Teach Soap

i believe these spots are caused by the use of titanium dioxide.
you need to mix the titanium dioxide well, either in oil or soap batter
i've made 3 batches using titanium dioxide and charcoal. NO EO added.
i have made an experiment assume all other are constant.
a) 1st experiment - mix the soap batter till thin trace, separate out and stir in charcoal (1 container) and TD (another container).
result:- spots of white colour specks comes out, mixing TD in soap batter uneven...
conclusion: - TD cannot be mixed well in soap batter.

b) 2nd experiment - mix TD and charcoal with oil. the batch of oils and lye mixture, i've measured out separately.
result: - still managed to find TD in the end result.
conclusion: - TD able to mix in oils, but need to check for consistency

c) 3rd experiment - mix TD and charcoal with water. the batch of oils and lye mixture are measured out separately.
result: - TD dissolve well in water, but charcoal ....too smoky when mix with water.

anyway, just my small try and error till i find some consistency...
advise or suggestion welcome....will take a rest for this black and white contrast till i find a better solution.

I mix my TD with a small amount of glycerin in a bottle, and I top it up every time I use it. The TD becomes dissolved and well mixed. I've had no TD precipitate since I started to do this. I will be doing this will all of my oxides once I am settled in NJ, it is easier and there is far less chance to have small spots of un-dissolved colour.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

glycerin...ok...will buy a bottle to try it out and disolve the TD.
thanks

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

Heather, what is "I top it up every time I use it" mean???

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

If I use say 2 tsp in a batch I will add ~2 tsp more glycerin and a little bit of TD, which I honestly don't usually measure I just look for the right consistency and opacity.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Not sure if this was directed at me? Or if you're just sharing my thread... but I didn't use titanium dioxide in that batch.

Regardless, I've resolved all my spot issues now.[/quote]

Coolah
Could you share what your spots were from? I am new to soaping and think it would help me when I might run across this problem. I'm sure I'll do everything wrong at least once. I am keeping a notebook of soaping with recipes,problems and solutions in it for future reference.
Thanks,
Rhonda

Coolah, for awhile my soap was getting tiny air bubbles that looked a lot like your spots. My SB technique was good so I was stumped. Somebody (might have been soapbuddy ) suggested that the seal in my SB might have broken down and suggested I get a new SB. I did and problem solved.

I have found actually that less powerful SBs do a better job than that turbo-charged ones.

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

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