A few more ??'s before I start another addiction..

[Sherl]

I've taken some recipies and plugged them into the calculaters to get an idea of how they work, and on the soapcalc one, it lists things like hardnes, cleansing..ect. Can someone give me an idea of what these numbers are telling me or direct me to a place that does? For instance, the hardness of some of the recipies I've plugged into it gives a range here 23-48. What is this telling me about the soap I'm making.

I'm off to Wal-Mart to get a stick blender and would like to know what I can use for a mold that holds about 2 pounds of soap. Any suggestions?? What dimensions am I looking for?

Also.. I have read that I can use my pots I use for cooking.. don't need to get a special set. Just making sure that is true.

Thanks for all your help..

[Melly]

Use drawer organizers for molds, Kmart carries the martha stewart line, we dont have Kmart in canada so i used a rubbermaid one and it worked well. I use my cooking pots for soapmaking all the time, they are the cleanest pots in the house.

[Rebecca_IA]

For molds or anything that the lye or raw soap will touch, make sure it is stainless steel if it is a metal. If it is not stainless steel, do not use it. Aluminum reacts with the lye. This includes metal spoons, stainless steel or nothing.

So if your pots are NOT stainless steel, they you do need different ones.

Mold, could be shoe box, disposable (and new) cat litter box, anything plastic, wood drawer (lined) from an old dresser or sewing table. I'm sure you could find over 20 molds in your house that you could use for soap.

I do not know for sure which soap calculator you are talking about. If it's the one I am thinking about, the higher the hardness number goes, the harder your finished bar of soap will be.

If you give me more information I might be able to answer that question, perhaps someone else might come along sooner though.

I always suggest for new CP/HP soapmakers to go to www.millersoap.com and study her pages. She has a ton of info that is very useful to new soapers, before, during and after we are learning the craft.

[mountainmadness]

To get around the stainless steel pots (which can be very expensive) you can also use a stock pot. It has ceramic baked on it and will not react with the lye. I have used mine for years and have no problems.

Also, do not use anything that is wood. Purchase plastic spoons. The lye will eat the wood and you can get wood slivers in your soap.

I would suggest that you start simple. My first recipes were Crisco, olive oil, and coconut oil. Remember that all of those exotic butters and oils are costly and you may have a couple of failed batches while you get the hang of it.

Don't forget your safety gear!!!! The most important supplies that you purchase.

Have fun. :smiley2:

[SatinDucky]

I bought a cheap 1/2 gallon pitcher from the dollar store for mixing the lye in, and have a large pyrex measuring cup for melting the butters in and use a gallon ice cream bucket for final mixing of the oils and lye/water. You can squeeze it a bit too for a spout while pouring in the mold. I've only made batches up to 3 lbs so far though.