Soap Making Techniques For The Beginner
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009Robert asked:
ne of the world’s oldest and most widely used manufactured products available. Throughout the ages, the chemistry of soap has changed, yet the basic methods for soap making have remained very much the same. Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) and fatty acids, originally from animal tallow, are mixed. A chemical reaction known as saponifacation takes place, and like magic, soap is created. It’s not all quite as easy as that, and if you’ve ever attempted making your own soap, you know this. For some beginner soap-makers, just getting the chemical reaction to happen is equal to finding the Holy Grail. Many have fretted over batches that won’t trace (the first signs that the process is working), or batches that separate, leaving a mess behind. Even more are timid about the use of Lye, which in its own right is a caustic chemical that needs to be handled carefully. If this sounds like you, all is not lost. Here you will find some of the best techniques for making soap successfully. Measurement Accuracy Making sure your measured amounts are accurate is a large part of successful soap making. Measurements should be done using an accurate scale. To make sure you are getting the correct amounts, calibrate your scales before use. Check and Recheck Ingredients. Make sure you didn’t forget anything. Did you leave something on the counter and not introduce it to the mixture? Fix it by doing a re-melt and adding the missing ingredient at this time. Use a Stick Blender A stick blender, when used properly, will make your soap making process much easier. Start by hand stirring and switch to the blender after getting your ingredients mixed. Use the blender in short bursts, stirring by hand in between. This will keep you from getting a false trace from the whipping. Avoid Heat Loss Heat loss can cause problems with the texture of your soap and give you a flaky or brittle finished product. Most of this heat is lost during stirring. If you are experiencing this problem, increase your initial mixing temperature by 10 to 15 degrees. You should see your soap come out smooth and firm. Double Verify Trace Often, if your soap gets too cold or you have stirred it to the point of whipping, your mixture will thicken up and appear to be ready to pour. If you pour it like this, however, you will just end up with a mess that never sets up properly and will not achieve saponifacation. When you think you see a trace, back off for a second, let the mixture settle for a moment, and then recheck for a trace. Use Only Tested Fragrances Using the wrong fragrance can cause very dramatic separation problems. Make sure that the fragrances you use have been tested for use in cold process soap making. As you can see, making your own soap is not for the unadventurous, but can be rewarding and somewhat addictive. Whether you’re making soap for fun or because of allergies, keeping the above tips in mind will definitely help the process go smoothly.
Bamboo Flooring Installation
ne of the world’s oldest and most widely used manufactured products available. Throughout the ages, the chemistry of soap has changed, yet the basic methods for soap making have remained very much the same. Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) and fatty acids, originally from animal tallow, are mixed. A chemical reaction known as saponifacation takes place, and like magic, soap is created. It’s not all quite as easy as that, and if you’ve ever attempted making your own soap, you know this. For some beginner soap-makers, just getting the chemical reaction to happen is equal to finding the Holy Grail. Many have fretted over batches that won’t trace (the first signs that the process is working), or batches that separate, leaving a mess behind. Even more are timid about the use of Lye, which in its own right is a caustic chemical that needs to be handled carefully. If this sounds like you, all is not lost. Here you will find some of the best techniques for making soap successfully. Measurement Accuracy Making sure your measured amounts are accurate is a large part of successful soap making. Measurements should be done using an accurate scale. To make sure you are getting the correct amounts, calibrate your scales before use. Check and Recheck Ingredients. Make sure you didn’t forget anything. Did you leave something on the counter and not introduce it to the mixture? Fix it by doing a re-melt and adding the missing ingredient at this time. Use a Stick Blender A stick blender, when used properly, will make your soap making process much easier. Start by hand stirring and switch to the blender after getting your ingredients mixed. Use the blender in short bursts, stirring by hand in between. This will keep you from getting a false trace from the whipping. Avoid Heat Loss Heat loss can cause problems with the texture of your soap and give you a flaky or brittle finished product. Most of this heat is lost during stirring. If you are experiencing this problem, increase your initial mixing temperature by 10 to 15 degrees. You should see your soap come out smooth and firm. Double Verify Trace Often, if your soap gets too cold or you have stirred it to the point of whipping, your mixture will thicken up and appear to be ready to pour. If you pour it like this, however, you will just end up with a mess that never sets up properly and will not achieve saponifacation. When you think you see a trace, back off for a second, let the mixture settle for a moment, and then recheck for a trace. Use Only Tested Fragrances Using the wrong fragrance can cause very dramatic separation problems. Make sure that the fragrances you use have been tested for use in cold process soap making. As you can see, making your own soap is not for the unadventurous, but can be rewarding and somewhat addictive. Whether you’re making soap for fun or because of allergies, keeping the above tips in mind will definitely help the process go smoothly.
Bamboo Flooring Installation
