Teach Soap

I have now made three batches of soap and each time it has taken so long to trace. In an effort to not spend a ton of money on a new hobby until I was sure I wanted to stick with it, I did not go out and buy a stick blender.

Overall, my bars are turning out great, but the EFFORT to get them I can see will be prohibitive. Until I can go out and get a stick blender, can you tell me if this amount of time to trace is normal?

Also, I made a batch of the salt bars from the recipe posted on another thread (thanks for posting!) and at one hour it still wasn't at trace, but I was being especially impatient so I stopped stirring. At that point the drops would make pock marks on the surface, but not leave a trail. I added my color and fragrance and then the salt. It didn't get very thick. I covered it partially with a towel and set a small space heater blowing on it (trying to create an "oven"). After about an hour and a half later, it was set. I unmolded and sliced. So far they look great!

I am hoping that there are no long term effects to pouring before I got to trace?

Thanks for you help!!

I would say that's pretty normal without a stick blender, unless you use a fragrance that accelerates trace. Have you thought about maybe looking at a thrift store to see if you could buy a stick blender that's cheap? Just as long as you reach at least a light trace you should be fine.

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

Good for you! Once you get one you'll wonder how you ever made out without it.

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

you can get it in walmart for 10$

I have 3 nice new stick blenders, all brand names. They all came from yardsales for 1 or 2 dollars. And after 3 years of doing this Im still on my first one. Its starting to show its age but we use them pretty hard.

I burnt out my first one already.... but we had it a very, very long time. I was actually thinking ahead and bought one the day after thanksgiving for 7 dollars ... you know that mad rush to get to the bargains! I will have my personal rummage salers be on the look out for them at the sales this summer as well.... prefer to keep one in backup. It would test my patience to wait 2 hours. I'm proud of you Mel for sticking it out.

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

I made my first batch by hand just to see how my Nanna did it. Then ran for the stick blender.

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

i'm pretty sure with hand-stirring you get the workout of a lifetime but I'm too lazy to go through all that lol...stick blender is the Best!

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Yup. Stickblender = best $10 you will ever spend.

Mel

Ditto what Vinca Leaf said. I had a $45 stick blender that busted after the first 3 or 4 batches. I walked into a Walgreens (a pharmacy local to where I live) and purchased a $10 model figuring if it breaks....I'm only out $10. That mixer is now 6 years old and holding up great. $10 is 2 to 3 bars of soap so it will pay for itself in the first batch you use it. Honestly, I still use a wire whisk a lot just to keep the feel.

So far I haven't seen any for $10 ($25 on sale at Fred Meyer), but I haven't yet made a trip to Walmart. I will keep checking! Thanks for the suggestions everyone!!

I bought my first stick blender from Macy's when the Cuisinarts were on sale for $30. (I got tired of stirring for two hours, too!) I wanted to buy a good one so it would last a long time. I've used it maybe ten times and the motor is already threatening to quit on me.
Confucius say....More expensive is not necessarily better.

Marcie

Too bad the stainless steel Braun that I have isn't made any more. It's been going for the last seven years. I also have a back up of Braun.

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