torsdag den 16. maj 2019

Naughty Soap 2

I see from the comments to yesterday's post, that I am taking for granted that everybody knows how to make soap. It is professional blindnes or whatever it's called in English.
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    For en forklaring på dansk, se min sæbeblog om vulkansæber.

Here is the photo once again. It is a soap, I'm making.
I start by mixing lye (NaOH) and water (in this case woodruff tea) in one pot, and melting the fats, beeswax and oils in another
Then those are combined, stirred and poured in a mould when they begin to thicken.
After being put in the mould, the soap will heat up somewhat. This is the chemical process of turning fats and lye into soap, known as saponification. Sometimes the process runs a bit wild. That is what is happening here. The soap is overheating, becoming liquid and also darker, just like a volcano making ready for an eruption.


This photo, taken half an hour later, clearly shows how liquid the soap has become. I stirred it, because the corners do not normally heat up, leading to funny markings on some of the soaps.

This process is known as gelling, it is a sought after occurrence because the soap is then ready for use after de-moulding and cutting. This will happen tomorrow.
The soap will be better, have more longevity, after curing and dehydrating for 1 to 6 weeks. But I can use it tomorrow, only it's still kind of soft and bendy.
Photos of de-moulding and cutting will follow tomorrow.

11 kommentarer:

  1. Thank you for explaining further. I've read about soap-making but I've never made soap nor have I seen anyone else do it, and seeing the process is so much better for me than just reading. I'm looking forward to seeing the next post!

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. Soaping is not very difficult. Not much worse than baknig a cake. You have to take more care, weighing and mixing requires accuracy.

      Slet
  2. Like Jenny, i've read about soap making, but not done it. Fascinating!

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. It is. When you succeed at least. The failures can be epic.

      Slet
  3. I've never had a volcano in a soap so I wonder if it can still be used. Is the volcano-ing just a fault in appearance and the soap can be used, after unmolding, cutting and curing?

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. Yes it can be used, as long as it stays in the mould - and it will if you watch it and stirs it if it starts raising like bread dough ;) A volcano is in fact saponification happening super-fast - if you like it's gelling gone mad - it is hot! The soap is fully usable afterwards, but the colours will often be burned off. If you made swirls etc. and had a volcano in need of stirring, you'll have a brownish lump.

      Slet
  4. Thanks for the answer! So it looks rather "ugly" and you have to watch it and interfere with the process. That's probably why soapmakers dread it so much.

    SvarSlet
    Svar
    1. It is worse if you do not watch it, and come back and find hot, sticky and corrosive soap all over your workspace.

      Slet
  5. Svar
    1. Yes ic can. It raises like bread dough, and can raise over the top, running in rivulets all over. Ugh!

      Slet
  6. You make soap! One of those things I always thought would be cool to know how do do....

    SvarSlet

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