Janis Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 I haven't had ash in awhile. I'm always curious as to what causes it. This was a test batch I did. I put most of the soap in a sort of cube plastic container. It had no ash at all. Then I put the leftovers into these two silicone molds. The soap in the flip-flop mold ashed, but the soap in the shell mold didn't. My base oil is RBO (I know there is more chance of soap ashing with RBO). I soaped VERY cool (I know ther is more chance of soap ashing when you soap cool). I didn't let it gel--put it in the fridge to make sure it wouldn't. So, why did the flip-flops ash, but the shell didn't?:undecided Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenniejr Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Wish I could help you out w/ the ash problem ... but I am still stumped myself.:undecided I do want to say however that your soaps are really cute! Are they scented? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Hmmm... Maybe the ash one cooled down quicker?Geeze.. I really have no clue, but figured I'd take a guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elle110 Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 No idea why you go ash on one and not the other but thanks for the info regarding RBO and soaping cool.I must recently added RBO to my basic recipe and I always soap cool so I will be keeping my out for the ASH fairies. I have not had ash in awhile either, really during the cooler months it seems to have gone away. I will have to take note when it gets warm again and see if it increases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janis Posted March 11, 2006 Author Share Posted March 11, 2006 I do want to say however that your soaps are really cute! Are they scented?Yes, they are scented. The test was for an eo blend of tea tree, litsea, lemon, lavender, and rosemary. It smells heavenly.Ya know, both of the silicone molds have about the same volume, I think. I just can't figure this one out, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janis Posted March 11, 2006 Author Share Posted March 11, 2006 Hmmm... Maybe the ash one cooled down quicker?Geeze.. I really have no clue, but figured I'd take a guess.You know, as I look at both of them, I guess the flip-flops DO have less volume than the shells. Maybe the flip-flops did cool down sooner. Just seems like they aren't that much different in size, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Ok Janis, got a question for you or and/or anyone who cares to answer..What is ash to you? Is it a frosting of white on the top of the bars?Or is it when your whole soap turns oddly white, bottom included?Or both?They seem to me two different beasts, and wonder which many are referring to when talking about ash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janis Posted March 11, 2006 Author Share Posted March 11, 2006 Well, I guess for me it is when I get the white powdery-looking stuff on top of my bar. Having said that, when I use my slab mold, the ash occurs on the top where it is exposed to air. With the silicone molds, the ash on the flip-flops is actually occuring on the bottom, because the top IS the bottom, if you know what I mean, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Yeah.. I know what you mean.. I think. Can't wait to hear what more people think...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sad72 Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Can't help with the ash but those are cute!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinInOR Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Ah, the mysteries of ash. I only get it on the tops that are exposed to air. I never get it on cut surfaces, or those on the sides/bottom of the mold. I almost always get it with lavender if I don't soap warmer than usual. I don't get it often in log molds, mostly with my slabs. I get it worse when I pour at a thin trace, rarely get it when I pour at heavy trace. My OMH slab that I just cut didn't get any at all. I control it by temperature, mainly. And pouring thicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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