beau's mama
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Posts posted by beau's mama
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If you're making larger batches, a scale the reads 0.1 g should be fine. You could consider a scale that reads 0.01 g if you're using it only for lye or small test batches, but it isn't really necessary. A scale that reads 0.001 g will have too small a capacity and can get crazy expensive. It's also overkill for anything except maybe really tiny amounts of additive.
The error in your NaOH measurement comes mainly from absorbed water, sodium carbonate, any maybe beads that stick to the container. That can throw things pretty far off, so weighing to extra decimal places won't do much good. If you were to weigh the lye to .001 g on anything but a super dry day, you wouldn't even get a stable reading. You could actually watch it get heavier as it absorbs water.
Top, you are so right. I measure, turrn to drop my scoop in the sink, turn back and the reading is different. DH thinks hanging some dry packs will help with that, but I don't think anything will help that basement.
If you are making larger batches you really don't have to be that percise. I use this scale http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/my-weigh-kd7000.aspx and it works great. You'd only have to worry about being more accurate if your working with 1lb or smaller batches. That's why we work with a superfat, allows a little slack. HTHI was looking at that one. I have a couple of small scales and a postal scale from OWK.
http://southernsoapers.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=921 I just ordered this one last night since one of mine bit the dust over the weekend. I'm like Kya above and like to always have 2 on hand. I also have one of those little things that I think came from Lotioncrafters for really minute measurements.I looked at this one also. But I'm afraid to order from SS because I know that, somehow, FO's will mysteriously find their way into my cart with the scale!
Thanks everyone for your help. If anyone had told me a year ago that I'd be obsessing over scales and soaping, I would have definitely called them a liar!
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I have the HP Officejet Pro L7580 and love it. It supposedly prints as fast as Laser and quality is great. I do a lot of printing and it seems like the individual cartridges last forever. I always turn my old cartridges in at Staples so I get rebate checks and use them for more cartridges. I haven't used the card reader function yet but have printed photos.
Chiptooth, I think the L7580 is discontinued. What is that 71.99 print head thingy that goes with it?
But I did look at the L7590. Very nice!
I had an HP printer once,, will never buy anything HP again. Wouldn't pull different thicknesses of paper causing continual print jams, loss of labels, paper etc. It was a real piece of work....Until I gat a Samsung laser, I've always had HP. I never had a problem printing w/ different paper thickness. Not even with the very old deskjet 722c...wiich my Mom is still using!
I had always owned HP till I got sick and tired of spending so much on ink cartridges that didn't last very long and having continuous print jams. I got a Canon MP610 and am SO happy with it.....what a difference from the HP. My ink lasts forever and I only have to replace the colors I'm out of and they are much cheaper than the HP's. I'm like Sherri and will NEVER own another HP!!!
That's what I like about some of the office jets, single cartridges like a laser.
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I saw that one, but it doesn't have a card reader. DH travels on his bike a lot and is constantly printing pics so he would need to have a card reader. I'm trying to get him COMPLETELY out of my hair!
But this would be a nice gift for my baby niece to take to school in the fall.
Thanks bunches
http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/printer/all-in-one/1/storefronts/CB780A%2523ABAI just purchased this one, because my HP 2600n fuser kit I bought was missing a part and had to print labels for an order that was being picked up that day....It prints my labels just fine. Cheap too!
Oh, and I got it at Walmart.
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DH has discovered the world of computers and printing he is working my reserved nerve w/ his copying and printing, so I think it's time to get him his own toy to play with.
I've always used HP (except for my Samsung laser) so I'm not worried about the quality because I've always been happy with them.
I'm researching and checking reviews but it's always nice to hear from some "real" people that I know actually exist LOL
I'm looking at this one, mainly because it has individual and AFFORDABLE seperate color cartridges http://www.shopping.hp.com/store/product/product_detail/CB815A%2523B1H
Any advice or suggestions?
TIA
Sha
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I'm ready to play with the big girls now and I need a new scale. I've been up 1/2 the night looking but I'm really not having any luck.
I need a scale that will read something like this: 387.82 or 387.822 grams. Every scale I own and every one I've looked at either reads in whole grams or 0.1 or the silly 0.05 grams. Normally I can work around this, but I'm making much larger batches now and I want my lye measurements as accurate as possible. I don't want to guesstimate by rounding up or down, but if any of you more experienced soapers have any suggestions, I will gladly take them.
Am I asking for the (nearly) impossible?
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Do you use FOs and EOs in them?
