Wooden Moulds and NOT Gelling?

[craftykelly]

I just got 2 new moulds yesterday, wooden ones, quite long to make larger batches. And I was wondering how to NOT make the CP gel as it is Summer here atm (very humid) most days. Would I just put the moulds on a shelf, uncovered, would this work well?

I usually CPHP but want to start CP with pretty toppings so not too much experience with gelling and not gelling. TIA

 

[Laurie]

I am in Canada and we have had very severe cold weather. I have put my wooden molds in the garage which is essentially like putting in freezer. So freezer or fridge or you may get some gelling. A fan may work as well. You may have to experiment a little.

Laurie

 

[AshleyR]

I just did this the other day...

I'm also in Canada and it's about -25C where I live (around -11F). I put my 15" log mold right outside for about an hour and a half, then brought it in and put it in my fridge for the night. No gel!

 

[LyeSoap]

Why wouldn't you want your soap to gel? I thought you wanted it to gel so all the lye was used in saponification. If you aren't gelling do you have to let it cure longer? Where you someone read more about gelling?

Thanks in advance.

 

[craftykelly]

It is hot and extremely humid - been up over 90% here lately, so I guess I would have to use the fridge but unfortunately my new moulds are too long to fit in. I might have to try the fan idea but how long would I have to keep the fan on it?

 

[pinkduchon]

Have a fan blow on it maybe.

 

[carebear]

Why wouldn't you want your soap to gel? I thought you wanted it to gel so all the lye was used in saponification. If you aren't gelling do you have to let it cure longer? Where you someone read more about gelling?

Thanks in advance.

Oh all the lye gets consumed whether it gels or not - just takes longer.

Gelling is basically a change you get when the reaction is HOT (saponification produces heat), and if you let it build the "crystalline structure" (not correct but all I can think of) of the soap shifts and you end up with a slightly different product. It can definitely impact the color, some say the texture as well.

Reactions happen faster with heat - it's a catalyst - so it does saponify faster if it gels, but not that much faster. My gelled soaps come out of the mold at 12 hours and my ungelled ones at 4 days, but some get them out at 24 hours - it depends on so much.

Anyway, to help prevent gel in a wooden mold can be tough because it's such a marvelous insulator. Try chilling you mold before soaping and then, if necessary, letting it set up in the fridge or a really cold room. Fan, up on a rack, stuff like that too.