chuck_35550 Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Ok, so I have this massive bag of Tussah silk. It doesn't dissolve worth a flip in hot lye water and generally winds up on my hand mixer (maybe I use to much and don't cut it up small enough...who knows?) . I would love to dissolve that giant bag of silk into a liquid for easier use, any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 How much are you using and how hot is your lye? I use about 1-2oz in my 12lb of 50/50 (6lb each) master batch lye solution - it does take a while for it to dissolve. I let my lye sit in it's bucket overnight before transferring it to my airtight jug, and usually by then it's dissolved. Sometimes it looks like there are still some undissolved strands, but when I give it a slow stir, it will go away and dissolve right in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 (edited) About the size of a cue tip and the lye water is about 200 degrees or so. Its problematic in milk soaps because I keep the temp under 100 degrees. I figured that there must be a way to boil it to death or use alcohol or a blow torch to make it liquid. Otherwise, I'll never go through such a bag. Thanks for the tip. Steve Edited February 12, 2016 by chuck_35550 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I first fluff out my silk and stretch it out as far as I can. Then I cut it up into very small pieces. I typically make 4 lb batches and use about the size wad of my thumbnail. I pour my water into the container with cut up silk and swish it around until the silk fibers are saturated with water. I have found the silk will tend to dissolve faster this way once I get it started with the water before I add in the lye. Then I add in the lye crytals and stir the lye water around to dissolve all lye crystals and to make sure the silk doesn't ball up. It still takes about 1/2 hour to an hour to fully dissolve but this is the best way I have found to get it all dissolved in the lye solution. I do this with aloe juice too. Another thing I do is use a 50/50% lye solution so the lye water is pretty strong. So if I have 8oz of lye I use 8oz liquid. Don't know if you can do a milk lye solution this way. I generally add my milk to my soap batter and not to the lye. That is why I use a strong lye solution so I can use more liquid with the soap batter.... like milk or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jcandleattic Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 AHH, yeah, I didn't think about milk soaps. I've actually never tried to dissolve silk in a milk soap. Hmmm, you might try what Candy said about saturating the silk with the milk to help it and then once it's completely saturated, freeze the milk/silk mixture then when time to soap try dissolving both with the lye. I have no idea if that would work. Might be worth a shot in a small batch maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Snip the fibers small then saturate in water before adding the lye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 How big is your bag of Tussah? I bought the 4oz bag about 6 yrs ago and so far I have only used about half. Might be one of the cheapest ingredients I have used in soapmaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 I think that's the size of mine CB. Honestly, I can't see a whole lot of advantage with using silk. It's just a pita to deal with for not that much return but I hate to waste. I also have bags of clays, colloidal oatmeal and a ton of cocoa butter (because I forgot a bag was stashed in one of the bins, lol) and it makes me wonder if I follow too many rabbit holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Oh I love the feel of silk in my bars and feel its definitely worth it. I think you just need to go into your soaping area and reorganize a bit. I have to do that every now and then. That's when I find items I forgot I had!... and find out what I don't have too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 I have but as you get older you just forget what you do with stuff. What's worse is when you reorganize; you forget where you now put the stuff! Now where did I put that charcoal? I have stepped away from the business for the time being, until I retire this summer. Hopefully, a new strategy will breathe some life into my tired business. Besides, I'm jonesing to get down in the lab and create some soap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 You crack me up. I go through the same thing. I am the proverbial lady with the glasses on the top of her head looking for her glasses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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