7 Pawz Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Is there such a thing as adding colorant before trace or after trace in cp soap? Sorry for the question, but I'm wondering if I should figure the SAP of the disbursement oil that I'd use, or take it from the initial oils in my batch, which is what I've been doing and seems to work fine.thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 It depends. If I am going to color my whole batch a single color I add my colorant to my oils before adding in my lye (I do this with TD for every batch and then additional color if I want it to be a single colored soap) If I'm going to color for swirl I usually put my colorant in separate containers and add only enough oil to get it to mix (always an oil I have in the batch already, but not subtracted from the batch and not added in to the soapcalc - this way it just adds to the superfat but not by a significant amount) then pour emulsified soap batter into the colorant containers, mix well and then proceed with my soaping. I hope this makes sense. I'm not very good at explaining things, sorry... (Visual is usually always better for me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Pawz Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share Posted October 8, 2014 It depends. If I am going to color my whole batch a single color I add my colorant to my oils before adding in my lye (I do this with TD for every batch and then additional color if I want it to be a single colored soap) If I'm going to color for swirl I usually put my colorant in separate containers and add only enough oil to get it to mix (always an oil I have in the batch already, but not subtracted from the batch and not added in to the soapcalc - this way it just adds to the superfat but not by a significant amount) then pour emulsified soap batter into the colorant containers, mix well and then proceed with my soaping. I hope this makes sense. I'm not very good at explaining things, sorry... (Visual is usually always better for me) Thank you, that helps out a lot. Especially with the swirling issue--- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I do something similar. If its one solid color I add the colorant directly into the oils before adding my lye solution. If I am doing several colors I put the colors into seperate bowls and use about a tablespoon of oil from my soap oils that way I am not adding in any extra oil and don't need to adjust my lye. I have done it both ways, before adding my lye solution, and after. I have noticed no difference other than it works better for me to do it before adding my lye solution. Either way, I always do so long before trace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Pawz Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 I do something similar. If its one solid color I add the colorant directly into the oils before adding my lye solution. If I am doing several colors I put the colors into seperate bowls and use about a tablespoon of oil from my soap oils that way I am not adding in any extra oil and don't need to adjust my lye. I have done it both ways, before adding my lye solution, and after. I have noticed no difference other than it works better for me to do it before adding my lye solution. Either way, I always do so long before trace.Thank you, that also helps out, as I tried both ways, just trying to be sure I'm going in the right direction, just working with no more than 2 colors till I get it right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Pawz Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 I guess I'm not adding enough TD to the OO portion of my soap oils, I'm shooting for a whiter soap, but with the OO I am getting a nice cream color soap, so I thought I'd try soap oils with a white base to it such as lard, crisco and coconut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Be careful when adding TD - it can cause what is called "glycerin rivers" if you add too much water with the TD and it gels pretty hot. It could also be your FO. I've started using Vanilla Stabilizer in every batch that I use FO in whether the FO has a vanilla content or not and my soaps have been whiter and stayed whiter by doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Pawz Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Be careful when adding TD - it can cause what is called "glycerin rivers" if you add too much water with the TD and it gels pretty hot. It could also be your FO. I've started using Vanilla Stabilizer in every batch that I use FO in whether the FO has a vanilla content or not and my soaps have been whiter and stayed whiter by doing that. Sounds like another thing I need to order I did notice the last fo I used has just a small amount of yellow in it, but guess it is enough to make a difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 It's up to you. Some people don't like using the VS because it is just another "chemical" that we add to our soap. And OOB it has a horrid chemical smell, but you don't detect that at all in the end product. I don't mind using it, as I would rather my colors stay as true as they can, but some will turn no matter if you use a VS or not. (there are so many exceptions to the rules of making soap, it's almost as frustrating as the English language. LOL) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I use water soluble TD and add it directly into my lye water. I never use more than a tsp PPO so I have not experienced and glycerin rivers. But pics of soap with them look kind of cool so I don't think I would mind if I did get some. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I use water soluble TD and add it directly into my lye water. I never use more than a tsp PPO so I have not experienced and glycerin rivers. But pics of soap with them look kind of cool so I don't think I would mind if I did get some.I have the water soluble too, but add to my oils. I've never gotten clumps, and the only time I've gotten the rivers is when I'm using a full water recipe that I force gel with. I usually only soap at 33% but when sometimes will use 38% and that's when I have gotten them - and you are right, for my soap anyway, the rivers have enhanced the soap IMO. Once it happened in my summer storms soap and it really did look like a bit of lightning in a summer stormy sky. I liked that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I just realized that I soap almost always soap with a water discount so maybe thats why I have not experienced the glycerin rivers? Also, I make milk soaps and never force gel. My soaps with added honey are the only ones that get hot and gel on their own. I have to watch I don't add more than 1 tsp PPO of honey or my soap starts cracking on the top in the mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Oh I'll bet that's why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Pawz Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 My TD is oil disbursed, I don't think I added enough on the last batch, but I added it to the OO that was part of my recipe---Thanks everyone, your suggestions help out a lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 I normally use 1 tsp TD per 2 lbs of oil. But I have used it at 1 tsp PPO. But I prefer the water soluble as it dissolves so easily in the lye solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Pawz Posted October 21, 2014 Author Share Posted October 21, 2014 (edited) I normally use 1 tsp TD per 2 lbs of oil. But I have used it at 1 tsp PPO. But I prefer the water soluble as it dissolves so easily in the lye solution.Hmm, think I'll try that when I run out of my TD, does it matter what order how its added in the lye solution? Edited October 21, 2014 by 7 Pawz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 First I add my lye, make sure its dissolved completely, then I add in the TD and stir. Just make sure you stir in the TD really well and again just before you pour your lye solution into your oils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 Pawz Posted October 21, 2014 Author Share Posted October 21, 2014 First I add my lye, make sure its dissolved completely, then I add in the TD and stir. Just make sure you stir in the TD really well and again just before you pour your lye solution into your oils.Thank you, going to try that way It might work out better for me for my one color batches than what I've tried to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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