Teach Soap

Hi. I just received all of my oils to make my first batch of cold process soap! I plan on making it this weekend. I have a question about one of the oils that I ordered - Palm oil. I have read some information on where I need to melt the entire container (mine is a 7 lb container) and stir it before measuring the palm oil. I bought the palm oil from Brambleberry and I am wondering if melting the entire container is necessary. Also, if I have to melt the entire container each time I make soap and how many times can I remelt the oils as it will take me several batches before I use the entire container of Palm?

Thanks!
Maranda

If you got the hydrogenated palm, it doesn't need to be melted. If it's the regular, it's best to melt it all, then section it off into containers, so the stearic doesn't settle to the bottom.

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

Hi there-

How can you tell the difference if it's hydrogenated palm oil or regular?

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

sorry for the double-post

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

Thanks Soapbuddy! So glad I came across this thread. I'm sure you saved me lots of botched batches!! Are there any other oils that should also be melted first?

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

Thank you so much for the replies! I bought the Palm Oil from Brambleberry. I really appreciate all of the help! This board is so helpful. Thanks, Maranda

I hope that's the case then. But if you start having problems with an accerated trace toward the bottom of the bucket, even though the recipe is exactly the same, then it might be the stearic acid that congealed at the bottom of the bucket.

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

Wow, I had no idea about all of this concerning palm oil. I used the very very bottom of my bucket last night and holy cow did that soap trace fast! I thought it was b/c I discounted my water from my usual 38% to 28% of oils, but maybe it was my palm oil. I bought it from Soapies Supplies, so I don't know if it was hydrogenated or not.

Thanks for this good info. I know now to ask. I've got some coming from Soap Making Resource so I'll have to check and see about theirs.

Wow this opens up a whole new can of worms..

I'm getting ready this week to order some 50# blocks, and I really don't have a way to melt 50 pounds LOL, or enough containers to pour it all into.. With out temperatures near 100, it will probably already be melted when it gets here.

Thanks for all the great info, from all the great soapers. I've started reading most of this whole forum from 2008 to present - wow.

Darrell

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