Blue1969
Well-Known Member
Yes, read them all a few times. Still struggled with the 50/50 boiling water and borax?
What soapy thing have you done today?
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How so?
Blue1969
Well-Known Member
Borax wont dissolve
It should dissolve easily in boiling hot water, equal parts water and borax or more water than borax.
Blue1969
Well-Known Member
Still not easy. You think my borax might be old or something?
Ok. Just cut the borax soap. Very crumbly. Does borax cause this? Used my normal tallow recipe with coffee, borax,grinded oats and some EO's?
Ok. Just cut the borax soap. Very crumbly. Does borax cause this? Used my normal tallow recipe with coffee, borax,grinded oats and some EO's?
Made a second attempt at a pull through soap today. Fingers crossed for 2 days til I can cut it.
Took some pics of soaps I cut today and yesterday using some photography tricks I read on @DeeAnna Soapy Stuff website (Photo Tips | Soapy Stuff - thanks DeeAnna!), cleaned everything up and put it away since it’s back to work tomorrow….
Took some pics of soaps I cut today and yesterday using some photography tricks I read on @DeeAnna Soapy Stuff website (Photo Tips | Soapy Stuff - thanks DeeAnna!), cleaned everything up and put it away since it’s back to work tomorrow….
I made the borax blacksmith soap earlier this year and also had trouble getting the borax to dissolve. I don’t have my notes handy but I think I just kept add water little by little until it finally dissolved.
For the best troubleshooting on the crumbly soap issue, I suggest that you start a new thread with the details of your recipe and process.
***
i was planning to make an Un-Challenge soap today, but the pipes in our house are frozen and we have no running water
. We usually leave the faucets dripping when we have a cold snap because the house is elevated and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Unfortunately, after over a decade without issues, the combination of cold and wind associated with this cold snap was just too much.. Since I haven’t cleaned up from my last minute B&B making on Christmas Eve I didn’t even contemplate making more of a mess.
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I’m sorry to hear this, @Mobjack Bay, I hope it doesn’t last too long and you have what you need in the mean time. Be safei was planning to make an Un-Challenge soap today, but the pipes in our house are frozen and we have no running water
Thank you. It’s definitely an inconvenience, but we will get through it. We have the flexible piping (PEX?) and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that none of the pipes burst.I’m sorry to hear this, @Mobjack Bay, I hope it doesn’t last too long and you have what you need in the mean time. Be safe
I don't know that I would use the borax with coffee AND ground oatmeal - that would certainly make it crumbly.
Blue1969
Well-Known Member
Thx, I will try again and leave 1 out.
I woke up to the sound of running water. 
Blue1969
Well-Known Member
Wanted to try a new technique today - once again no water in our town. 
Thankyou! It's actually your link from a post in that thread that I'm remembering so well!
As for soapy stuff, I powdered my brown and tan colored soap shreds. I was planning on attempting what I now know is called the Ciaglia method, but now I'm getting all sorts of inspiration from just running my hands through this stuff! I might have to wait until I can get my hands on some blue indigo powder because a beach themed sand and surf soap is starting to take form in my head!
Wooo hoooooo! That’s good new, @Mobjack Bay! Except I recall you said you had some clean up to do…..I woke up to the sound of running water.
A shower is a wonderful thing, especially with good soapWooo hoooooo! That’s good new, @Mobjack Bay! Except I recall you said you had some clean up to do…..
. I cleaned up quite a bit of the mess, but then made more when I made my unchallenge soap. You know how it goes! I‘m off for the week so I have time to keep messing up and cleaning up.
You may want to start a new thread so that you can refer back to it easily. I use @earlene 's technique and inspiration. I once got a very crumbly result and thru the help of this forum realized I used too much salt -- borax is a salt, plus sodium lactate plus sea salt! If you post your recipe we can help problem solve. I love making this with brewed coffee, coffee grounds, poppy seeds and shredded loofah.
Catscankim
Well-Known Member
My soapy thing today isn't really soapy per se. I bought a website/blog and domain from wordpress, so I have been fiddling with it since I got home from work. I guess if I am going to go the way of selling online, then I have to figure out packaging and shipping etc.
It will be ok, by the time I figure out how to build a website, it will be time for my annual renewal anyway LOL.
Plus I guess a crash course in photography...
edit, I am lying, I cut a loaf of butter bars today (Ophelia's Soaperie recipe). I tried to up the bubbles a little from the last time I made them. Can't wait to try those.
It will be ok, by the time I figure out how to build a website, it will be time for my annual renewal anyway LOL.
Plus I guess a crash course in photography...
edit, I am lying, I cut a loaf of butter bars today (Ophelia's Soaperie recipe). I tried to up the bubbles a little from the last time I made them. Can't wait to try those.
It's been a super busy time, but tonight I managed to sneak into the soap room to work on the December UnChallenge soap. The first batch accelerated like crazy! Pretty sure it was the Sweet Strawberry FO by Brambleberry. It's discontinued, so I couldn't find any notes on it. After plopping it into a loaf mold, I made another batch.
This time I hand-stirred, split before emulsion, and then added the colors and FO, which was Energy by BB - always well behaved. I actually had to stickblend each cup of soap for over 10 seconds to reach a very light trace! Here is a sneak peak of the soaps in the cylinder molds and stand that my DH made for me a few years back:
This time I hand-stirred, split before emulsion, and then added the colors and FO, which was Energy by BB - always well behaved. I actually had to stickblend each cup of soap for over 10 seconds to reach a very light trace! Here is a sneak peak of the soaps in the cylinder molds and stand that my DH made for me a few years back:
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