the_amber_woods Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I'm still only making small batches of lotions to test stuff out and find a recipe that I like...But for 16oz batch - which makes quite a bit with my current recipe. I'm figuring that I need to use 4.536 grams of my preservative.How do you guys weigh such a small amount? My problem is that I have to add it in last *or almost last if I add FO or colorant* How do you measure out such a small amount of liquid. Right now I'm measuring it into a pipette and weighing the pipette before and after till I get the right amount. Anyone come up with a better strategy?*edit*I posted down below to clarify my question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasBrat Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I look up the one I am using and find out what the recommended % amount is and figure out how many oz's I am making of my product and multiply by the recommended amount by my total oz's I am making. Does that make sense? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinInOR Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Make larger batches, or get a small scale that weighs to .1gramIf you measure 4 grams on your current scale, then you might get 3 grams (not enough preservative), or you might get 5 grams (too much preservative)...Let's see, for a 16 oz batch, that's 453 grams. So 3 grams would be .6%, and 5 grams would be 1.1%I'd think as long as you don't have lots of bug food/hard to preserve ingredients in your lotion, that range of % should be OK... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michi Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Yep, I'm thinking I"m gonna have to break down and get a new scale myself. It's just too hard to measure out those smaller amounts when my scale only goes to the tenths position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singleyellowrose Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Try making a 20oz batch. Most times it will work out to an even number. Too much preservative is just as bad as not enough IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_amber_woods Posted January 31, 2006 Author Share Posted January 31, 2006 I have a scale that will weight to .1gram so the amount is not the problem. I was asking more along the lines of HOW you weight. Do you leave it in the dropper and weight it that way? Do you have a small container you put the stuff in? I'm using Liquapara witch is THICK... if I put it into a small container it doesn't all pour out of the container because it's so thick... Does this make sense to you guys?Thanks a ton for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Ahh.. Yes, I would weigh in in the tube - just tare that pipette! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donna4909 Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Most preservatives you can use at 0.5% or 1%, but check to make sure this is true for yours.In that case, make a 20 oz. bathc, and you will get a more even measurement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniedb Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I have one meeeeeeellion plastic ramekins from my defunct personal chef biz, and I usually put the Vit E, FO and preservative in that, then I use one of those plastic spatulas (like the nice silicone kind, but they're not silicone, they're just cheap-o plastic) to scrape out every last bit. Plus, I mix it all together, so it thins the preservative some, and it's much easier to get out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 I use a CC-100 scale from old Will Knolt. Accurate to .005 gram. I think it was around $20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerrie Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I have a scale that will weight to .1gram so the amount is not the problem. I was asking more along the lines of HOW you weight. Do you leave it in the dropper and weight it that way? Do you have a small container you put the stuff in? I'm using Liquapara witch is THICK... if I put it into a small container it doesn't all pour out of the container because it's so thick... Does this make sense to you guys?Thanks a ton for your help.Oh, I know just what you mean. I use a small plastic dixie cup and I always worry about the few drops that are always left in it, wondering just how important getting all of it out of there really is. Seems if I use a spoon to scrape it all out then it's left on the spoon, just a never ending circle of trying to get it all of it into your pot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniedb Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 LOL, now you have me all weirded out about getting the last drops out...I made a 2 gallon batch of lotion tonight (holy crap, that's a lot of lotion, let me tell you!) and I was all obsessively scraping the vit e and preservative out of the ramekin, it was sad.And then I would wipe the spatula against the side of the bowl, to get the residue off the spatula, then I was all, "How am I going to get it off the side of the bowl?!" So I'd scrape, then wipe then scrape then wipe. Finally, I just had to bring the madness to an end and force myself to step away from the spatula. So, thanks. Thanks a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_amber_woods Posted February 1, 2006 Author Share Posted February 1, 2006 Finally, I just had to bring the madness to an end and force myself to step away from the spatula. So, thanks. Thanks a lot. Is it wrong that I got a good laugh outa this... I was thinking that with larger batches it wouldn't matter as much, a few drops missed here and there, but with the smaller batches. LOL Guess I'm just over thinking it.Thanks everyone for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michi Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 ROFLMAO Danielle, you nut!! I'm that way though, it's like, how the heck do you get it all out? Scrape, and then how do you scrape it off the scraper? LOLI really don't think a milla-drop left in the measuring container or on the scraper or side of the bowl will make much if any differnce. Try not to make yourself nutso over there ladies/guys, you may make yourself bald, and then you'd have to find a recipe to grow your hair back!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawaiiansun Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 LOL, now you have me all weirded out about getting the last drops out...I made a 2 gallon batch of lotion tonight (holy crap, that's a lot of lotion, let me tell you!) and I was all obsessively scraping the vit e and preservative out of the ramekin, it was sad.And then I would wipe the spatula against the side of the bowl, to get the residue off the spatula, then I was all, "How am I going to get it off the side of the bowl?!" So I'd scrape, then wipe then scrape then wipe. Finally, I just had to bring the madness to an end and force myself to step away from the spatula. So, thanks. Thanks a lot. LMAO that is funny cause it's exactly what I just got through doing. I'm glad I'm not the only paranoid one :bump: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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