A loong time ago, I posted a thread on soapmaking. Quite a few posters responded that they would like to try their hand at soaping, and I’ve kicked around the idea since then that having a soap day might be fun.
Here’s the gist of it: We pick a date a few weeks away so that everyone has time to get their ingredients in hand (I’ll post some recipes so there will be options to choose from.) Then, on Soap Day, I’ll walk you through the process, and be here to answer questions and share in the excitement and concerns as we go along. At the end of it, everyone should have a nice batch of soap put to bed, and then we can all pat ourselves on the back and brag about our project.
I’m sure there are other soapers on here that would be willing to lend a hand as well.
Don’t you want people to buy your soap instead of making their own? Seems counter-productive. If people want to make their own soap they should do their homework and take their lumps until they’re good at it, like the rest of us chandlers.
If people want to buy my soap, I’m always happy to sell it to them…same with candles.
But my philosophy as a soaper has always been fairly open, and I look at this project as more of a social event (rather like a quilting bee) than an economic one.
I look at it this way: If someone wants to make soap for a living, she’s going to have to do a lot more than a day of soaping with her buddies. It takes research, money, time, tenacity, and lots and lots of work. If, however, we want to make a batch for kicks, why not?
I’d be interested. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but it’s a little intimidating. Seems a little complicated to do it all at the same time, here at the Dope, but I think it would be fun to try.
Sounds like fun! I’ve got some supplies that my mom gave me, and I really need to use them. I’ve made some before, but just the decorator/pretty things, not truly from scratch. I’d be interested in learning a little more, though.
I was one of those folks last time, and I ended up making two batches with my friends. Our #1 problem was finding a proper mold! We had the bright idea (for our second batch) to buy some sort of loaf tin, 8 rectangular shapes. Of course, the metal of the tin stuck to our soap, and the batch was unusable.
We’ve been talking about trying again… do you have suggestions for cheap, easy molds?
For a mold, I’d go with a box–wood is best, if you can find one, heavy cardboard is doable, and a shoebox will work in a pinch. I use wooden molds now, but for years I used cardboard, and when I did soap in bulk, I always uysed cardboard boxes…got a bunch of them from the box plant, so they were quick to line, pour, fold down the top, and stack to cure.
I don’t even attempt to do fancy molded shapes with cold processed soap. I like to make it in a nice big slab and then cut it into bars.
So: You’ll need a mold, and some waxed freezer paper (you can sub a white garbage bag, but I prefer the freezer paper.)
You’ll also need to get your hands on some lye. Red Devil lye, no drain cleaner hybrids with anything else in them.
I’ll put together a recipe or two, and start the Official Soapmaking Day Thread later today or tomorrow.
I like frozen juice concentrate cans for molds - to release the soap, you can take the metal bottom off the can and push it out from the other end – and if it sticks, as mine sometimes does because I forget to “grease” the mold with vaseline, you can always just tear the mold off the soap. I also use quart milk containers.
I’m too scared of playing with lye to do cold-process, but I’ve had lots of fun playing with melt-and-pour and hand-milled soaps. I’ll be watching here this week to see if I can get un-scared enough to try bodypoet’s recipes. Have fun, all!
Sign me up! where is that emoticon doing a touch down dance of joy?
I have done melt & pour soap making, which is for those of us who are the short bus riders in the craft department (Helmet, bib & all for moi. Basically I should be physically restrained from ever doing crafts.)
But, I’ve secretly always wanted to learn to work with corrosive agents not related to the CIA, KGB or CHAOS.
Can a mold be a plastic container, like an old butter tub or yogurt thingie?
Oooh, goody! I got a book on soap-making and have been itching to try the cold-process thing. I just have one question, though: where does one buy lye? At the hardware store?
Shirley, my book has instructions for rebatching soap into soaps-on-ropes. I think you have to wait a few weeks till your batch cures before you can rebatch, though.
Oh, goody! I actually bought soap-making stuff a couple of years ago but never got around to doing anything with them. This’ll be fun! Bounces with excitement
When I buy lye in small containers, I go to my local hardware store and search the drain cleaner area. If you call around first, you’ll probably save yourself some headaches.
You can order it online here, if need be, but you’ll have to order a minimum of 2 pounds. There may be other suppliers; I haven’t looked, but I’ve ordered from Snowdrift and been happy with their service. http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/dry.html
Re: the butter tub question: You can use one, but I’d still line it with plastic garbage bag. Otherwise it may “stick” and be a real bitch to get out.
My friend Peg makes soap on a rope by simply sticking a knotted rope into her soap after she pours it.