:tiptoe:
It's not unusual for people to use the same bowls, especially if it's SS or glass...eo's or fo's. You'll find that many people do. I think it's just a matter of preference. And like Luci said, SB's are different. I have a few for soaping, 2 for lotion only and 1 for the house
For me it's just easier to have seperate things...and several of them. I cook and bake quite a bit and sometimes I don't feel like cleaning my stuff right away, especially my CP stuff. So it's just easier for me.
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...I added Sake (Japanese Rice Wine) to my MP. I don't know if it's my imagination or not, but those bars just give off the best bubbles I ever encountered. lol
I need to buy another bottle (something cheap) for soap because I'm diggin' in my personal stash of the good stuff and good Sake is not cheap.
My next experiments are red wine, beer, and maybe some champagne.
Hmmm...is this really about m&p additives? :rolleyes2
I'm just saying.... :whistle:
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Yeah, I also like the "cleaner" and brighter look, but I also don't like going to another page to see my recipe. But I REALLY like the Wikipedia links. So I guess I like it more than I don't.
I just downloaded this calc last week and thought the graphs were cool and played around with it a little.
http://home.earthlink.net/~skinesscentuals/SoapCalc.html
I needed something on my computer in case I ever lost my net connection. I've been thinking about getting the SoapMaker program.
I've only used soap calc since I started soaping b/c it seemed the easiest for me. MMS calc confuses my brain!
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For those of you who use soapcalc, just wondering what you think.
Like it? Don't like it?
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Would these work?
If you Google "plastic sauce bottles" you'll come up with quite a few options.
I'm surprised that you couldn't find anything less than a pallat of those bottles at SKS. They usually have smaller quantities available.
Anyway, HTH
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yan_yolay,
I DID say that the laser would be cheaper per page to print with. As for the quality of the print itself. I have tried the newest lasers versus my Canon inkjet printer, and for photo's there is no comparison in print quality. The laser printers dots are quite apparent when I look at it closely. Now as a comparison, when I print on the larger office laser printers, there isn't as much of a difference, but I would still rather see the photos off my $99 inkjet printer than the $800 color laser printer at work. As a comparison, the Canon Pixma ip4600 ($99 MSRP) has a color resolution of 9600 x 2400 vs. the highly rated Dell i1230c ($230) with a resolution of 2400 x 600. Even on the Dell website, the main Complaint, is color photo printing. No doubt, if I needed spot colors or needed to add color to presentations and handouts, I would go with a color laser, but photographically, I stand by my assertion that there isn't a color laser at any price that can print as cleanly as a decent inkjet. One other factor, is that most inkjet printers will also allow you to print on continuous paper for a banner. Is the cost of supplies for an inkjet prohibative for large jobs, ABSOLUTLEY. If I was printing brochures and colorful handouts in quantity, I would choose a color laser printer, but if photo quality is the most important thing for you, and you want to print 4 x 6 to 8 x 10 photos, then a inkjet with the right paper is the way to go.
Well, since most here use (or want) a laser to print color LABELS I don't think printing pics is really an issue. A 4x6 or 8x10 pic would look awfully tacky wrapped around a bar of soap or a jar of body butter.
Most usually have a perfectly fine and working inkjet before making the move to laser...just ready to step it up a bit. Chances are, they aren't going to just throw it out if it works. They'll probably keep it (like I did)...along with the variety of injet-only paper sitting in the cabinet...and they'll use it to print the pics as necessary.
And, there's always overnight prints for those rare, super high quality print jobs
See, not really an issue
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Islandgirl
Whatever you do STAY AWAY FROM BROTHER! You'll be broke before you print 50 labels!
I am a die-hard HP fan. Everything I own has always been HP...until I discovered Samsung.
After doing some serious comparison shopping in 24 hours, I settled on the Samsung.
My decision was influenced by the fact that outside of the toner, the only other consumable is the transfer belt after 50,000 pages. No drum to deal with! And they have 2 types of toner to choose from: standard and high yield. About a $20-$25 difference in prices, but if all you have is 80 bucks you can get a standard toner that will hold you. The footprint is a little big for home use (it's really an office printer), but for me it's well worth the space.
The print quality on draft (black and color) is beautiful, crisp and clear. I discovered that if I spend a little bit more for 96/24 paper I can save on toner in the long-run. The Staples laser printing paper works perfectly. I use labels from labels by the sheet and they print fine.
I had a print job to do for an alternative health care group: 100 seminar booklets w/ 13 double sided pages each including 4 double sided pages with 4 graphics on each page. I was able to complete the job with the standard toners included with the printer. I still have toner left. And that was including the 200+ pages I accidently printed in duplicate! Everything was printed on draft and I couldn't believe the clarity and sharpness. Apparently they couldn't either: They contracted me to do all of their seminar booklets and flyers
I'm still working out some kinks because I don't like to read instruction manuals for electronics, I'd rather just do it.
