Teach Soap

I read about this on another site and think everyone needs to be aware of it! I thought of soapmakers who use pyrex glassware to mix their lye (BAD idea), or heating oils in the microwave, or candlemakers who use pyrex for heating/ pouring wax, not to mention using Pyrex baking dishes, etc. for cooking.

Pyrex can shatter and explode! NEVER use glassware that is chipped, scratched or cracked.

The full article is here.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/maga ... /index.htm

The video has some impressive demonstrations. PLEASE do not think that just because your glassware is not subjected to the same stress as in the demonstration that bad stuff won't happen. I had this happen to me with Pyrex (in a sink thank goodness) and I can vouch for how impressive the mess is! This tendency is common to ALL glass, but particularly soda lime glass which is the composition of most canning glass. Pyrex changed their formula from sodium borosilicate (OLD Pyrex) to soda lime and now more reports of accidents are coming in...

P.S. You can tell old Pyrex from the new version by looking at it. The new version has a very light greenish tinge.

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

I read an article about that last year and know someone who had a newer casserole dish explode in her oven. I'm still using some of the old Pyrex that was my mother's and is at least 40 years old.

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

This is really scary! Those women were obviously injured badly and geez, it could've been worse too.

I'm just not sure what to do with all my Pyrex (which I do use for soaping). I don't believe it's the "new" kind (with the greenish tinge) but I'll double check. Plastic containers don't seem appropriate either for mixing small batches of soap and stainless steel pots are often way too big to stick blend safely without splatter.

Karri

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I soap therefore I am.

Karri, I use small plastic pitchers for mixing small batches. They work really well.

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

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

Thanks guys ...

I guess it's time to go shopping again. Ugh!

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I soap therefore I am.

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

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

Fascinating study by Consumer Reports. I'll tweet it out as well.

New versus old - another example of not improving things.

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Happy Soaping!

Anne-Marie
blog: www.soap-queen.blogspot.com
supplies: www.brambleberry.com

I used to use a Pyrex cup for mixing my lye and water and switched a few years ago. It's a good reminder for all of us though. Nothing every happened to me when I used to use glass but I've heard of others experiences and that was enough to make me switch.

Ok so I have just finished gathering all my supplies, tools, etc. to make my first batch of CP soap (very excited by the way!). After watching the soapqueen.tv how-to videos, I decided to buy a few pyrex measuring cups since that is what Anne Marie was using in the video for mixing lye water. I'm kinda bummed now and wondering if this is really an unsafe practice?? Do I need to buy stainless steel pots for mixing lye? Are there any other alternatives?
Also any other advice for "tools of the trade" would be much appreciated! Feeling a little overwhelmed and want to make sure I am prepared when I actually do this.
Thanks!

I think stainless steel is the safest bet, and super sturdy too I like to mix my lye and then cool it down immediately in an ice bath (none of this waiting stuff ), and SS is totally safe for that (it's not good to subject glass to temperature shifts like that). I know some folks use tough plastic pitchers too -- the recommended plastic is polypropylene (here's hoping I spelled that right), which has the recycling code "5" on it.

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CP newbie who's turning into a soaping addict!

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

I use plastic (with the code 5) on it for mixing my lye. I did the same as you and got Pyrex glass when I first started out, but did not use it when I learned about the safety concerns. I do use my Pyrex still for melt and pour projects, mixing oxides, etc., so they do still come in handy.