| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Eileen |
Posted - Dec 03 2004 : 4:52:53 PM
So this week I made my first batch of soap using that old recipe from my husbands mom. She is no longer living so cannot ask her.I don't cook with fat so have no supply of cooking fat. I opted instead to use olive oil. I followed the recipe, warmed the oil to tepid. Mixed the lye with the water, allowed it to cool to tepid and mixed it together for about 45 minutes before it began to get the cake batter consistency that the recipe said it would get in about 15 minutes of slow, careful mixing. I then mixed in about a cup of lavender flowers and a teaspoon of lavender essential oil , hoping to get a nice lavender soap. Any way about 2 hours later after I poured it into a cloth lined box and placed it on a newspaper I noticed it was leaking oil. The news paper was soaked. I put another newspaper on a ridged cookie sheet and set it aside. 3 days later it was finally getting firm to the touch ,not sticky. By the time I came home from work that night it was very hard, and crumbly when I tried to cut it into bars. It was wet around the lavender flowers and leaking a brown colored droplet. It smells like soap, not lavender, works like soap but crumbly. I tried grinding some of it up and remelting it to see if I could add oil back in but it came out dark brown. Wierd.
Should I just start over, Is there a good recipe somewhere or is it just a learning curve? To warm, too cool etc???
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 10:52:10 AM
Hello Momdrinkstea, I have been making lard/fat soap since the early 1980's & I always render my own fat into pure lard...I enjoy pig fat the best as it makes a wonderful softer feeling on your skin soap...lamb does also where as Beef has a harder more brittle soap good for grinding up for laundry soap.
To render make sure you get a good 6-12 lbs of fat, its easier to cut up while frozen so cut it into chunks & throw it into a big pot,If it has meat or skin on it don't worry about trying to get it off. turn the oven on to 350 degrees & put it in there with a lid on it instead of your stove top...reason is its less likely to burn & you can walk away from it. Check it every 30 mins & mash it often once it starts to melt down some...I use an old potato masher...Once it looks like no more is going to melt down ( 12 lbs will take about 2 hours to cook to liquid) & you have crispy bits remove it from the oven & let it cool down so you can work with it.....I try to let it set at least 15 minutes. Get some nice big plastic bowls or containers that you can put in your freezer out, a big spoon or ladle, old cotton or tee shirt material that you can use as a strainer & some string to tie the fabric around the plastic bowls or containers....make sure they are heavy duty plastic & not thin or they may melt or warp. Slowly so you don't burn yourself ladle out the lard into the fabric covered bowls until about 3/4's full, then throw into the freezer to freeze uncovered. Once its frozen remove from freezer & turn upside down so you can get the lard out...do it on a foil or waxpaper covered counter as it can get messy. cut away all the discolored lard at the bottom but save for the animals or birds...they love this stuff. I weigh mine out at this time & re-cut it into pieces so when I am ready to make soap its all weighed & I put it either back in the plastic container labeled with what it is...ie beef ot in a zip-lock bag labeled with the weight of the clean tallow/fat & throw it back in the freezer til I want to use it. I have some restaurant size containers so I always do each container with 6 lbs of cut up clean fat. I also when ladling out the fat save the bigger crispies for putting into cornbread (its a southern thing).
I did 100 lbs of fat a lot of times & I can tell you I didn't have the energy to make the soap until the next day! Any other help you need you just email me or leave a message here & I will try to help all I can...Michele' #2622
The Old Batz Farm |
| Thistlewoodmanor |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 07:50:53 AM
Use SoapCalc http://www.soapcalc.net/calc/soapcalcwp.asp to check your recipe and make sure your fat/lye ratios are correct. Sounds like your soap may be lye heavy, be sure to check that it's safe to use on your skin.
www.thistlewoodmanor.typepad.com
www.thistlewoodmanor.etsy.com |
| OneHippieChick |
Posted - Feb 01 2011 : 01:56:07 AM
My grandmother used to make soap by rendering pig fat and beef tallow, but I don't remember actually seeing her doing it. If you can get it free from your butcher, go for it! 
quote:
Originally posted by momdrinkstea
Thank you for the links!
Has anyone rendered lard to use for soapmaking?
I can get it free from our butcher, and would like to try it. THANKS AGAIN!
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road? A: To prove to the opossum that it could be done!
Stacked Stone Farm www.stackedstonefarm.blogspot.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Susan ~ Farmgirl Sister #1978
Fiber artist, spins, knits, crochets, sews, weaves, quilts, soap maker, as well as various beauty products and some natural cosmetics
Working on getting my Etsy website and blog up and running - stay tuned!
