ladysj Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Okay I don't know what's going on with my soaps lately. I'm not getting a full gel on any of my batches. It's the same recipe I've been using. I made a batch yesterday, put it under the electric blanket & piled blankets and pillows on top of it.I left it set under there for well over 8 hours took it out and wrapped it in a flannel robe. This morning it still looks like only a partial gel. What am I doing wrong? Is it that I'm just not letting it set covered long enough? I NEVER had this problem before even after a few hours it was ready to remove from the mold & completely gelled inside. Please help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindym Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 What kind of mold are you using? Is it cold in your house? In the winter I heat up my mold a bit before I pour into it. Try wrapping you mold in the electric blanket before you poour into it. Also I let mine sit for a day before I peak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladysj Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 Now that you mention I do seem to remember it starting to happen when the weather started getting cooler. I never thought of that being the culprit. I'll try warming the mold on this next batch.Thanks I think you are on to something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scent Cellar Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 You can either soap with your oils & lye a bit warmer or put your mold with the soap in it on a heating pad on warm for a few hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabbledoya Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 I'm thinking it's probably cooler weather too, but wether or not it reaches full gel, it will still be the same soap as the other batches:) After a few weeks, the discoloration should fade a bit and not be as noticeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeInPdx Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 If you mold isn't thin plastic, you can also pop your uncovered soap into a 170F oven for an hour to force gel. Just turn it off when you're done and let it sit in there overnight.That seems to be the most reliable method for me in our drafty old house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 absolutely preheat your mold. preheat the oven, then stick your mold in there while you are making soap. pull it out and fill it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topofmurrayhill Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I'm sure it's the season and difference in ambient temp that's causing your problem.All the suggestions you got from people related to adding heat and retaining heat when the soap is in the mold are fine. In particular, preheating the mold is a helpful thing that a lot of people overlook.However, I'd just like to point out that one the biggest factors is the temperature of the soap when you pour it into the mold. In fact, that could be the main cause of your diffculties if you're leaving your liquids overnight to come to room temperature or something like that. You might just be pouring cooler and that can make a big difference as far as your batch reaching gel temps. Room temperature soap with a lot of soft slow-saponifying oil can be pretty unreliable when it comes to gelling.A small effort to soap a little warmer can substitute for a big effort warming and/or cozying your batch after it's poured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Well I don't gel any of my soaps, except salt bars. My milk and shampoo bars are poured and left in the Kelsei over night and then turned out the next day for drying. If you feel the side of the mold; it is warm but not hot and there is no noticeable gelling taking place. I know this is a big argument about "to gel or not to gel" but not having to go through any elaborate maneuvers for good soap seems most sensible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplyBea Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 I have difficulty working out 'best temperature' for soaping - is there a source for some basic guidelines? The recipes I see don't always have soaping temperatures and I get a bit nervous as to whether I am doing it right.thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 I have difficulty working out 'best temperature' for soaping - is there a source for some basic guidelines? The recipes I see don't always have soaping temperatures and I get a bit nervous as to whether I am doing it right.thanksMost people I think prefer to soap with the oils and lye around 90-100, but it really is a matter of preference and what works for you, your mold, where you soap, etc. As long as your soap is coming out the way you want, you are doing it correctly. I think its best to avoid soaping with your oils and lye hot. In the winter, when I am soaping with my fats at room temp (not melted), then I do soap with my lye hot to melt the butters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplyBea Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Hi MeredithThank you - that's what I have been doing and so far so good (with a few 'panic attacks' in between) even with the softer soap recipes.What do you mean by "...soap with my lye hot to melt the butters...." ? That sounds interesting...... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Hi MeredithThank you - that's what I have been doing and so far so good (with a few 'panic attacks' in between) even with the softer soap recipes.What do you mean by "...soap with my lye hot to melt the butters...." ? That sounds interesting...... ?You can soap using a method some call RTCP (room temperature cold process) whereby you don't melt your butters; you soap with them at room temp. You use the lye as soon as you make it and let the heat of the lye melt the butters. Once melted, add your oils and soap as normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Do the butter temps usually match the room temp oils? The whole technique seems sensible; I never thought of using the hot lye to melt the butters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenia Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Chuck, I do it a bit differently, mix the oils and butters, then the lye solution. let it all cool and soap.e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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