Apple orchard is not recommended for Soaping
Soapmaking
- Thread starter Yooper
- Start date
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Buy micas not soap pigments.
JONNYROTTEN
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the advise, I'll take out the apple orchard and get micas....anything else on the list I should revise before I order? Any sub for the apple orchard?
Your the soap guru and what you tell me to do...I'm doin
Edit:
Should I get involved with clays and additives or work my way up to that level?
If yes to the clays is there a starting point or is every bar different kind of thing...I was trying to get marble looking soap
It's really up to you how complicated you want to get.
OP
OP
That's a perfect point!
And each soapmaker is different. Some people who are "simple" like me- the reason I started making my own is to avoid all the crap in commercial soaps. So for me personally, I don't use colors (except sometimes coccoa for color) or fragrance oils at all. But if I was selling it, or trying to "convert" a bath and body works type of person, I might try something fancier.
I really like my plain soap bars. They are rich and nourishing to my skin, relatively cheap (since I render my own tallow) and that's why I make my own. I do use some essential oils, but not many. So even those do not have a strong scent.
Others may prefer color or fragrances.
JONNYROTTEN
Well-Known Member
I like playin around with the colors and would like to get into fancy stuff. Not to sell just to make it more interesting while I'm making it. Putting an artist spin on kind of thing. I've made 5 batches so far at its gettiing boring doing the same thing over and over....And my wife likes pickin up the soap and smelling them. So between the two of use not going have much plain soap
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
thunderwagn
Well-Known Member
As far as tutorials go, and ideas on color and methods, the soap queen has some good tutorials. https://www.soapqueen.com/
...have to add...brambleberry's oatmeal milk and honey is one of my favorites. Excellent choice imo!!
...have to add...brambleberry's oatmeal milk and honey is one of my favorites. Excellent choice imo!!
I like playin around with the colors and would like to get into fancy stuff. Not to sell just to make it more interesting while I'm making it. Putting an artist spin on kind of thing. I've made 5 batches so far at its gettiing boring doing the same thing over and over....And my wife likes pickin up the soap and smelling them. So between the two of use not going have much plain soap
That's how it starts....
JONNYROTTEN
Well-Known Member
That blue one with peaks is really cool. That and the top one is the marble look I'm trying to do
They are look wonderful, as always Melana!
@Melana, such beautiful work, and I love your Soapworks stamp! How is that applied? (from a soapmaking dummy cuz I've never made any and have no idea how you did that!)
Melana, those soaps are superbo!
Thank you!!!! I do try.... I still blame Yoop for starting this.
The stamp works just like a rubber stamp and you tap it into the soap with a mallet.
The stamp works just like a rubber stamp and you tap it into the soap with a mallet.
Easy way to do it is to color some of the soap batter, pour back into your uncolored batter randomly, and pour the soap into the mold.
OP
OP
Ahhhhh.... Duplicate.
JONNYROTTEN
Well-Known Member
Great...I'm trying that on the next batch!
Great. Please post pictures....
OP
OP
I started this thread so long ago, so I wanted to post a little update. Back then, I only did cold process but for the last few years I've done mainly hot process, except for salt bars.
We use only my homemade soap in bathing, washing dishes, shampoo, etc. I like to use liquid soap in soap dispensers in the bathroom and kitchen and that's a bit of a different process. Today I made some more liquid soap, and thought I would post a picture:
Liquid soap is a hot process, and the paste is made and then diluted with distilled water. It's a bit different because the ingredients differ in how they act, and you can use far more castor oil (for example) but less saturated oils. It also uses potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) instead of sodium hydroxide. Homemade liquid soap tends to be very thin, almost like water, so my "secret" is to use a mix of both types of lye, to get a liquid soap with some body.
We use only my homemade soap in bathing, washing dishes, shampoo, etc. I like to use liquid soap in soap dispensers in the bathroom and kitchen and that's a bit of a different process. Today I made some more liquid soap, and thought I would post a picture:
Liquid soap is a hot process, and the paste is made and then diluted with distilled water. It's a bit different because the ingredients differ in how they act, and you can use far more castor oil (for example) but less saturated oils. It also uses potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) instead of sodium hydroxide. Homemade liquid soap tends to be very thin, almost like water, so my "secret" is to use a mix of both types of lye, to get a liquid soap with some body.
I have a yard sale crock pot I purchased just for hot process soapmaking.
I'd like to be able to make a really good mechanic's soap with a lot of scrubbing material for when I get done working on cars and whatnot. We have something at work that is very good at cleaning, smells almost neutral, and leaves my hands feeling soft and not dry.
I'd like to be able to make a really good mechanic's soap with a lot of scrubbing material for when I get done working on cars and whatnot. We have something at work that is very good at cleaning, smells almost neutral, and leaves my hands feeling soft and not dry.
I have to admit Yooper, I don't wear the eye protection, gloves, etc. when handling the lye. (as I typed this, I realized i've got a 12" scar on my right forearm from a chemical burn I got last weekend - trisodium phosphate).
Hey, gloves are almost mandatory
OP
OP
I often don't- but this particular recipe and technique is very "splashy" and I learned the hard way to try to protect myself with long sleeves and gloves and googles with liquid soap making!
You're wicked smaht
OP
OP
Well, if I really was wicked smaht, I wouldn't have had to learn that one the hard way..................
OP
OP
After sitting in the crockpot overnight, the soap is ready to be put in jars and sequestered: (sorry for the sideways photo- I can't fix it no matter how I try!)
The soap is not clear (yet) but as it sits it will drop clear and there will be some sediment on the bottom. The jars here are the same exact recipe, but made about a year apart:
If you are interested in making liquid soaps, gels, body wash, etc, it's fun and uses the same equipment as bar soap, except for the different form of lye (potassium hydroxide, KOH). There are some differences, but nothing really difficult to manage.
The soap is not clear (yet) but as it sits it will drop clear and there will be some sediment on the bottom. The jars here are the same exact recipe, but made about a year apart:
If you are interested in making liquid soaps, gels, body wash, etc, it's fun and uses the same equipment as bar soap, except for the different form of lye (potassium hydroxide, KOH). There are some differences, but nothing really difficult to manage.
Wow, just like bottling beer - let it sit long enough and you'll be rewarded with beautiful clear product!
JONNYROTTEN
Well-Known Member
I went to Michael's and got some fragrance and some coloring. I've only used essential oils and powered coloring.
Any advise for this stuff?
It's Not essential oil
I'm looking to make something to give out at Christmas. The spice cake and cinnamon smell like Christmas and was thinking of using those. Only have 1/2 OZ of each for 2 bread loaf size bars. I could do one and one or mix together in one loaf pan (1 oz) if 1/2 oz isn't enough for one bread pan
Any advise for this stuff?
It's Not essential oil
I'm looking to make something to give out at Christmas. The spice cake and cinnamon smell like Christmas and was thinking of using those. Only have 1/2 OZ of each for 2 bread loaf size bars. I could do one and one or mix together in one loaf pan (1 oz) if 1/2 oz isn't enough for one bread pan
