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Hello, We have been making soap off and on for a few years now for home use. love the boards here...so informative but we have been computerless and without net even if we did have a comp We have been trying to do research on how to accurately test PH of our bars we use the soap around the house but people have been asking for a bar now and then but I dont want to hand -any- our without having some sort of documentation of the bar being safe..dont want to hurt our friends :smiley2: we do have ph strips from a local herb-type store but ive read about a liquid solution online at the library and one of my arborists friends has told me about digital ph testers and we were just wondering which would do the job the best price and time isnt an issue..we are very slowly ramping up to selling soap on the side later on and are accumulating tools for the plunge into business (sorry for rambling...just read back and noticed there want a solid question in there) what is the best/most accurate PH testing system for soapers? thank you for everything

ill drop henryk a message and thank yall very much for the replies

I was just wondering if anyone hand any experience with rendering bayberry wax, or knew of a source for information, or even just made candles with bayberry wax. anything would be greatly appriciated(if thats how you spell it) thanks

oh yeah! the walmart here is filled to the brim with those baskets too. they have some great ideas for fillers in the baskets...massagers, sponges, manicure and pedicure sets, lotions, candles and bubble bath and oils...makes me ill really. and yes, they are of much lower quality than what we would by hand...and not nearly as pretty and/or original. my boyfriend and i are going to make some gift baskets as soon as i can find a good deal on baskets somewhere online. I'm hoping we might be able to give walmart and other stores a run for their money on the prices...if not...oh well...

please excuse the stupid question, but, can you rebatch in a crockpot?

i dunno about hot proccess in crockpots...i only do cold process so far...but anyway, i use my crock to bring my oils up to temp and it's navy blue and it does great so far.

thanx everyone for the positive comments on my firsties...i appreciate it very much. i'm gonna go ahead and start planning for easter and st. patrick's day...anyone have any ideas for scents?

ya know, barnaby, why not go ahead and plan for something fresh for the next holidays? i don't make bathbombs or fizzies or anything like that...just cp soap so far. but i had a neat idea. i'll look around a bit to see if i can find something to make the particular shape for you (maybe some of those flexible, shaped ice trays?)...but here's my idea: why not make a short string of christmas light shaped bombs or fizzies attatched to the string with plastic ornament caps?? it would be quite different and might sell...well....at least i've never seen anything like it yet. and maybe those clear plastic ornaments could be filled with bath salts? and sold in sets depending on sizes? just an idea. maybe after i get some more experience with soap i should give some other b&b product a try....hmmm. well, i'm glad you found what you were looking for...happy bombing.

this is my first batch. i was soooo nervous that it wouldn't turn out right...but i love how it came out. it's colored with a marigold crayon (figured i'd give it a shot....not bad for a first timer), and i ground up some oatmeal and almonds at the last minute and added it at trace with about a half ounce of honey FO. i've had people tell me it looks and smells more like something you'd eat than something you'd bathe with. here's my second batch. i wasn't as happy with it as i was with the other two but it smells divine. since my first attempt with dying with a crayon came out fine i tried it again with magenta and a bit of violet. it got a light pink tint but left speckles of un-desolved crayon. it doesn't look awful...but it looks more like cotton candy or a brick of funky flavored icecream. i used a cardboard box lined with wax paper...i think i like the pvc molds better...it was too hard to try to get all of the bubbles from between the top of the soap and the plastic wrap for curing. this is my last batch (3rd). it's my first attempt at a swirl....came out o.k. i guess. used cocoa powder to dye it and left the swirl natural. unfortunately it didn't leave the cocoa scent i hoped it would...but i'll know better next time.

this pic is prolly sort of close up..and this will be my first time posting a pic...so please bear with me and there is air bubbles and patches of motteling...and layer runover and all kinda bad stuff..and everyone but me likes it...guess they are lookin at it different the wrinkles i was talking about are on the top part...you can see them where the flash is glaring

just had a quick question about tempatures...first few the layers after the first cooled so quick they were rustic-ish so this time i made sure my second and third pour were hot enough to remelt the wax on the mold...but when i unmolded it.. the first pour, that was like 180, wrinkled up sort of like a rustic....it didnt have rings like what my cold pours usually do. it was just wrinkly. the other two layers were just find...smooth and everything cept a few small patches of motteling...but could i have poured it too hot..or just let it cool to fast in that cold room? thanks

well if one invests in titanium dioxide...should it be the oil based type or water based...or does it matter?

will the clay do the same?

most definitely it is! (no matter where you got it)

good idea, blandfarm!

