Teach Soap

I've been doing things other than making soap lately (okay, truth is I'm writing a novel), but I am really, truly going to attempt the mechanics soap soon.

Actually, I'm going to do a test run first. I was pouring up some tallow I had rendered, and got melted tallow all over my hands. I had to wipe them off with a paper towel, and then use dishwashing soap on them to get the oil off.

So I thought, hey, this mechanics soap I keep threatening to make, with a bit of tweaking, could probably serve as a degreasing kitchen soap. I'm keeping the same fragrance (orange and bay, either 80/20 or 75/25, I can't recall right now), using the Fuller's earth, and just a teensy bit of pumice.

So I went back to some of the older posts on the subject of clay usage. One thing I did come across was folks talking about hydrating the clay with a bit of water before putting it in. Some seem to put it directly in the soap batter (some by mixing it in a small bit of soap batter, then adding that to the whole mixture), and I think I read that somebody, Hestey, maybe?, mixed it into her oils pre-lye addition.

Any actual measurement on "a bit" of water? A tablespoon? Do you deduct that from your lye-mixing liquid, or just hold your nose and put it in? I'm hoping for the "hold your nose", 'cuz I'm using beer in this soap, and I'd have to wait for the beer to thaw out for me to get my tablespoon of water.

I do actually hope to get this done soon. I have three craft shows next month (the first three weekends), and one final show the first weekend in December. I've got to get stuff made quick, or it won't be ready in time for my last show.

Thanks for the help.

Anita

I "tried" to mix clay into a bit of water first to hydrate it and ended up with something that was the consistency of potter's clay!
I'm definitely following this thread because I still don't have a handle on using clays.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

If it's for the whole batch, I find it the easiest if I add the clay directly to the cooled off oils, then stick blend. If you decide to add the clay to a small amount of water to hydrate, the water amount is pretty small, so I wouldn't worry about it.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I either do the same as Irena for a whole batch, or I take a small amount of water or oil and mix the clay into that to colour portions of the batter.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I've been hydrating clays in a small amount of water because of multiple colors. It's worked well so far but the Brazilian clays do seem rather gritty and hydrating them doesn't change that.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!