Teach Soap

Can someone please tell me the problems of a fast trace? I have a soap (lard, water lye, salt - 1tbs/3.5 po - & sugar) that I'm having a difficult time getting into the last 2 molds without coming out.... weird - lumpy and anything but smooth. I can get it in the 1st 2 pvc pipes, tamp it down and get it smooth and perfect, but by the time I've gotten it to the last 2 molds its clumpy and won't smooth out. I'm thinking I'm using too much salt (mixed with lye water) and its causing problems. Also, I do a very thick trace, could that be the problem? I do cphp btw.

Would someone please explain the reason for tracing and the usages for a thin and thick trace as well as the drawbacks of both? Any help would be appreciated.

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Fast trace can happen with particular recipes and particular fo's. I think of trace as combined. When you see the oils incorporated into the lye mixture so that no oil slick is showing, that's trace. Then there are degrees of trace. You can pour at thin trace, you can half your recipe--- run it through the soap calc again---then you won't have to be pouring into a 3rd and 4th mold. Trace continues on it's own until your mixture is solid so pouring quickly helps too. Have the molds all ready before you combine the oils and lye mix so you can pour immediately.

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Sorry, forgot it was cphp---- don't discount the fo though. I've added fo's at a perfect thin to med trace and had it rice and/or sieze up in seconds! Good luck with your orders!

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[quote="justkate] I do a thick trace with CPHP. ... You can try extra water, superfatting at the end of the cook and not letting the soap overcook but IME there's still a pretty short window in which to work well. Gracefruit has a great HP tutorial along with a link for troubleshooting HP. HTH. Good luck with your soaps for the food baskets. Kind of you to do that. http://gracefruit.blogspot.com/2006/07/ ... hints.html[/quote]

THANKS! The gracefruit blog was just exactly what I needed! I'll try adding extra HOT water like they recommend or superfatting at the end. I didn't know you could do that and would never have thought of it on my own. I agree, I prefer a thick trace but will check to see if I'm overcooking. I really appreciate the information.

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You're very welcome.

One suggestion I would make. If you're putting the soaps in a food basket, I would make sure that they are sealed well so that the food doesn't take on some of the fragrance from the soaps. I'm not sure this would happen, but just a suggestion. Kudos to you!

I agree with Spotted Cat ,Id put the soap in the food baskets last . And wrapped up. What a nice little gift to add.

Spotted Cat and Linda - thanks for the suggestion, its much appreciated. I am deliberately making unscented simple lard soap because I'm concerned about someone having allergies (which they may still have but I feel the chances are less by not scenting them). So, with that and the hardness of the soap I'm doing simple cigar bands (my pastor and I agreed on this as the best method).

Justkate - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! I took your suggestion, increased water by 5% and ended up with 4 FULL and very smooth 2" pvc pipes full. Its beautiful and was sooooooo much easier. Made 44 bars last night, 44 more tonight, and if I have room on my drying rack, I'll make another 44 tomorrow night. So far I have 120 bars and with another 88 it should be enough to help some. Next I get to print & wrap - oh boy!

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Oh good idea on the unscented soap Sun, anyone who receives the basket is sure to get a luxurious bar of soap.

I used some this morning that I made last night and WOW!!! No wonder Mom loves this stuff so much! Talk about creamy!! and as SpottedCat so eloquently put it (thank you!) - luxurious!. Who would of thought that taking fat from pigs, adding water, lye, and a bit of table condiments (salt and sugar) could possibly make something so wonderful! I can't even begin to imagine how amazing this is going to be in a month.

But... then I'm simple minded and prefer the simple things in life. And, I've been told, that I'm just plain kinda odd Maybe I just feel that we (or at least me) get so caught up in the complexities of life that we forget, and therefore don't appreciate, the very simplest of things in life. Sorry, obviously very tired and still have a long night to go.

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I know what you mean about simplicity. My favorite of all my soaps is a two oil unscented HP bastille. Olive oil and castor oil. I made it for one of DH's co-workers who had a bone marrow transplant and whose skin had been ravaged by chemo. It's the mildest, creamiest soap I've ever used. It's great to be able to make something for someone who needs it. Enjoying it as much as she does is icing on the cake.

I'm sure your soap will be very special to the people who receive it. What a wonderful gift! Handmade-with-care simple, yet luxurious soap in their food baskets.