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| RedHoopWoman |
Posted - Jan 11 2011 : 1:52:44 PM
Hi Eileen,
Sorry your soap didn't turn out but don't give up because it happens to experienced soapmakers too,sometimes there is just bad soap-making ju-jus that cause a batch to not trace,burn some sage to get rid of the bad ju-jus and try again!
The only other explanation I have (other than bad ju-ju) is that a soap failure as you describe could be caused by mixing the lye into the oils at too high a temperature.
I make a castille soap using just olive oil and it has always worked for me,the important part is to match the temperatures exactly when you mix,I once was a little slow ad I had something similiar to what you described happen to me,I prefer this recipe for it's simplicity,it makes a great all purpose bar for everything from your face to making homemade detergents.
One other thing I do different is that I don't add fragrance and herbs to my soap when I do my first cold process,instead I take my aged soap,grate and melt it down,add my pretty stuff and then remold it,this is called hand milling and makes a longer lasting bar and takes to the scent better.
Give it a try again,good luck to you!
Pure Castille Soap
14 ounces tepid water
5.5 ounces lye
40 ounces olive oil
Prepare your mold,blend the water and lye,set aside and cool to 120 F.
Heat the olive oil to 120 F,once the temperatures match,blend the lye solution into the oil,stir the mixture until the soap traces,at trace,pour into the mold.Leave the soap to set for 24 to 48 hours (patience is a virtue) or until the soap is solid and firm to the touch,release the soap from the mold and allow to cure for eight to ten weeks.
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
| urban chickie |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 1:31:50 PM
I have made 100% olive oil soap and never had issues with separation....but then I baby my wrists and use a stick blender :) Olive oil alone takes forever to saponify without using a high-shear force such as that given by a stick blender. A great source for the various saponification values and for making your own formulations is the SoapCalc. I never try a new recipe without it. The soap qualities it gives are usually dead-on and based on the various oils used in a formulation.
http://www.soapcalc.net/calc/soapcalcWP.asp
Catherine
Farmgirl #1370
City Girl By Birth,
Suburbanite By Location,
Farmgirl at Heart
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| momdrinkstea |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 09:52:47 AM
Thank you for the links!
Has anyone rendered lard to use for soapmaking?
I can get it free from our butcher, and would like to try it. THANKS AGAIN!
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road? A: To prove to the opossum that it could be done!
Stacked Stone Farm www.stackedstonefarm.blogspot.com |
| Erin Raincrow |
Posted - Jun 05 2005 : 1:43:32 PM
Well goodness, you'd think I'd think of that but guess not.....too busy thinking about fleeces and getting them skirted today to go to the mill.
Anyway, I got my address emailed to ya.....again, I appreciate it and THANKS!!!!!
But once in while the odd thing happens,
Once in a while the dream comes true,
And the whole pattern of life is altered,
Once in a while the moon turns blue.
Auden |
| Kim |
Posted - Jun 05 2005 : 11:16:50 AM
Julie,
Just go into my profile and click on send e-mail. You can send an e-mail direct with your address and I'll get it out in the mail to you!
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Erin Raincrow |
Posted - Jun 05 2005 : 11:01:11 AM
Oh oh oh, yes I would love to have it!!! Thank you so very very much 
How's a good way to get my address to you? :: Doing the happy happy dance ::
But once in while the odd thing happens,
Once in a while the dream comes true,
And the whole pattern of life is altered,
Once in a while the moon turns blue.
Auden |
| Kim |
Posted - Jun 05 2005 : 10:37:01 AM
Julie,
I have a Soap Making 101 booklet I can mail you. I no longer need it. I purchased it a coupl eo fyears ago when I tried my hand at making Glycerine soap (I was too afraid to make the kind with lye). If you'd like it I will mail it to you.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
| Erin Raincrow |
Posted - May 30 2005 : 08:52:36 AM
Thanks so much for posting these sites and recipes. I make glycerin soap right now but am very interested in making lye soap, am hoping to be able to do this sometime this summer.
But once in while the odd thing happens,
Once in a while the dream comes true,
And the whole pattern of life is altered,
Once in a while the moon turns blue.
Auden |
| KarenP |
Posted - May 28 2005 : 08:25:35 AM
A great place to find recipes is http://www.millersoap.com/
My favorite is
*"Favorite Castile"/No Palm Oil
Kathy Miller has a great site, lots of info.
