Teach Soap

My latest batch, a split 6 lb, was the first one I used beeswax in, at 1%. I dropped my castor to account for the needed 1%. The unscented 4 lb portion traced quite quickly, the coconut scented 2 lb portion refused to go further than a light trace. 30 mins with the stick blender, then 30 mins resting and 5-10 more mins with the stick. Only light trace. I did my spoon swirl anyhow and put it in the fridge. After 24 hours I unmolded it, the top was nice and firm... the bottom was VERY soft, like room temperature butter. This is the one I tested zap on, the mold had clear liquid in the bottom.. it was very very zappy! I've left it to sit, prolly for a couple days.

Any idea why it is soooo soft?

35% evoo
35% lard
20% coconut
4% castor
1% beeswax

The unscented is very soft too, but not as soft. It was gelled though. Very odd that this batch is so extremely soft!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

The only thing that I can think of is that ungelled soap takes longer to saponify, but you should have been able to reach trace. I use beeswax regularly and have had no problems. Is it possible that you OO is adultarated?

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

Its the same costco stuff I've been using for a while now. One of the batches did gel and is still very soft.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I presume that you recalculated your recipe? How much did you superfat?

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

7% as always. Checked and double checked my recipe, made sure I added everything. No idea whats up.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

This is grasping at straws, but which coconut oil did you use? 92 degree? Fractionated or??? Have you checked your scale recently?

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

I use a virgin coconut oil, same brand as every batch I've made. Scale is checked before each batch because I tend to leave it laying around and I always expect it to get chipped or messed up some other way. The gelled batch is getting there now, I turned it on its side so the bottom has some air flow. The ungelled (scented) batch is still soft, I turned it on its side too and there was more water underneath it, very very zappy water. Not sure if is is leaching or if it is lye contaminated condensation.

As an aside, I used the beeswax to see if it affected ash, and even with the wax and an alcohol spritz the confetti batch (4 lb) has a thick layer of ash! The batch from the fridge has no ash with the same treatment. Hrm.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

At what temp did you soap at?

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

Around 110 *F.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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

Me too! I cut a little slice off the 2 lb one, it is really too soft, but the spoon swirl looks wonderful! I cut one bar off the confetti batch too, the outside was nice and hard, the middle is too soft now though, so I will finish cutting it in a couple days. The inside of both is zapless, as is the outside of the confetti batch. The scented batch though, the outside is zappy. We'll see what happens in a few days I guess!

I just noticed that I forgot the 5% shea in my recipe above hehe, oops!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Still too soft to cut. Must learn this patience thing you've spoken of Irena. I'd go in there and blow on the sucker if it'd speed things up LOL. A watched soap log never firms up huh?

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Any chance you just messed up and mis-measured the lye or something?

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

Too much water?

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!