Teach Soap

Hi everyone. I am new here, love the idea of being able to share stories . I've taken some classes and feel ready to begin doing CP (I've done M and P for 6 years) but I'm confused...the instructor I had says that lye calcs are a Gimic, just a way of getting people to go to their website, that they don't work. Then she gave us a lengthy chemical formula involving sap values, etc. I felt overwhelmed. Also she unfolds her CP 24 hours later. She says th 4-6 week thing is bogus too. I always thought I'd use a lye calc and recipe to get started- can anyone clear this up for me? She is BTW a very experienced soap maker.

Lye calculators are NOT a gimic... they are a very helpful tool! (there are some like www.soapcalc.net that don't sell any products of their own) You CAN figure out everything mathmatically, but I would much rather just plug in numbers and let the lye calculator do the work for me!
Soap can be unmolded and cut within 24 hours after you make it, but it still needs to cure for at least 4 weeks so that the water can evaporate out. It makes the bar harder and it also makes it last longer.

I hope she stressed safety measures like google and gloves and measuring accurately during your class. I think you are smart to want to use a lye calculator and a basic recipe to start.

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

Well that just can't be true... for several reasons.
1 - Yes, every oil/fat has a SAP value, which is a constant, which means that you can plug it into a formula (which is the purpose of the program that figures out how much lye you need).
2 - Many many MANY people use recipes with the help of lye calculators and never have any problems because of it (chemically, anyways).
3 - If that 4 - 6 week thing is BS, then why are so many people able to track the progress of their soap during that time period? If it was bogus for CP, then nothing chemically should happen over the allotted time.

Does this teacher sell books or something? That's the only reason I can think of for something trying to discredit reputable soaping websites.

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

Unless you are a math wiz the lye calculator (actually any calculator for math challanged people) is your best friend. That soap calculator is doing that math/chemical equation for you behind the screen. You will have more of a chance for error by doing your own calculations. As for the curing time... try it for yourself.... a bar of soap 3 days old, cure one for 6 weeks then try it and one put away for 3-4 months and then give it a try. You will be able to tell a difference! Any other concerns... we are here to listen.

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

Hi, welcome. I have been to classes where teachers claimed that the soap was perfectly fine to use the next day. Not completely untrue but like fine wine, soap gets better with age .

Here are some web sites you might like to check out:

http://www.millersoap.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/soapqueentv (i assume you know this one but what the heck)

I am having a little brain fart on sites right now but the kathy miller site is great and can even help out with some recipes. ALWAYS run a recipe through a soap calculator even if it's from a book or online from a reputable site.

Good luck and welcome to the addiction
Erin

Thank you so much everyone for all the great information. I feel much better now that I know what you all think about lye calculators. I will try a basic recipe, use the lye calc and see what happens!

Let us know how it turns out.

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

Yes, let us know how it goes! (Pictures are always nice )

I will for sure...

There is an "instructor" here in my area who makes some pretty interesting claims about soaping and how the the websites and such are all wrong etc. She makes soap and sells it as soon as the very next day. I have stayed away from the controversy she creates but she has misinformed many people who have taken her classes. I answer any questions I am asked as truthfully as possible but once some people have taken a class they are convinced anyone who dissagrees with their teacher is full of it.
Best that you use a great forum like this one and cross check any information you get to make sure that more then one source agrees before taking it as gospel. Wlecome to the addiction and good luck.

My instructor actually encouraged us to go to a forum and research for ourselves. There was little of what she taught that was not verified by all I could read.
Jethro.... we are headed to your marvelous state of Maine in the morning... maybe I will get a chance to smile at you...

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