KarenP
from Wisconsin's dairy air |
| TheSoapMaven |
Posted - Dec 31 2004 : 05:14:33 AM
So nice to see other soapmakers here! Very VERY fine advice from Robin (waving at Robin). I have been making soap for - well a very long time!!! Good luck with your next attempt, Eileen. I would also suggest using a pirex dish if you have one. They are easy to line with butcher paper (remember shiny side up). When I teach soapmaking classes that is what I suggest. Mainly because almost everyone will have one and it makes for easy clean up. What a great idea about the cat food cans...my babies only get dry so that's out...may have to treat them so I can give that a whirl.
Also pvc pipe closed on one end, lined with butcher paper works very well. My husband (who makes all my soapmaking equipment) made me a stand for my pvc pipe which works very well. Until he made the stand I used a five gallon bucket with sand to hold the pipe upright.
Blessing to all. Have a happy and prosperous New Year. 2004 was an interesting year around here. With my father's long illness and death in November the holidays were very different for us. I am looking for 2005 to be filled with all things good. Home, hearth, health, happiness. Gardening, building my business, spending more time outdoors, appreciating everything a little more. Being content is so under-rated!
Blessings & Bliss!.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ .·´ -:¦:-~Susan~
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´*
Wife, Mother, Natural Woman, Savonnière, Writer, Baker, Gardener.
Soulmate to Jerry for 30 years
Mom to Zach, Gesikah, Nathan, Hannah, Rachel and Benjamin
Yetta to Sam
If your knees aren't green by the end of the day, you need to seriously re-examine your life. |
| Eileen |
Posted - Dec 30 2004 : 3:10:33 PM
Hi Robin,
Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou!!! I will try your recipe for my second attempt. Is there a preferred variety of goats milk for this proceedure or will any variety work?
The old recipe I have calls for a cardboard box lined with a dishtowel for the process. I guess I will build a wooden box and line it as you do with butcher paper. I am excited to try again. I have grated up some of my first batch and used it to do laundry. It works very well and the clothes smell so good!
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| n/a |
Posted - Dec 30 2004 : 11:57:41 AM
http://www.thymeforewe.com/buddyburner.html#Soap
I have a very simple recipe on my website. I've been a professional soap maker for 11 years. It's one of the products we sell on our farm.
The hard, crumbly problem is probably from the loss of oil and the difference in saponification values in oils and fats. You can't interchange one for another unless the oils and/or fats share the same sap value. Sap value refers to the specific amount of lye required to turn a specific amount of a specific type of oil or fat into soap.
You really need something that is water proof to hold the soap in while it saponifies. Plastic containers work well. I use wooden molds that are leak proof if put together properly. To protect the wood I line the mold with butcher paper (wax side up) or cover the wooden pieces with plastic wrap before assembling the mold.
I'd start over again with a recipe. You can speed up the process by using a stick blender isntead of stirring. A stick blender will will bring the soap to trace quickly so watch carefully if you try it.
Robin
Thyme For Ewe Farm
Northeastern Maine |
| Eileen |
Posted - Dec 13 2004 : 4:31:08 PM
Hi Aunt Jenny,
Thankyou, I would love the recipe. I did get the lye mixture and the oil the same temp at the same time but when I started I did not know how long it would take for the lye to cool down. The lavender is dried fresh flowers from last years crop. I might have added it way too soon. Maybe just the addition of coconut oil would stop the leaking. I allowed the remelted batch to cool for a while and then decided it will be soap but since it isnt pretty and does not smell like lavender I would just mold it. I used empty cat food cans, the kind with the white finish on the inside I get from the co-op. The bars look like littls slices of prestologs!!! My brother thinks they are great. I guess you know what he is getting in his stocking this year.
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
| Clare |
Posted - Dec 10 2004 : 2:56:16 PM
Hi Aunt Jenny... I would be interested in your simple soap recipe! Please share!
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Dec 10 2004 : 2:51:34 PM
I never use just olive oil alone, simply because it is very hard to get it to not separate. I always mix in coconut oil and usually all veg shortening too. I always get the oils and the lye mixture (separatly ) to 95 degrees at the same time. Only add the flowers and oils at the last possible minute. I would grind the flowers up some and they would need to be dried lavender flowers to work (in my opinion) I always learn things the hard way myself..don't give up!!! I honestly have never had good luck with remelting soap to make it better..but some folks do...good luck. I have a simple recipe that I will share if you want it.
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
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