Teach Soap

I've read all the cautions about using Pyrex and other types of tempered glass, but I'm wondering if it isn't okay to use it for melting oil in the microwave, mixing small batches of colorant into base and stuff like that. Am I correct in understanding that it's just taboo for the lye solution? This is my first post here-- love all the help I've gotten from lurking. I'm making my 18th batch of soap right now, waiting for lye and oil to cool a bit more. Soapmaking has become a close second to quilting... we are in trouble now!
Maryjean

Welcome!
You can use pyrex to heat oils. For the lye solution plastic or stainless is a much better choice.

You sound like me...I love to quilt...and soap! I'm guessing from your name that you also have or like cockatoos? I had a Goffin for awhile and he was such a cool bird, but he hated my hubby and oldest son and would go after them.

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

I love it - more 'soaping + fiber' folks! I knit, dye and spin. In fact, I had been away from one of the popular knitting blogs for some time () - went back to visit to catch one of her postings about some handmade soap she bought - turns out she is a huge fan of hand made soap.

Poly-crafting: Its where its at!

I live down the road from a cool quilting shop. Don't need another hobby (up to 4-5 depending how one counts) but love to look at the fabric designs.

ETA: I use glass for melting oils in the microwave.

Just be very careful that you don't overheat the oils in the pyrex from the microwave.

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

Okay, now I can relax!
We have an Umbrella Cockatoo and an African Gray, so our lives are well supervised! The Too sleeps with us in bed and is totally spoiled. The Gray isn't very cuddly but she'll talk your ear off and then some. As far as the quilting, I was a little surprised when I started quilting to see so many fellow quilters listing gardening as their second or third hobby. Now I see that quilters and soapers flock together-- are you gardeners too, like me? I just put a batch of Dream (bb scent) soap to gell and I'm so excited to see how I did with the colorant. I used a sea green color and tried again to do the gradated thing. This time I used a piece of laminated menu (used to have a printing business) cut to fit inside the mold and let the base flow out of the pitcher, onto the laminate. It flowed off in a smooth layer, not falling through to the next layer, or at least not as bad! I'm worse than my grandkids on Christmas morning, waiting for the soap to come out of the molds! Life is GOOD!

I just infused some oil for castile with lavender and chamomile
from my garden. I used to plant herbs for cooking, but more
and more they're planted for lotions and now soaps.

I've never quilted, but I could knit a car with a working motor

My Mom (may she RIP) was an expert quilter, knitter, crocheter, ham radio buff, and craft person. I've made a couple of quilts and knitted a whole bunch of scarves (which I donate to the kids' homeless shelter) and crocheted hundreds of aphgans (most of which were donated to St. Jude's Ranch for Children in Boulder City, NV. I used to garden and will eventually get back to that when I get out of NV. Right now I simply grow weeds and scorpions. Neither one is pleasing. I am a baker -- have baked my own bread for 30 years. My new hobby is learning soap making (although I also enjoy making bath bombs.

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

Lye etches Pyrex given enough time, so don't use it with that, OK?