Teach Soap

I am a newbie to cold process soap...wanted to say hello to everyone and ask a question.

I have only made a 2lb batch of soap from the kit that you get from Sunfeathers, the Vanilla Almond.
It is looking nicely and ready next week....
But, if anyone has any tips about recipes containing, Canola, Olive Oil, Castor, Coconut, Palm, Raw Honey, GM, and Oatmeal....
please share. I will be making my first batch soon...

BTW, thanks for this website...I have learned alot in the last several days. All of you guys seems very nice and respectful!!

Blessings to you all!!

Blessings222

Welcome Blessings. I'm reasonably new to serious soaping, so I'll let the experts fill you in on the oils and additives. There are many helpful and giving soapers in this forum, who can help you with anything you need to know. This is a very rewarding and creative pastime. I'm sure you'll love it as much as we all do.

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Suzanne
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1135479737
http://stuffandnonsense-essebee.blogspot.com/

Thank you for your reply SueBre!!

Welcome to the addiction Blessings!!! Nice to have you here.

A few tidbits:
googles and gloves, always.
never try more than one new thing at a time.
castor oil above 5% makes for soft soap
a little sugar in you lye water improves lather
a little salt makes a harder bar
learn what "gel" means and how to control it because it affects the look & feel of your soap.
never, ever, ever, ever......use aluminum
use a "light hand" when including additives (oatmeal, etc.)
wait until you've made a few "regular" batches that turn out ok before trying something new.
opinions, like recipes in this forum vary. when in doubt....listen to soapbuddy.
BrambleBerry hosts this forum so patronize them. Besides, they have the best quality ingredients.

Good luck.....and again, Welcome!!

SuperSoaper...
Thank you very much! I will certainly keep all of it in mind..

Welcome--- this is a friendly site--- good choice

Ditto " listen to soapbuddy" -- more experience and knowledge in her than most of us combined!

do some searches here on gel and goatmilk soaping.... here's one to get you started:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1522&start=0&hilit=goatmilk+soap

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You may be only one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person

Welcome and thank you knine.

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

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Suzanne
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1135479737
http://stuffandnonsense-essebee.blogspot.com/

Welcome , my best advice for newbees is to read the old posts in your spare time. There is a world of great information and stuff youd never think of if you hadn't been there and done that. It will answer tons of your questions before you even know you have them.

Ok Suzanne

I caught that myself after it posted....and hoped nobody else would see it!!! Should have know it would be you!!!!

Now everybody watch my mouth and repeat after me; Googles er….I mean Goggles !!

Maybe you meant ...

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- Mickey!

I want to thank everyone who replied, I appreciate all the great info...!! Have a BLESSED day!!

Blessings- I have to agree with Linda...I spent weeks on here reading EVERYTHING posted...learned more than I ever needed to know to make my first batch, but it was so worth it:) And- don't be afraid of it! You're more likely to make a mistake if you're terrified...just go into it being cautious and making sure everything is done in its proper order, and you'll be fine! I made my first batch only a week ago, and so far haven't had a problem....waiting anxiously to try it- 3 weeks to go! lol
Mandi

Blessings, welcome.

Before I started to actually make soap I read almost every post in this forum. It has so much information and is 100% invaluable. If you ever have a recipe question you can usually get an almost immediate response. I give so much credit to this forum (and soapbuddy's advice) for the wonderful batches I've made so far.

As far as a recipe with your particular oils, I would go into Soapcalc (or a different lye calculator, I prefer Soapcalc) and play around. is a very good video explaining how to use Soapcalc, as I know the first time I visited Soapcalc I was completely lost. All of her videos are very good, actually. I think a lot of the more seasoned soapmakers don't pay much attention to the "ranges" part of soapcalc but as a newbie it has not steered me wrong yet.

HTH.

p.s. - about.com also has some great information on soapmaking.

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