Teach Soap

Hello! I made a batch of soap about 3 weeks ago that didn't turn out quite right (it curdled, and I think the 'curdles' are FO that didn't get mixed in all the way). The majority of each bar is fine, but it just has one or two peanut sized "chunks" in it, that are more opaque than other parts. I'm going to shred this batch, make another batch of the same recipe and FO, and add the shreds to the new batch.


Should I put the shreds in the mold, then pour at thin trace over the shreds?

Or

Should I add the shreds to the soap in the pot at thin trace, stir it around a bit, then pour it all into the mold?

The original batch was 4 lbs so I'm going to do another 4 lb batch and put it in two 4 lb molds. The shreds basically fill the molds (without me pushing down on the shreds) right now.

Thanks!

If you add the shreds ar medium trace, there's a better chance that they will suspended throughout the batch.

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

I added mine at trace and stirred them in pretty good. I didn't get the curl effect doing it this way tho. Maybe I stirred too much.

So it sounds like I should be adding the shreds to the soap in the pot, right? (Just want to make sure I do it the best way!)

Is there a good way to make the shreds not as noticeable? Stir them around a bunch? My purpose of adding the shreds in is to not have to do an actual rebatch with this batch of soap because it wasn't completely messed up.

Thanks.

If you want the shreds least noticable, stick blend the heck out of them right into the melted oils.

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

You could also mix them into an HP batch

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- Mickey!

Soapbuddy, would you stick blend them into the oils before adding the lye?

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

Okay, just so I'm getting this right. You would calculate the lye for just the fresh oils that you would be using for that batch. You wouldn't count the shreds, right?

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

I recycle some soap into alot of my batches. I grate it into a bowl then add some of the liquid that the recipe calls for ( taking it away from the lye water ( before adding in the lye ofcorse) Then microwave it ( small bursts at a time) till it melts) stir it up.Don't boil it! Let it cool some. I add it into my soap pot as soon as the oils and lye come together. this seems to remove most of the lumps.

So I did it, and probably used too many shreds vs. the amount of the new recipe (the shreds were from a 3.5 lb batch, and I used a recipe for 4 lbs for the one I mixed it into).

I added the shreds to the hot oils, and stick blended it like nuts. Ended up with the consistency of thin oatmeal before I added the lye. I added the lye, mixed it around and it got really thick FAST. I quickly added the FO and blended it around some more then slopped it into my mold -- it was basically the consistency of mashed potatoes at this point!

I'm a bit worried about whether or not the FO got all mixed in this time (which is why I had to rebatch it in the first place), because it was so thick. But I did the best I could before it got too thick that I couldn't stick blend it anymore.

So it's in my mold right now. I'm curious to see whether or not this will gel. It's pretty warm here and I insulated with towels. But we'll see!

I'm not sure how this will turn out, but I'll update everyone tomorrow or the next day!

Good luck!
For next time, do 1/3 shreds to 2/3 new soap. A little easier that way.

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

I agree with Soapbuddy. Don't try to use so much shredded soap at once. It will be easier to work with.

Had I only known that before I did it.

But it was an interesting learning experience! We'll see tomorrow how it turns out!