Teach Soap

Hi all - I'm having trouble with micas clumping in my MP. I'm very new at this soap making hobby. Still learning. The 2 methods that I have tried are: dumping the mica in the M&P while I'm melting it in the microwave. The other way, putting the mica into a small dish and spritzing it with alcohol and then putting it into the melted MP. Both ways I'm having problems with some of the mica settling to the bottom of the mold. Any other suggestions? Is there a way that I can make a liquid dye from micas that I can use a dropper? Does that work any better?

Try mixing it with a bit of glycerin and then add it to your soap.

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www.crazykbathandbody.etsy.com

Thank eelyak! I checked out your website, awesome soap!

Another thing that you can do is after you melt your soap and add the mica in and mix it together a little then spray the top of the soap with some rubbing alcohol making it much easier to mix and it eliminates clumping!
hope i helped!
AmplifyMe

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www.crazykbathandbody.etsy.com

Another thing to try, along with the other tips, is to make sure the MP is liquid enough. If it is too thick (cool) I find micas get a bit clumpy. I don't mean to overheat it, but just make sure it is thin enough for the powder to disperse well.

And, coupled with that, if you pour too hot, the mica will fall to the bottom during setting.

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Goldenearthgirl

I've had good luck with egg beater attachments with an electric blender. I use a double boiler though and mix micas and fragrance oil just as soon as the last of the base melts and pour it. The micas stay suspended really well, but botanicals? Fuggedaboutit...right to the bottom.

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At night I lay in bed looking up at the stars and I think to myself.......I really need to fix my roof.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm am learning so much from all of you!

I found that the more I stir the better they distribute. I also will "corner" a clump against the side of the container I am melting in and smush it with my spoon. Then just scrape it off the side and stir some more. If you want your botanicals to suspend, you have to stir and stir and stir until it is almost too cool to pour. When it just gets gloopy. Anne-Marie knows the proper term but I call it gloopy. LOL! Be ready to pour fast.

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Haven

Glycerin works great, I usually add mine to my fragrance oil. However you need to know how much of each you want because if you make it too light you will need more fragrance to add more.... once you have used each color once or twice though you can get it on the first go.

That has always worked great for me, no clumps at all.

i usually put some color into some type of container, spritz with alcohol, and make it into "liquid" form as best as possible. this works well for me.

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~Shell

dragonlady- I completely agree! That also works wonders!

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Come check out the shop!
http://www.amplifyme.etsy.com
and the blog!
http://www.amplifymesoapco.blogspot.com