powderblueboutique Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 I have been making hot process for 7-8 years or so, I use one of kathy millers recipes, always have success.I tried cold process yesterday. The soap is still a little soft, but is still cutting nice...smells great.The Problem: small white circles, on the sides and underneath the soap. All are the size of a dime or smaller. I do not see any on the inside. Some look a little traily.In hot process it is recommended to use 1 once or more of fragrance per pound. I stuck with that rule, and maybe just used way too much. or is this another problem? IDKso this is the recipe16 oz palm14 oz coconut52 oz olive6 oz cocoa butter32 oz cold water12 oz lye4 oz fragrance (oops!)Mixed lye and oils around 100not sure if it's stearic acid, lye pockets, or the fragrance. Any input appreciated, Thanks!Kari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella1952 Posted December 19, 2011 Share Posted December 19, 2011 Do you have a photo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderblueboutique Posted December 19, 2011 Author Share Posted December 19, 2011 You forced me to find my camera! This is the best I could get, and hopefully shows the evidence. The white spots are not pearly, or grainy. However soft to the touch....not oozing anything that I can tell. Same on the sides. Nothing on the topThanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella1952 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 It looks like an incomplete gel to me with some stearic acid spots beginning to show, but I'm very new to soaping and others more experienced may have some other ideas...Mixed lye and oils around 100I sometimes have stearic acid spots when soaping at lower temps because the MP of stearic acid is so much higher than many of the other fatty acids in the formula... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kssoaper Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Hmmm, my guess would be that it has something to do with it getting colder on the outside - heat generates from the middle out...... was your soap on a cold countertop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderblueboutique Posted December 20, 2011 Author Share Posted December 20, 2011 I wrapped it in towels really well. I also put it in the upstairs of our house as it stays warmer upstairs. Maybe I didnt wrap it enough? What are some meathods you guys use to prevent this? Should I mix the lye and oils at a higher heat than 100? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitn Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 You have a lot of hard oils in your recipe, I think it is stearic , it looks like the soap may not have gelled all the way to the edges ..I use .07 oz PPO when I CP, but I don't think using an oz PPO would have any effect except a stronger fragrance. Did you zap test it? I think it looks kind of cool.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitn Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 What kind of mold did you use? I find it nearly impossible to get gel with anything but a wooden mold. In winter I heat my oven up to 170 and pop the soap in there and turn the oven off, I cover it with a towel and leave the oven light on.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella1952 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I use lots of "found" molds - anything from cardboard boxes to plastic cream puff containers, but I wrap them with towels, put the mold on my towel shelf and then cover it with more towels. I try very hard not to peek.I didn't explain much about the temp in my reply above. If the mixture is too cool, the stearic acid starts hardening first. I have actually seen this in the oils when the temp is dropping - looks like teensy little clear flecks of stuff in there. By the time it's poured, the stearic is gathering together (like birds of a feather). I try not to wait until a heavy trace to pour into the mold, especially if I know there is a high percentage of stearic acid in the formula. I only use the SBer a few bursts unless the soap is threatening to separate, rice or become a huge, gloppy mess. If that happens, I throw it into the crock pot and CPHP it.I think things started out too cool, then the soap couldn't get produce/retain enough heat to gel the whole thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderblueboutique Posted December 20, 2011 Author Share Posted December 20, 2011 I separated the soap into two separate molds. one silicone one wooden. It happened to both. I discussed putting it in the oven with my husband, but we weren't sure the degree. So that total sense. I couldn't justify turning my dryer on. I will try again this weekend. I did the zap test, I did get a little sting, but it wasn't the same kind of sting when it is really lye heavy. I think it was a little early though.It definitley has a distinctive look, lol. apperently this doesn't happen too often, as there is no info about this, I have a one of a kind! Thanks for your help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderblueboutique Posted December 20, 2011 Author Share Posted December 20, 2011 Thanks stella, I agree. I am just not sure how high the temps should be. Can I start around 120 or is that too high? lye 120 and oils 110. it just seems when I read about it, lye is higher temp by about 10, correct? Or, am I over thinking this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon in KY Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I have always mixed the oils into the lye as soon as the lye is dissolved. Some recommend this way and others wait and cool. I just could never wait.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella1952 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 I always try to get the oils & lye liquid within 5°F of one another. I worry more about the temp of the oils being high enough to prevent the stearic from precipitating, but honestly, I'm not sure this is incredibly "mission critical" - just soap at a warmer temp than you did before, don't SB too much (just a few bursts here and there), and insulate your mold really well. If it's cold there, try using a heating pad for extra warmth or the oven trick kitn mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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