Teach Soap

In fact, I know I did. I got done mixing a small batch of CP soap yesterday and it didn't fill the pan as much as I thought it should. Long story short . . . I'd been adjusting from two recipes and the resulting numbers didn't match. (Moral of story: check with the lye calculator BEFORE doing soap, not after )
So here is my dilemna:
I ended up using 1.05 ounces more of lye and 3.4 ounces more of water than I should have. It traced really nicely, but I need to know if I should: 1) scrap the batch, 2) plan to re-mill it and add more fats 3) use it exclusively for laundry. Am I risking burns if I keep it since the lye content is higher than it needs to be?
Thanks for helping a newbie!
CJ

How big was the batch? If it was small, I would just chuck it.

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

It was small - under two pounds. I have to toss it when my tallow source is not inexpensive . . . though if it is a case of toss expensive ingredients or run the risk of injury, I'll take the loss. I'd made it originally because someone wanted unscented soap for a home-made laundry detergent, and I was hoping it would still be safe for that . . .

With that size of a batch and that much lye you could try it for laundry, but laundry soap is usually made with 0% superfat and it sounds like yours is more than that.

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

_________________
Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

So is re-batching - or hand milling - (once it cures) not a good option?

And how does one get rid of bad soap anyway? (Small pieces down the toilet??)

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

I would throw it out if it you think for sure it is lye heavy.

when you try again, use your lye calculator, and maybe try for a simple cp soap that will only use a couple of oils, or even one oil. My first cp batch I only used one oil, and it was a really soft soap that didn't end up going hard, so it was no loss.

Try getting a hold of the book Linda Inlow - Making soap for fun and profit.
It has 5 really good basic recipes in the start of the book. i can't post them here because of copyright, but if you want to email me, i can send them to you.
staceya1985@y7mail.com

_________________
Stacey - Victoria,Australia.
Photo stream - http://www.flickr.com/photos/msjuiicix/
Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Body-Dessert/122830561107347

Alicia Grosso Soapmaking book is a good one too.

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