Teach Soap

Hi all, I've just cut a small batch of salt bars after only one hour. I expected them to crumble on the edges since I used a tray mould, but I was wondering, how long will they stay crumbly? Will they firm up as they cure? Also I super fatted at 8%, should I have gone up to 20%? I haven't made salt soap before!

I generally superfat my salt bars at 20% to help counteract the drying properties of the salt. I've always used individual molds or a bar mold with separators so I'm not sure about the crumblies.

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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!

I made mine in a log and individual cavities for the experience. Cavities are easiest, but sometimes you don't want that. Mine was very crumble when I went to cut it, I read later that a wire cutter might be better than a knife for cutting. I panicked a little at how crumbly it was, but 24 hours after cutting the bars were smooth and solid. My husband loves them because they are rock hard.

I made mine in a log mold. I had to cut it within 4 hours after pour while it was still hot. Otherwise it would have crumbled.

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

They can be crumbly for... a while. I've never measured. But I know that I take mine out, set them on the rack, and touch as little as possible for a few weeks. In fact, when I make Dead Sea Salt bars (which are even more crumbly) I leave them in the divided mold for a couple of days before taking the dividers out--or I oil the dividers up. They set up probably in under a week.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
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