Teach Soap

Ok, here is the bumpy soap I was talking about - should the soap planer do that?



and the next pic is the top of the soap. how do i keep it from looking like that?

I'm sure it depends on the planer. I bought a cheap one off ebay and hated it - until I took a screwdriver and adjusted the blade to be only very very slightly above the wood. I didn't need to drill new screw holes; there was enough play in the holes through the metal to adjust it just by loosening and tightening the screws again. My problem was that the planer was taking off too much soap, and doing it unevenly.

If I pour just after emulsification - just as soap reaches extremely thin trace - then the resulting soap has almost a perfectly flat top because it's still very liquid when it's poured so it levels out very smoothly.

I've found that over time, I'm much less concerned with making my soap look perfect. I think the handmade rustic look is better. I'm not trying to compete with proctor & gamble or walmart commercial soaps. I don't want it to look dumpy, but natural imperfections from molds and cutting are fine to me now. When I'm looking at other handmade soaps, the ones that look the most perfect are the most boring and not interesting or unique. With that said, I would never give up my wire cutter from Brambleberry. Love it.

Robert, i will try adjusting the planer again. thanks! my iphone camera takes horrible pics. i was trying to show the powdery looking top. how do i avoid that?

That looks like a cheap blade. Can you replace it with another one from a hardware store?
As far as the top, that looks like ash to me. It's only aesthetic and doesn't hurt the soap.

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

As far as the ash on top, you can try this if you are determined to get it off. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3WiX6sD-fY this is from soaping101.

Best way that I've read and now do, is to float a piece of plastic wrap over the top of your soap if it won't bother the top decoration. They say that it happens in the first 24 hours of pouring. Others on here can give you more info as they are definitely more experienced. Some add beeswax, some spray with alcohol...

I've also read where you can dunk your cured soap into water VERY QUICKLY and wipe off the ash. I've never done this.

Jeannine~

_________________
Jeannine

~the journey is everything~

I deal with ash on nearly every batch I make, think it is my recipe. Most of the time I embrace it... use it as part of the design. But if I really don't want the ash I will spray with alcohol... I have also had good results by steaming the soap tops after my 4-6 week cure.

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