Teach Soap

None of the soaps are lye heavy and they are really nice soaps once fully cured. I just don't like that it gets so thick so fast. I may just keep it to use for non swirled soaps and order some from BB. My local supplier unfortunately went out of business.

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Haven

That's a shame! I'd get some trusted lye and try it out just to be sure. Let us know how it works out!

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Linda

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

I have had many pounds of lye from ED over the years and have never had an issue with their lye. It is usually a recipe, the temp of the mixture, or an eo/ fo that makes for a fast trace, not a particular brand of lye. But, if you believe it is a problem with the lye then you really should contact them.

I have been soaping for over 30 years and I have probably soaped at every temp there is. I agree with Irena, reheating lye is dangerous and should not be done. I do not take the temp either, I feel the containers. I think you have better control when the lye and the batter oils are within 5 degrees of each other, whether they are cooler or hotter. That being said, I also think that you have a better chance of messing up, achieving false trace, when you mix too cool. From what I have been told, room temp is usually considered around 105-110, and I do not recommend going lower than until you are in an experimental state of mind.
Personally, I prefer to soap hot, as I do not have all day to wait on trace and would never want to mix for 20-30 minutes a batch! I have pretty quick moving recipes and prefer to have all said and done in minutes whenever possible. And I always gel, but like everything else, much of soaping technique is personal choice and the way that you learn. I do soap a bit cooler and use slower moving recipes when I want to do intricate techniques that take more time, or when I get side-tracked in the middle of soaping, but generally speaking I soap around 120 F. I say try different ways and see what floats your boat. Then, remain open to trying more things and using some different techniques at different times. Variety, the spice of life and all that jazz!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

I think I finally figured out what was wrong. I recalculated my recipe for full water. Normally I do a 33% lye solution but with full water it is a 26% lye solution. It took a couple of minutes to trace and I was able to seperate, color, and swirl with no problem. Thank goodness! I guess there are different requirements for different brands, maybe? I don't know but I will stick with what works.

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Haven

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Linda

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

Well, this is old, but I'll add my belated 2 cents LOL I've been using ED lye for almost a year, and I will NOT be getting it again. I buy food quality lye and have had a couple of bottles sent to me with dead bugs mixed in with the lye. When I contacted them I was blamed for the bugs and basically told that my work area must be filthy. I keep it laboratory clean. All surfaces cleaned with 97% isopropyl to minimize microbes (same way you would clean the surfaces in a microbiology lab/ workplace lab). They replaced 1 bottle, and haven't replied to any further communication.

Trying to find a new place to get lye, but so far haven't found anything. Not sure what I'll do once I finish this stuff.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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

I don't think I will reorder from them either. I still have 4 pounds left though and I don't like to waste ingredients. The batch I made the other day is still so soft that I can't get it off the bottom of the mold. I would like to try maybe a 30% lye solution but I am scared it will trace fast again. I don't know. It's craziness I tell ya!

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Haven

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

You're welcome Heather. I am down to the last 10 lbs. or so. I'll have to drive down to Los Angeles and pick up another bag.

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

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

I usually buy 10-20 lbs at a time. But I usually grab it on sale and only spend $40-$50 for the lye, and get free shipping on top of that. Going to be hard to find another company with deals like that.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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