it's ok, grasshopper, breathe....it's not the end of the world. *back pats* not all of us succeed the first time....i'm sure there have been many who didn't get it right after many tries. i'm one of the newbs myself so i may not be capable of helping you as much as some of the vets in here....but i can give you plenty of moral support. i'm not up on all the acronyms yet, so at the moment i have no earthly idea what DHHP is. the only experience i have is with CP. i don't use anything metal....it's too darned expensive for me...and well, i'll admit, i'm always broke. i think i spent around or less than $150 for all my equipment, molds and ingredients to get started . i bought an inexpensive digital scale ($20), 5 qt. crockpot ($20), plastic freezer containers for measuring & storage ($1-2 for sets of 3) hand mixer (also $20), splurged on a high temp spatula (whoopie) and remanent pvc for molds....i have also used old castaway cardboard boxes lined with freezer paper for molds...not really much need for expensive molds if you use your imagination (go ahead, call me cheap, i know i am...lol....and proud of it). one of my professors from college once told our class that with one oune of imagination we could create tons of originality. after bearing with my ramling, my advice to you would to be to stay away from metal anything (except cutters and shredders) whenever possible. don't be too hard on yourself when you flub up (everyone does), and take your time. soapmaking can be a very rewarding hobbie/craft/profession....but, when you make it too much work, you won't get any pleasure from it. if you feel stressed out about a project, take a break. why not give CP a try...it's slow paced and quite easy. there's even a soap calculator here that i have used religiously to create my own recipies. all you really need to know is the difference between soft & hard oils, the maximum or suggested percentage of oils, butters, fragrance, dyes & additives. i learned most of this just by reading in the archives and doing online research. and, as i've advised another recently, when in doubt or uncertainty, come to the board and ask....you'll get plenty of advice and help here. ROCK ON!!

i was wondering how many original ideas all of us could come up with and share? i'm not wanting to 'steal' anyone's ideas....i'm just looking for ways we could help each other, as a whole, help out some of us who may be having trouble finding our own unique style of getting the attention of our targeted audience. i know how easy it is for many to just order pre-made lables and such .... but in doing this i have found us copying each other due to lack of exposure of basic design rules and creativity. for example: 1. the basic black & white printed sticker/label. 2. usage of bland or plain fonts or grapics. 3. shrink wrap. 4. gift baskets filled with the usual soap, loofah or poof scrubbie, lotions, ect...all stacked up on the old and overused paper or plastic grass crap. i believe that all of us, both b&b and candle makers, can work together to help our fellow artisans. those of us who have set ourselves apart with great success and wows from our audience/buyers know how hard it was to get to where you/we are and should be compelled to lend an idea or three to those in need. i understand that this is what this board is for and i applaude each and every person who has been so kind to answer the same questions over & over again with utmost patience. *CLAPS PROUDLY* you see, don't get me wrong....i'm not bragging at all because i worked my tail off for, and have nearly (on many occasion) lost my sanity, to earn a bachelor's degree in graphic communication (ad design), and not everyone has had such opportunities. so, i do understand why many would need that helping hand from thode of us who have experience. with the help my boyfriend (candle maker) and i (soaper) have had from the members of this group, the two of us have a chance to succeed at something worthwhile and ejoyable, and better ourselves in the meanwhile. so i, as a fellow group member am lending my hand to any who need help getting ideas for, creating packaging, lables, gift baskets, business cards, eyecatchers and any other way i might be of service. thank you all for your welcoming of newbies to the crafts, and for all the help you offer. *STANDING OVATION* :yay: :yay: :yay: ANY AND ALL ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL: strange_love_3@yahoo.com MESSENGER - AIM: red hand studio YAHOO: strange_love_3 SNAILMAIL: christy osborne p.o.box 323 evans, la 70639

welcome to the board. i'm new as well.....but i'm getting a good gresp on how things work so far. i've only made 3 batches of soap so far but i've found it to be very enjoyable. as long as you ask questions about any doubt or uncertainty ... and do plenty of reading and research you'll do just fine i'm sure. everyone here has been patient, kind and helpful to me .... no doubt you'll feel welcome here.

ok....i understand the difference between butters & oils. are there limits as to the maximum percentage (i'm more than certain there is) of butters used? what's the average max % for butters?

in another post i read someone said/suggested that it's better for CP soaps to breathe so i tossed out the shrink wrap idea. last night i designed a simple band with a circular portion for the top. of course i'll have to change the sizes for different diameter rounds or rectagular bars....but both my boyfriend and i will be able to use the same design for both, his candles, and my soaps. and i can even use the same pattern for stickers for his containers. oh, and by the way, melly, i love your packaging idea. it's so creative!

i'm very glad i read this post. i was considering shrink wrap as well. the cost of srink wrap was already a negative....you just tipped the balance to a definite 'no'....i guess i'll go with the 'semi-naked' band. by the way, what MUST be printed on the lable? i assume that all i would need is brand/logo, scent and ingredients? or am i forgetting anything?

i just ordered a lb. of white kaolin clay....it should work fine (i assume).

would soap molded in the can be considered a hand soap or just a small round?

I'm trying to figure out how much money i'm spending per batch of soap...and dividing that ammount by ammount of bars of soap per batch to find out how much money i'm spending per bar/round. but, i'm not so great at converting weights and measures. Is there perhaps an online calculator i could use to make this process speedier...kinda like the soapcalc? or is anyone in here proficient with math processes and enjoy doing math?? (personally i hate math:mad: ...it hates me back:mad: ...i suck at it:cry2: ...i can't retain it for s***! ...and if i do it myself with no help i'll surely muck it up:cry2: ...so...any and all help would be appreciated)

I'm thinking about drying a few of my own herbs and things of the sort, and was wondering(when you buy it from companies/stores) if the orange/lemon/lime peel still had the white stuff on one side of it or if there were any reasons I could not just dry my own at home. thanks also...about white Kaolin clay. Will some FO make it change color or stay white, and after you whiten with this clay and put another color on top...will the other coler be 'true-r'? :smiley2: and thank you again