Teach Soap

Well, I have finally gathered up the courage to try out CP for the first time... all set, kids in bed, clean kitchen (for once!!). anyway, I melted my oils (Coconut, palm and sunflower) and went off to mix the caustic soda and water. I wanted to get both the oils and lye and water to roughly 100 deg before I mixed them together. the fats and oils were fine of course, but the lye only reached 60 deg! I mixed the water and lye together in a stainless steel bowl in the garden and brought it straight in when the fumes were gone, and when I put the thermometer in it had only reached 60, and didn't budge. I got the impression that there may be problems cooling the stuff down rather than the other way around!!! I tried it again and still the same... only reached 60 deg. Any ideas??

Also, I poured the melted oils into plastic containers... could these be used again?

All in all, not a great first attempt, but I won't fall at the first fence!!!

thanks in advance!!

Emma

p.s. we must have the cleanest drains on our road as I had to pour the lye mixture down the drains each time!

How old is your lye? How big of a batch are you making? If it's only a small batch it won't get as hot. You don't need to have your oils and lye at the same exact temp. Within 10 degrees or so is still ok.

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

Hi irena,
thanks for the reply!

Yes, making a very small batch as it's my first time!! Only 165 gr water and 76 gr Casutic soda, so that' probably it!

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

That's around what, a 1 pound batch? Even those small batches mine usually reaches 120* F. I wish mine was cooler! This batch got to 180*F! Now I have to watch TV and let it cool. Definitely slows down the process either way, too hot or too cool.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

You can fill your sink with cool water and ice and sit the lye mixture in that to help it cool quicker...

Don't forget my temps are in C

_________________
The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I always mix my lye water before I measure out my oils so that it can be cooling off while I'm getting everything else ready.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Your 80*C is 176*F Coolah, thats nice and hot!

Emma, if yours is 60*C that's 140*F and that is plenty hot.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Thanks for all the replies!! yes, that's 60 centigrade... so if my oils and fats cooled to around 60 Deg C as well, it would be OK to mix them both at that point?

Emma

I would go even lower actually between 110-130*F, so 43.3 - 54.4*C. I try for around 115*F (46.1*C).

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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

_________________
The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

Ha ha Coolah its tricky isnt it!

Ive just given up on the conversion & TRYING to teach myself Farenheit. (not pounds & ounces tho! Arrgh! )

Then its always easy to remember soapbuddy's magic 110-115F (i hear an imaginary voice in my head )

OK, so I'll give it another go tonight, wish me luck!!

Ohh I suck at C to F conversion, that's what google is for! I just set my digital thermometer to F so I can get that 115* LOL

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist