rcrafty Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I made my 1st beer soap and when I cut it I noticed some holes with liquid in them, they seem to be the color of the lye/beer mixture, are these lye pockets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Does it zap you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Interesting that you posted this, I made my first beer soap Saturday night...the top (slab mold) is "sweating" the same amber liquid drops. They feel oily and don't zap......this was my first beer soap so I wondered what I might have done wrong, or if others have had this experience. It is warm and pretty humid, I don't have the a/c on....wondered if it was the environment but it's only these bars so far.........dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcrafty Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 I did the zap test and no zap, of course I didn't try it on the wet part though. Maybe it is the weather, AZ has been somewhat humid (for the desert) because of all the rain we have been getting but I do have the AC running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WendyByTheBay Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Hmmmmmm.....I know that happens to me if I don't get my honey blended into the OM&H soap good enough. I have made quite a bit of beer soap and that's never happened to me like that. Was it a thick, dark beer?Did you use just beer and no water for your liquid?Only thing I can think of is when using only beer sometimes it's kinda thick like syrup when I am adding it to my oils. Maybe it did incorporate all the way.But then again you said it didn't zap, so I have no clue:confused:.Hope you get it figured out.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I used a dark beer (Guinness Extra Stout...looked like Karo syrup, yuk!) for 100% of my liquid.....Curious as to what rcrafty used.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenia Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I've only experienced lye pockets a few times. The soap looked like Swiss cheese on the bottom with what appeared to be water (wasn't) oozing out of the holes. It was a shame two, soap was perfect on top. It made me realize that my scale had big problems and I sent it back; they replaced it and none since. The scale was doing that trick where it displays one weight, you turn around and suddenly the number is different.e Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I really don't think (mine) are lye pockets........the soap is solid...it's almost like how some soaps weep when it gets humid and hot in the house? Kinda like that... just little amber oily beads on the surface. And only on the top...not on any of the sides or bottoms of the bars.If they do it again I'll take a pic......as long as no one laughs at my swirl attempt! dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcrafty Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 I used Fat Tire (one of my favorites). I used only beer, no water. It's weird because not every soap has oozing stuff only about 1/2 of it.Right before I made the soap I dropped my scale on the tile in the kitchen... I am going to have to check and see if it is still calibrated correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I don't think I could waste a Fat Tire for soap! lol...... One of my faves! I might just have to make a second batch to see if it happens again....but oy, the smell of beer + lye...... I cleaned up the bars earlier today and have not seen them weeping anymore....?Rcrafty lemme know if you figure it out!dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcrafty Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 I agree - The smell of the beer + lye was awful!I will just have to try it again and see what happens, definitely will test with a cheaper beer next time.Thanks for all the suggestions :smiley2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndulgentCreations Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 It doesn't really look like lye pockets to me. If you don't have a zap it's probably not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcrafty Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Just as a follow up on my findings. I finally got brave and licked one of the wet spots on the soap and sure enough I got zapped, when I licked the other part of the soap it was fine. Bummer, I had to throw it all away. I will have to try it again this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Just as a follow up on my findings. I finally got brave and licked one of the wet spots on the soap and sure enough I got zapped, when I licked the other part of the soap it was fine. Bummer, I had to throw it all away. I will have to try it again this weekend.Oh No! That is a bummer~ Now it makes me curious about MINE! Once I wiped away the beads on the top.....they never returned. I'm going to have to cut a bar up and see if there are any in the interior of the soap......Thanks for posting your update, I had thought for sure mine were ok, I better check again...dana ~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meridith Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Just as a follow up on my findings. I finally got brave and licked one of the wet spots on the soap and sure enough I got zapped, when I licked the other part of the soap it was fine. Bummer, I had to throw it all away. I will have to try it again this weekend.You might have saved it with a rebatch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcrafty Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 I will have to remember that, I have never done a rebatch - something new to try. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 Mine doesn't have the pockets, thank heavens. Once I wiped the amber oily beads off the top, they never came back, and there are none on the inside.Interestingly enough, I made another batch last night. It is still in the mold, but I see the amber beads this morning on the top of the soap.It must be something in my recipe (shrug)...dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 Spoke too soon. Cut it and there they were.....the dreaded lye pockets. I've been lucky enough not to ever have this happen before...my only guess is because I'm trying to swirl....and I guess I am separating my soap too soon to color it..... Lesson learned.....*cry*dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcrafty Posted June 8, 2009 Author Share Posted June 8, 2009 That's a Bummer!I made a new batch today, hopefully it will be trouble free this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Yah I did one yesterday too......*keeping fingers crossed for both of us!* and I was smart enough to mix the beer and lye OUTSIDE so I didn't have to endure the stench!dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcrafty Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 Finally a success! I used coors light this time. I can't wait to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Mae Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 oooh that's beautiful soap!!!!! dana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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