this site
http://waltonfeed.com/old/soaphome.html
has a ton of info and I am pretty confident I can follow directions without losing an eye but I was hoping for some tips from those who have given it a shot. even if its just to say that that page is chock full o good info.
We have a soap maker in our midst. I think she’s from Indiana. It sounds like a perfectly lovely thing to do. I wish I could remember her screen name.
I’m not the soapmaker referenced above but…
I’ve made several batches of soap using the “soap making recipe for beginners” on that website. (I didn’t get it from there but it’s essentially the same recipe.) I made it outside, on a patio. for my peace of mind in regards to safety because I have klutzish tendencies. I used bacon grease, cleaned of course and Red Devil Lye (available here for the meth makers but that’s another story…) and it came out just fine. I gave lots away and people loved it.
I need to make some more, it would make some nice Christmas gifts for a few people. The ingredients are pretty inexpensive so you don’t have much to lose.
I have also “made soap” by buying the “melt and pour” soap from a crafts store. That’s a whole different craft/hobby IMHO. It is fun but I can’t quite call it soapmaking in the same way as the process above. YMMV.
That is the basic concept.
I just skimmed the website and would have to really read it but from what I can see it’s a skeleton type instruction. You will get soap but I think there is a lot more detail that will be very useful to the first time soap maker.
example:
*Cover the solution to keep out air and allow to cool (or warm up ) to about 85 degrees F.
When the fat is melted, cool it down to 95 degrees F.
When all is ready, begin to stir the liquid …*
I think it’s better to let you know the reason for the ice cubes is that the lye will heat up rather high and what this recipe is trying to do is limit the temp. differences. It has you mixing at 85-95 where as I’d shoot for as close to the same temp as possible using warm/cold “sink baths”. In general everything should be close to the same temps because funky things happen if they are not.
But it should all work out ok in the end.
thanks for the tips, I will give it a shot soon 