Teach Soap

Does anyone have any experience with this book? I think it would be interesting to mix transparent and cp.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Transparen ... 299&sr=8-1

I have it. I've used it. Found it a bit confusing & had to read it several times to understand it.
My first batch came out okay but could have been better. I haven't found the time to try it again (can be time consuming) but will certainly try again when I do find the time.
If it's something that interests you, I'd definately check out the book.

The one thing I highly suggest is a fire extinguisher due to the alcohol. Didn't have to use mine but alcohol can be a scary thing if not treated respectfully and it's always best to be prepared.

Hope that helps. : )

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In this world you can be either oh so smart or oh so pleasant. I used to be smart. I prefer pleasant. You may quote me. ~Elwood P. Dowd

While I have not read the book, I did read the reviews and was reminded of something else that I recently read. One review stated that finding the alcohol was difficult, which reminded me that I had recently found a site that sold perfuming alcohol. On there, I read that read that soapers and perfume makers should use this special approved alcohol to avoid legal issues, and I saw that the shipping charges for shipping that alcohol include a hazmet type surcharge, which cost just as much, if not more, than the cost of 1 gallon of the alcohol (it was like 30 some dollars). They also said that if you decide to substitute everclear or something like that, you would risk being sent to jail if you sold your end product to someone under 21. They said that the fact that it is an ingredient didn't negate the fact it was alcohol and legally regulated.
Just some things you may want to look into if you want to use the alcohol method to get clear soap. Good luck and let us know if you try it!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Susan Cavitch covers this pretty well in her "Soapmaker's Companion". Sounds a little tricky, esp. the alcohol issues. She has some good safety tips.

Thanks for the info. I think I'll look up sources of perfumers alcohol before I buy the book.

Snowdrift Farms has perfumer's alcohol. They now also carry natural lavender alcohol, which I want to try next.

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

_________________
In this world you can be either oh so smart or oh so pleasant. I used to be smart. I prefer pleasant. You may quote me. ~Elwood P. Dowd

_________________
In this world you can be either oh so smart or oh so pleasant. I used to be smart. I prefer pleasant. You may quote me. ~Elwood P. Dowd

MsB, Like your explanation...and it could work too! As for restraunts and their food, the alcohol actually burns off when you cook it, sort of like the lye goes out of the soap in the chemical reaction stage, so that is the why it isn't illegal.

_________________
Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

_________________
Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

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

LL... Please don't take my curiosity wrong. My searching is simply a way to appease my curiosity.
You just got me thinking about something that makes sense but doesn't make sense all at the same time. I can see not putting it into a body spray (you never know what some will do/drink for a buzz) I just can't quite figure out the issue with it in soap. I guess someone somewhere would probably try to melt & drink soap but I would think some Robitussin would be cheaper & easier.

I too read the same thing you did.

Anyway, I've checked out the code and from what I see you have to use certain things to denature it (make it useless/undrinkable) and those things depend on what exactly you'll be using the denatured alcohol for. From what I can tell, adding sodium hydroxide (as we do in soap) should be sufficient to meet that requirement.

Here's the document link so others can check it out & decide for themselves. : )



Sorry about the format, the HTML code shows thru & makes it extra confusing.

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In this world you can be either oh so smart or oh so pleasant. I used to be smart. I prefer pleasant. You may quote me. ~Elwood P. Dowd

Sodium hydroxide in sufficient amount in alcohol would kill a person and could cause some serious damage on the skin. These days specially made bitters are used in alcohol to make it undrinkable, yet safe enough on the skin. I'm looking at my 91% Isopropyl alcohol and it says on the back: " Does not contain, nor is intended as a substitute for grain or ethyl alcohol. Will produce serious gastric disturbances if taken internally.

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

My whole thought process was not to add sodium hydroxide to the alcohol but that by adding the alcohol to the soap with lye already present that we were accomplishing what the regulations state. Perhaps not.
Think I'll just stick to regular soap & skip clear soap all together. Too much hassle.

_________________
In this world you can be either oh so smart or oh so pleasant. I used to be smart. I prefer pleasant. You may quote me. ~Elwood P. Dowd

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