Kris10Tackles Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 I’m hoping to give soap to my immediate family this year for the holidays. I feel like I’m starting to understand the process and I’m personally loving what I’ve made so far - good lather, moisturizing, smells good. I still have training wheels on by using the Bramble Berry Quick Mixes but I’m okay with that. I’ll venture into actually recipes in the en t few months or early next year. My question is, are these little air bubbles normal or is there something I can be doing differently? I feel like it’s something I’m doing because it’s happening with different mixes and also I both 19oz batches and 54oz batches. Could it be I’m being a little heavy handed with my immersion blender? Thanks in advance for any insight. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 looks like air bubbles to me. Before turning the stick blender on, remember to "burp" the air bubble out from under the bell. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted August 26, 2022 Author Share Posted August 26, 2022 I have been doing that until air no longer releases. Anything else I could be doing better or am I being too 🤔 I can’t think of the word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 Could be the little seal in the bottom of the stick part is sucking air. It’s usually just a tiny rubber type gasket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzy Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 yeah burping the blender or tapping the mold on the counter after pouring usually worked for me. Sometimes it didn't. I don't think air bubbles are a big deal in a soap. your soaps look great! I love the simplicity of them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightLight Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 Air bubbles, bang the mold, and also blend less. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted August 26, 2022 Author Share Posted August 26, 2022 1 hour ago, Lizzy said: yeah burping the blender or tapping the mold on the counter after pouring usually worked for me. Sometimes it didn't. I don't think air bubbles are a big deal in a soap. your soaps look great! I love the simplicity of them. Thank you!! I’m having so much fun learning how to do it. Soon I’ll take the training wheels off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 Blending to a lighter / thinner trace let’s air escape easier than thick trace. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted August 26, 2022 Author Share Posted August 26, 2022 I am also doing between 5-15% water discount. Would that make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 10 minutes ago, Kris10Tackles said: I am also doing between 5-15% water discount. Would that make a difference? Sometimes, depending on how fluid it is while pouring. You’ll figure out timing and feel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted August 26, 2022 Author Share Posted August 26, 2022 I’m thinking this means I should try again tomorrow?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 43 minutes ago, Kris10Tackles said: I’m thinking this means I should try again tomorrow?! The answer is always YES to making fun soap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted August 27, 2022 Author Share Posted August 27, 2022 I made more gremlins today. No water discount and barely blended but still achieved trace. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻In the 4 inch silicon mold I’m usually able to un-mold and cut after 24 hours with 15% water discount. I’m wondering should wait a few mores days since there’s more water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightLight Posted August 27, 2022 Share Posted August 27, 2022 Do you use sodium lactate? I always use, and you can unmold soaps with more water with ease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted August 27, 2022 Author Share Posted August 27, 2022 (edited) 56 minutes ago, NightLight said: Do you use sodium lactate? I always use, and you can unmold soaps with more water with ease. I did! I’m hoping less mixing will be the key. It felt really nice while I was stirring, almost like cake batter. Edited August 27, 2022 by Kris10Tackles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightLight Posted August 28, 2022 Share Posted August 28, 2022 Less mixing will help and pour thinner trace, bang the mold. You don’t really need thick trace unless you are doing layered soap. Make sure when you put stick blender in, do at angle so air does not get in. Pulse soap, and then you can switch to spatula to stir for some fragrances. Some of the fo’s can be stinkers and spatula stir is better than immersion blender. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted August 28, 2022 Author Share Posted August 28, 2022 I’ll cut them open tomorrow. 🤞🏻🤞🏻The waiting is torturous! I want to know now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted August 29, 2022 Author Share Posted August 29, 2022 Well, the weekend batch had fewer bubbles but it was also really soft and sticky. I’m wondering if I should have waited longer to un-mold it? I also tried another batch and made a time lapse. IMG_1922.MOV 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted September 6, 2022 Author Share Posted September 6, 2022 Well, I think I’ve narrowed down the when. I tried again while making a few adjustments. Combined lye water and oils at 115 vs 120. Gentle stirred with a spatula before using the blender and another zero water discount batch. Before I added the lye water, I was looking at the oils and this is when I first saw the little bubbles. I thought I was being very diligent about not adding air into the oils but there they were! I still continued on trying to be aware of how much air I was allowing into the soap batter, mixed to a lighter trace than what I usually do. Ur still achieved emulsion. The bubbles weren’t going away but they also weren’t getting worse. I’m still perplexed but I guess I feel a little but better knowing I’m not causing this while I’m mixing everything together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 2 hours ago, Kris10Tackles said: Well, I think I’ve narrowed down the when. I tried again while making a few adjustments. Combined lye water and oils at 115 vs 120. Gentle stirred with a spatula before using the blender and another zero water discount batch. Before I added the lye water, I was looking at the oils and this is when I first saw the little bubbles. I thought I was being very diligent about not adding air into the oils but there they were! I still continued on trying to be aware of how much air I was allowing into the soap batter, mixed to a lighter trace than what I usually do. Ur still achieved emulsion. The bubbles weren’t going away but they also weren’t getting worse. I’m still perplexed but I guess I feel a little but better knowing I’m not causing this while I’m mixing everything together. Are you making very small batches? If your bowl is fairly shallow when making a small batch, it’s very easy to introduce air. Maybe a narrower container that’s deeper might help. Your soap is still excellent looking though. Don’t sweat it too badly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted September 6, 2022 Author Share Posted September 6, 2022 Yes I am making them in small batches - too afraid I’m going to mess things up and I like the variety. I’m mixing 4 cup plastic pouring pitchers that seem fairly narrow, I think they’re just wider than the stick blender. 2 hours ago, TallTayl said: Are you making very small batches? If your bowl is fairly shallow when making a small batch, it’s very easy to introduce air. Maybe a narrower container that’s deeper might help. Your soap is still excellent looking though. Don’t sweat it too badly. 🥰 thanks for the wise words. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightLight Posted September 6, 2022 Share Posted September 6, 2022 Are you doing CPOP because that can cause bubbles. I found if you just let CP soap do its thing without CPOP behaves better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris10Tackles Posted September 6, 2022 Author Share Posted September 6, 2022 (edited) 25 minutes ago, NightLight said: Are you doing CPOP because that can cause bubbles. I found if you just let CP soap do its thing without CPOP behaves better. Sorry what’s the OP? Still very new. Just googled it. I don’t oven process. I just let it do it’s thing in the mold. Edited September 6, 2022 by Kris10Tackles 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightLight Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 Cold Process Oven process Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightLight Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 How are you cutting the soap? Wire cutter or blade thingy? Sometime blades can do this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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