Teach Soap

I am very new to CP soap making. I took a class 2 weeks ago and have seen many videos including those on Brambleberry about CP. There was something the instructor in my class did that made me wonder. We mixed the lye in the water let it cool...normal. But (we made tallow based soap) she only had us melt the tallow to about half melted. She said if you melt it to liquid it takes too long for the soap to harden. But from what I've read and seen in videos isn't that part of the soponofication process? I'm wondering if we really made soap or just mixed lye water into soft tallow? Do the butters/oils in soap (& tallow) need to be melted completely to make soap? Another thought, the tallow didn't melt more once the lye was added...so that didn't seem to be the reason behind her logic (like when lye is added to frozen milk to prevent scorching it). The soap we made doesnt zap the tounge and it smells like soap. But still I wonder? Any thoughts are appreciated.

I'm not quite sure I understand what she had you do. It sounds like she was doing room temperature CP. Adding hot lye solution to room temperature butters/oils melts them, or partially will. It's purpose isn't to harden the soap faster though. It saves time melting oils/butters and waiting for melted oils and lye solution to cool to the right temperature.

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

If you melt it to liquid it does NOT take longer for the soap to harden. I've never heard of this and I have been making soap for 42 years. Some people melt tallow til it's almost melted because tallow will have a smell if you heat it up too much. Since you cooled off the lye water, the oils work best if you gently melt them, then let them cool to about 110. Combine the lye water and the oils when they are both about 110 degrees. The temps don't have to be exact.

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

I didn't know that would help with the tallow smell. Thanks, Irena!

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

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

It must have been room temperature CP. It just seemed odd that she didn't have us melt the tallow. I will try out the soap this weekend (it will have cured 3 weeks then) and see how it does. Thanks!

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Everyday I wake up is a good day!

I watched a video of some women making soap outdoors. They specifically didn't melt any of their tallow, just added it to the hot lye water and let it melt away.

Seems odd to cool the water and THEN add tallow though.

By the way, adding the tallow and oils to the lye seems to work perfectly fine for their soap, if you're interested in trying that out.

You should always add lye to the tallow. Otherwise you can get popping and airborne lye.