CA here and there, as well. Although it isn't pricey per se, it is definitely pricier than it used to be, and those of us who also use it for bath bombs and shower steamers need to decide whether those items or soap will take priority.
You can`t just blurt out a thing like that and expect me to sit still and do nothing. I should really be folding laundry but...
I love Soap Parlour!!! Great idea!
Oh My - this is sooooo pretty!
Last night I made my first 3d printed soap mouldI wanted to make sure there were no cracks or rough edges so I used a filament which can be smoothed with acetone for a glossy finish, then I'll make a silicone liner for it. It's very tiny, tall and skinny shaped but only big enough to make 4 bars! Hopefully that will help with testing out ideas without adding too much to my soap mountain...
Thought a lot about soap today. It was my 1st day back to work after summer break. I went to wash my hands & was immediately sad that I have to go back to the district liquid soap that is so so bad. Strips everything off & some children are even allergic. Sure wish it weren’t against school policy to bring in my homemade !
I'm not Mobjack Bay (and Dibbles is actually the challenge hostess this month) but yes, there is a separate entry thread that everyone can see. It won't be opened until the Entry Open date that is listed in the challenge thread for that month, and it is only for posting pictures of entry soaps (no comments allowed - those go in the main challenge thread).
An entry thread will be posted to this forum on the 20th. You kinda have to keep your eye open for it. I usually look for it once and then bookmark so I don’t have to keep searching for it before I post my entry. The thread can fall down a bit in the listing, especially early on before the entries start flying in.@Mobjack Bay I’ve a question & I apologize ahead of time if this is a dumb question & a giant link has evaded my attention.
Do the folks that don’t enter the contest get to see the masterpieces entered somewhere on SMF?
