Teach Soap

I unmolded my soap just now(5oz-140gram) testing how to use color. Not sure if it gelled or not.


Ok, here is the question...should you test for zap only if it gels or if it doesn't-right away or do you test after 3 days if it does/doesn't gel?(hope I am making sense).

Here is why I asked...I tested right after and IT ZAPPED!

I know with my last try I tested, but not right away(cuz I didn't understand what zap testing was)

I'm gonna leave it for a few days to test again(if anyone thinks that's what I should do)

Also, when I was mixing my lye and water the temperature didn't get very hot any thoughts?

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Debbie

new to this....what does zap/zap testing mean?

This might help with the zap question 3 pages of important lye information.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3502

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

gelled soap - you can test for zap as soon as you unmold.
ungelled soap wait 3 days, unless you want to see what zap really feels like!

And do what soapbuddy taught me, have a glass of apple juice ready to rinse your mouth with. This also helps with the soap taste if there is no zap!

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

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Debbie

Ungelled soap should saponify in 3 days or so. I would try again later.

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

Once I had my lye get just slightly warm.... I called it dead lye... think I got a bad jar. I think It partially warmed up because part was form one jar and part from another. Then I took some from the new jar and added equal amt of water and it stayed at room temp. So diluted it and down the drain it went. The rest of the new jar was thrown away. Do you check the temp of your lye. If I use cool water I will get from 175 to 195 as my high temp. I always check - just to be sure. Was the lye clumped, did moisture get at it? How old was the lye?
Oh, the soap I made from the partially dead lye... it is one of my favorites for the dead of winter when my skin is super dry..... I think it must be 30% superfatted. I refuse to give any of it away because it is an accident I don't know how to repeat!

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

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Debbie

If your recipe was correct, your have a good scale and measured correctly, your soap should not zap after threee days. If there is any oil on top, that should reabsorb back in.

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

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Debbie

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

Well...my youngest son(15) wanted to try the zap test and it hasn't been 3 days but I said he could try it, and guess what...it didn't zap ! Anyway...while my tester batch for testing how to work was saponifying I tried making oatmeal and honey. I took them out today and everything settled to the bottom. Also the ones of the color testing the colors didn't come out the same(poured into two small tester molds).



Here is a link to picture: http://m.facebook.com/home.php?refsrc=h ... 1322218183

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Debbie

Glad you got no zap!

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

Deb, It looks like things are working out for you, mostly. As for a couple of your questions:

1. If you are getting soap from use of the lye then it should be ok.

2. I write down alot of what happens when I soap. That way I can refer back to my notes. This includes: date, lye temp, oil temp, time to trace, coloring, fragrance, what goodies I added, what molds I used, how I did the top, how it was treated after the pour, any issues I had, cuting notes, cost per oz and notes after the cure.

3. Sometimes the seal on the bottle of lye is not the best. I will take a plastic spoon and break up any lumps, if they do not easily unclump then I either throw it away or return it to the store for an exchange. I only had that happen once. Then I throw the spoon away.

I still consider myself a novice.... I learn from each batch I make, and I do love to use the soap I make!

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

Thanks Susie I played around again tonight and lye water got up to 142 I believe. I did break up the clumps no problem. I'll keep those notes and questions in mind as I do things. I keep making little tester batches so I can experiment more with different things. I don't want to do a big batch until I get a stick blender(right now I am mixing all by hand )

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Debbie