Why is my soap so slow?

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Why is my soap so slow?

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cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 05 12:41 am Post subject: Why is my soap so slow?

I make cold process soap. According to the books, I should get to soft trace in a couple of hours or so. It normally takes about 6, sometimes more. Why? I'm doing it at about the right temperature, I'm being precise with my measurements for saponification, I'm using about a third the weight of water as I am of fat... What might be be doing wrong?

My first couple of attempts were with tap water, and they were faster; but the guide books all reccomend using distilled or water, so I've been using rain water. I think that my soap has been better with distilled water.

What options do I have to speed things up?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 05 7:25 am Post subject:

What are you stirring with? A balloon whisk is usually faster than a spoon for example, thats why a lot of the soapers use a stick blender. Could be an easy way to see whether its just 'in the wrist' as it were. Could it be one particular batch of fats, or is it always this way? Temperature can also be critical with some oils, is it possible that this could be a factor? I'm sure it will come right.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 05 6:45 pm Post subject:

sally_in_wales wrote:

Heck, when it traced it went really well. Took it out of the molds this morning (just tried silicone muffin molds for the soap, and they're great, and also an old plastic chocolate tray insert thingy to make 'guest soaps' for travellng) and it looks really good. The 'guest soaps' are going to become a regular feature, I think, so I've got the option of packaging a whole load together for Christmas presents.

Could be oil batch variation; I mix intermittently using an old hand blender thingy. How much will I shave off the time if I really go to town on mixing?

Both oils and lye solution were at 49C ish when I started, as recommended in Melinda Cross books.

Looking at the soap now (I split the batch in two, and added elderflowers and some flower essential oils to one half and finely ground allspice to the other), it's got all the makings of a nice batch. The elderflowers have taken on a lovely orange tinge.

pink bouncy

Joined: 14 May 2005
Posts: 174

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 05 8:15 pm Post subject:

Quote:

I mix intermittently using an old hand blender thingy. How much will I shave off the time if I really go to town on mixing?

I only use a blender when I make soap and I reach trace in around ten minutes. You'll save loads of time!

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 05 8:16 pm Post subject:
When I use a stick blender I do it continuously and usually get trace in most oils in about 5 minutes flat, but I do blend for most of that time. Maybe you need to be more brutal with it? Anyway, if you are getting lovely soap at the end there is clearly not much wrong

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 05 8:32 pm Post subject:
Hmmmm... Well, there's a jar or rendered down pig fat in the kitchen waiting to be soaped... Five minutes eh? I'll give that a go when I get a chance. Ta muchly

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 8:57 am Post subject:
Mine has been tracing in about half an hour, without blending - which is faster than the recipe says, but not much (usually about hour, it says) But I've only made a couple of batches so far, and while they clean fine, they are too drying to use - make great laundry soap though, and will last ages.

Viking_Chick

Joined: 21 May 2005
Posts: 123

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 9:18 am Post subject:
What oils were you using wellington womble? I am thinking of making soap my next project - and did you superfat the soap?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 12:03 pm Post subject:

All kinds of variations from the melinda coss book. I think they are superfatted, but I made a pure tallow batch, and superfatted it with different oils (avacado, jojoba, castor, apricot kernal and carrot) to see which is the most moisterising. Anything that doesn't turn out great goes in washing powder, so I'm not too worried if it goes wrong, as its not wasted.

This melinda coss book, by they way

https://tinyurl.com/9vv7m

the gourmet soaps one isn't as good, I don't think.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 10:55 am Post subject:
OK just ordered the book. Looking forward to that: I'll soon be able to wash my menstrual pads in our own well water using my soap! Pity I can't make the pads out of the wool from the fence and hedges. But then again...

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 10:58 am Post subject:
I preferred Gourmet Soaps made Easy, also by Cross. But a more interesting read than that is this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0882669656/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2_cp/202-9985374-1199818

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 11:10 am Post subject:
I'll work my way through thw first one and progress...

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 11:11 am Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

I'll work my way through thw first one and progress...

Oh, Melinda Cross's book is a great one to start with.

Viking_Chick

Joined: 21 May 2005
Posts: 123

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 05 11:40 am Post subject:
I'm going to see if my library has any of these - I'd rather borrow first to see if I am any good at it! Thanks guys!

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