OK, enough free advertising for Samsung.
You can read about it here
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3566396&CatId=21
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Congratulations!
The addictions just go on and on don't they?
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I have this sudden interest in floral waters. Have any of you used it? Did you like the results? Did the natural fragrance come through or did the lye just suck it all up?
TIA
Sharon
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Are the paper-backed foils like the foil you get from fast food joints that NEVER stay wrapped and never attached to itself?
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Congrats on your first!
Did you get that sucker to come out of the mold yet?
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I don't have a different mixer (can't afford it!). I just have different ss bowls and attachments for food and for b & b.
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1. Oregon Trails
2. Southern Soapers
Can't comment on Day-Star or Brambleberry...haven't used any of their fo's.
I just ordered about 20 samples from SS and threw them in some lotion. I'm loving all but 2!
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Ahhhh...the wonderfully addictive world of soaping!
If you haven't already, take a look-see at this thread. Very helpful info from the soapers here. http://craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63074
Do you have your lye? Measuring & mixing equipment? Mask? Gloves? Eye protection? Have you familarized yourself with the various soaping calculators and decided which one you feel most comfy with?
I've only been cp soaping a little over a year so I'm in no way an expert, but the above are some of the things I make sure of before I start. And of course, a recipe is always helpful LOL
There maybe some simple (beginner) soap recipes in the recipe section if you're unsure about what you want to do. But whether you go with your own or someone else's recipe, run it through a soap calculator.
Good luck w/ your first batch. I guarantee you, when you cut that first bar you will be hooked for life!
ETA: Oh yes, this is VERY helpful http://craftserver.com/forums/showpost.php?p=600226&postcount=11
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I had some LouAna Co from Walmart that I purchased when the prices made sense. Anyway, I pulled it out to soap today and my goodness...what a funky, rancid smell. And it's a weird off-white color and looks like white pieces are mixed in and frozen. I ran and pulled out the others, opened them, and they are fine.
Everything is kept in the fridge or stored in the basement where it's always pretty cool
I have never had funky, rancid CO. I know nothing lasts forever, but CO going rancid in a few months?
Maybe that was just part of a bad batch :undecided
Have any of you ever had CO turn on you in a few months?
Sharon
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I just wanted to bump this up.
There has to be more than 26 small businesses here!
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Thank you all so much for replying! I guess I'll keep the glycerin and keep searching for some recipes to use it in as well as trying it out in my M&P soap!
Cindym~ I remember reading that thread! Thanks!!!
CareBear~ I'll have to look for some liquid soap recipes! Sounds like fun!
Prairieannie~ I'll have to do more searches today! I typed in different things and pretty much came up with where to buy Glycerin! I'll have to try wording it differently. Thanks for sharing!
Beau's Momma~ Your testing sounds very interesting! LOL! Unfortunately it says on the bottle "Warning: Not Edible". But when I did those searches yesterday I found where it talked about glycerin being sweet and being used in food! That's what had me soooo confused! I guess the glycerin I bought is a cheap one?
I picked it up at the craft store. Hardly ever buy anything there. I always purchase from suppliers on line. They had all of their soap and candle making stuff on sale 25% off! That got my attention (and money LOL!) Hope it's an ok product!Lorraine
I guess I should have mentioned that I use edible vegetable glycerine.
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No, keep it. In addition to adding it to your soap, you can play w/ it in making other products.
I've been fooling around off & on w/ an adult product using glycerine...rub it on and...well...um...the glycerine heats up :rolleyes2
Plus, it taste sweet!
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Just cruising my sopaing link and rediscovered these. .....
http://www.packcoinc.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=51
Now these would certainly work but I'd have to think about how to add the name of the company as a well as the ingediants list. Card stock with a hole punch maybe?
Those are cute! What about a label or cardstock band on the bag w/ matching rafia?
I had some material left from a project, made a few little bags out of it, printed up some cardstock bands and they came out really cute.
I picked it up at the craft store. Hardly ever buy anything there. I always purchase from suppliers on line. They had all of their soap and candle making stuff on sale 25% off! That got my attention (and money LOL!) Hope it's an ok product!
Anybody own an HP office jet printer?
in Business Side of Things
Posted
That's the exact one I was looking at. I went to order it and something told me to check the specs again. When I did, I discovered that the darn thing reads every card but a compact flash!
Yeah, I'm a little slow
. I still use compact flash.