Teach Soap

Okay I have heard of master batching from experienced soaper's and from websites and forums on web blog tutorials. What is it? How can I do this and how much more dangerous is it?

You premix a certain amount of oils or butters in a bucket, so they are ready at a moments notice. This works if you have a standard recipe and a certain % strength lye solution. That way you can take out whatever amount of the premixed oils that you need and know how much lye water is needed to saponify this amount without it being lye heavy. If you are just starting out, I would measure your oils and/or butters as you need them. Then make up your lye water.

I make a lot of soap, but don't masterbatch. I feel there are too many things that can go wrong. I also use beeswax in my soap, which solidifies the oils.

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

I just recently did what I would call a modified master batch or maybe production line is a better name for it. Was going to make 3 batches of soap, all the same recipe. I got out 3 large containers and measured first the CO for each one, then the babassu oil, then the cocoa butter etc. Two of them I covered with plastic wrap and the one left I made my batch of soap. Then each day I took one and made my soap. This way I did not have to get out all of my oils again and again. My DH was amazed at how quickly the 2nd and 3rd batches went.

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

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

I always master batch - it drives me crazy to measure out all that same stuff over and over.
I have two of these: http://www.soapmelters.com/SW-70-Gallon ... p/sw70.htm

NO, I didn't pay anywhere near that for them - I got them used from a guy who was getting out of the biz. I also got a stirring attachment that I use on whichever melter needs it.
I measure out large quantities - a different recipe in each melter. That way, I am ready to soap most any time.
The thermostats are quite precise - so I set them at the temp I want, or turn them off or down if I won't be making soap that day.

I have a heavy duty floor scale with a detachable display, so I just put the pot under the spout and draw off what I need for that mould or moulds.

It is a pretty good sized investment (even tho I got a bargain!), but it has made soaping a lot more fun, and TONS easier.

Before I got my babies, I had large pots that I would measure out several batches worth in. Even that made a huge difference in production. I highly recommend even a smaller scale mast batch setup as a great way to preserve your sanity

The fun part for me is actually making the soap. Masterbatching my oils makes it more fun! For lye solution, I do all the lye solutions the morning I'm going to soap with them, usually individually.

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Linda

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

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www.fostersfields.ca
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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist