I made my first batch of soap today. It was 32 degrees in the garage when I did it. I felt that it made trace fast. I poured it in the molds and put them in the washer room with a blanket over them. In two hours I cut the bars and recovered them with the blanket. My question is that I checked them 5 hours later and the molds were warm. IS THIS NORMAL or do I start all over. The soap does look like the video and youtube videos.
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Jan 12 2011 : 05:42:00 AM
hi susie, yes the soap gets really warm. the saying is dont let your soap catch a cold. it needs to stay warm while it cures. no chills. the heat is the lye and oils bonding and turning into soap not lye and oil anymore. good for you. i need to make some soon.
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts
Posted - Jan 12 2011 : 10:16:14 AM
Suzie- I concure with Sherry- The soap needs to get hot through a thermogenic reaction between the lye and the oil. This is what makes the soap. If it cools off too quickly- sometimes not all of the gets the chemical reaction. It can make your soap harsh and or it can bet brittle and fall apart.
It is best to keep the soap very well insulated so it can keep all that heat while it is working. You may also see it go through a Gel phase so your cutting the bars might not stay cut.
Today I got the soap to slide out of the mold and cut it. I now have it drying/curing and I am so proud. I have made soap (I hope). Thanks for the comments. All the things I am learning is off of questions from MJF and youtube. Things I have learned knitting, canning, dehydrating, and now soap making. I live in the city with nosy complaining neighbors so I can not do much more. I am trying to be as frugal as poss. and learn all I can. Again thanks.
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Jan 13 2011 : 06:58:03 AM
suzie that is so great you are doing all those things. many farmgirls live in town. like you it is a state of mind not a place. so you are doing great. how is your soap doing. it you take a sliver of it, it should lather a little now when put under water. not ready till cure is over though. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm farm girl #1014
Question on hand soap making
Posted - Jan 11 2011 : 7:27:19 PM
