Teach Soap

What is too hot? What is too cold? What is just right?

In BB's tutorial videos A-M says to get the lye and oils within 10F degrees of each other and mixed with 135 & 145... But I also see a lot of people talking about lower temperatures at 110ish...

I hear a lot about gelling and how you need to insulate and get the soap really hot - but at the same time I see pictures of people's soap that got too hot and volcano'd!

I know gelling isn't *needed* but I don't want half-way ring soap and gelled soap looks really nice with some of the pigment colors.

So for regular Cold Process soap (not using honey or milk) with just basic ingredients such as coconut/olive/palm/castor oils - what is the average/idea temperature to mix and trace at?
What temp should it be at for gelling?
What is TOO hot?
What is TOO cold?
If it's a matter of personal opinion or technique - then what temp do you soap at and why is it your preference?

There's a lot of varying information so I guess I am confuzzled and want to make sure I get it "just right."

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~*~ Jennifer ~*~

I like to soap around 100-110, and I do gel most all my batches without any problem or dark rings. I think that usually is a problem that stems from your fragrance oils or liquids.

When I first started I used the beginner kit from BB, and the instructions said around 130, which I did for my first few batches. Those were the batches I had the most trouble with misbehaving. Once I lowered my temps I rarely if ever have troubles with my mixture. I also do a lot more FO and ingredients research now than I did when I first started.

Some people do still soap certain recipes at higher temps, like if your batch was made up of a majority of solid oils like lard, crisco, butters.

Make a couple small batches to experiment. I think you will find you like the 100 degree mark area.

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Laura<3

I go by hand feel for both oils and lye water. I would say the temps are around 110.

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

When does it get too low? Or it will just start getting solid/chunky again?

I did a couple batches so far at the 130's, I did notice it partially gelled.

If I do it at 110 will it gel? Because I wanted to try colors and I liked how they were more vibrant at the gel stage -- but I wasn't sure how hot it should be and how hot is "too" much that it will have issues.

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~*~ Jennifer ~*~

I use a combo of oils/butters. The mixture will start to solidify if I let it get too low. Depending on all your ingredients and scents used, I would say you should have no problem gelling a batch that you mixed at 110 degrees.

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

Thanks for the confirmations!

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~*~ Jennifer ~*~

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

I soap around 110 and then force gel (usually by cpop) to avoid the partial gel ring. I try to soap at about 100 for goat's milk and honey soaps....but i am not usually that patient!

I have more problems when I have soaped higher than 130. My best results have been around 120 or lower. I have even tried soaping everything at room temp and had decent results, although the process had a few bumps in it.

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Dawn

For CP, I do 100*F - 110*F. I tried about 88*F once and plenty of the vetiver/amber combo in the soap "precipitated" out of the soap while it was in the mold.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

What happens if the oils are quite different in temps?

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