Teach Soap

So!

My hand blender dies on my 15 minutes into the mixing of my soap. I'm thinking: "CRAP!"

I just bought the darn thing like two months ago! I had to whisk with a wire for an hour to get a light trace. After that I had to pour in the molds. Arms got tired.

Anyone ever had this happen to them?

And could anyone recommend a good hand blender brand?

I don't think most stick blenders are designed to hold up to that sort of constant use. When I use mine it's more like a minute or two on and then 30 seconds off... but I still use it to stir even when it's not running.

Lately I've had a lot of luck with a wire whisk... in fact I always start that way until most of my "stuff" has been added just to make sure I don't get to trace too fast. I only pull out the SB when it's obvious that the lye monster is not super hungry.

_________________
- Mickey!

Yep. Totally happened to me. You're blending too much.

I say get thee to HOme Depot and get a cordless drill and Squirrel Mixer!!!

Yep- totally happened to me, like on my 3rd batch. I learned a lot from ALLLLLLLLLLLL that stirring.... But got a new stick blender.

That's too long. Try 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off with just stirring in between.

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

Definitely agree with soapbuddy. Give the blender a little break once in a while.
I'm not sure what brand soapbuddy has? but I think I heard her say that she has had it for years and years now.... soapbuddy?

Mine is a Hamilton Beach from walmart. I agree that the constant "on" will burn it out--- I was worried about that happening so I bought a second one for back up---- I have never used it! My Hamilton Beach is still going for almost 3yrs now and I soap quite a bit--- I do the on/off stir with it method.

_________________
You may be only one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person

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

do you all continue to stir with your blender in the off mode or do you take it out and stir with a whisk?

_________________
~Jola

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

I will keep that in mind the next batch I make. I like the idea of stirring inbetween pulses of the blender. My Hamilton Beach passed away early Sunday afternoon. I'm sure she's in a happier place, where people don't burn out their kitchen utensils. Hehe. I'll post up some notes about my Lavender-Tea batch later in the week. So far so good!