Teach Soap

Well, since I have had two batches (one last year and one this year) overheat it got me to wondering how hot my soap actually gets as it gels.
So with the last soap I made, goats milk powder but no spice FO, I watched the temp. I put in on top of a heating pad,covered with a box and then wrapped in towels. As I completed my swirl and the top the temp was 94. The temp was then measured as follows: 15min = 96, 30min = 102, 45min = 107, 1hour = 121 - at this time I turned off the heating pad. 1hour 15min = 141 - took off all but one towel. 1hour 30min = 127. Then we left to eat and at 5 hours from pour temp was 100. So we all went to bed... It turned out great, no partial gel, good scent, nice color, easy to cut the next evening. I am wondering what the max temp would be before separation would occur? I will be doing a beer, spice soap this winter and will have to watch those temps.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

Interesting! does this mean that you won't ever have another batch overheat?

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

I've had a batch go as high as 170 with no overheating or separation.

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

Thanks for that information Irena, when it reached 141 I started to worry, now I will be able to relax a little.

Linda - to never have another soap overheat would be a great goal, but I doubt I am at that level yet. I wish I had taken the temp of the one that I just had overheat. I also would have to question that once the process was started would it be able to be stopped just by removing the heat source. I do enjoy studing this entire process. The beer + spice soap will be interesting and one that I would have had to watch closely anyway.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

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

Yes, do watch that beer and spice. I made a Windsor soap with beer a few months ago. Cassia and cloves were part of the EO blend. It accelerated on me pretty badly, even before I got it in the mold, and then got really hot. Not pretty.

Anita

Thanks for the insite. I am waiting for a cold, cold day here in Wisconsin. That way I could always just pop it outside on the deck table.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!