Soapmaking question...

[npsmama]

I've just tried making some soap. It's only my 2nd attempt, the first failed as I forgot to add some ingredients and ended up with caustic soap (I realise this in time though so didn't find out the hard way - phew!)


Anyway, I'm not sure if this is right:


when I poured the caustic soda into the milk it went a deep orange color…is this supposed to happen?

Here’s the recipe in case you need it to answer my query:

32oz olive oil
8 oz palm oil
7.5oz coconut oil
0.5 oz almond oil
18oz milk
6.5 oz caustic soda

thanks

[Luath]

That happened to me when I tried to make goat's milk soap, using fresh goat's milk. As far as I can make out, it's to do with the temperature of the milk, I seem to think too cold when mixed.
I got around the problem by using powdered goat's milk; not sure if I would use powdered cow's milk, at least the stuff you usually get in plastic bottles, doesn't appeal at all.
Hope this helps.

[npsmama]

Well, the soap itslef is a caramel colour so I'll let it cure and see if it's worked...

[the.fee.fairy]

where di you get the caustic soda from? I want to start soapmaking, but i can't find any anywhere!!

[Martin]

if you've got acess to wood ash, you can make your own! - old barrel, quarter fill with straw - add wood ash, pour water over every few days - what drips out the bottom is "lye"

[Luath]

I keep meaning to try the lye thing, but haven't got round to it. I buy caustic soda in an ironmonger-type shop, or you can get it at B&Q type places too. Evil stuff if used carelessly, cleans drain. I tell my friends my soap is made of drain cleaner and lard. Always gets a reaction.............

[Hepsibah]

How did I miss this?
Anyhoo. The milk turns brown because the casein in it is burned by the heat generated by the chemical reaction between the caustic soda and the liquid. It can leave a burned smell in the finished soap that takes months to fade. The trick to minimising this effect is slowing the reaction down as much as possible. Put the milk in the freezer til almost frozen, there should be ice crystals in it, then add the caustic soda slowly, stirring all the time. I take a good couple of minutes combining the two. My soap ends up being something between butter and honey coloured instead of toffee.
I found caustic soda in my local Wilkinson shop and a couple of independant hardware shops but if you're having serious problems, you can get it at the soap kitchen online.

[the.fee.fairy]

I've used the soap kitchen before.

Ok...so...does the caustic soda have any kind of brand name or anything? Am i looking for the wrong thing?

[Hepsibah]

I've bought 'Max' caustic soda and 'Kleen off' caustic soda. There are some pics of it here

[Andy Hamilton]

One of the articles I have to get round to putting up is a soap making article by chickpea. - I have been meaning to put it up for a while now. It will go up this week!

[the.fee.fairy]

ok, soo (because i'm a wimp who's scared of blowing the house up!) how do i know that its 100% caustic soda?

And, if i make my own Lye...why is it lye that comes out and not water?

[Hepsibah]

Well, none of mine say 100% caustic soda but the drain cleaners that have different ingredients have an ingredients list and these ones don't. It just says 'caustic soda' on them.
I wouldn't recommend using 'home-made' caustic soda, it's really difficult to judge the strength of it and working out how much oils-and-fats to use so it turns to soap instead of a smelly, slimy mess or rock-hard soap that reddens your hands because it is so harsh is near-impossible. The quantities of lye to fats are measured very carefully to give a good safe and usable result every time because the alternative can be pretty nasty.

[Chickpea]

What she said.

[Hepsibah]

It's been ages since I made any soap Chickpea and I'm down to my last two bars. I've just ordered a kilo of coconut oil and in a couple of days I'll be back in the kitchen with a handblender and trying to find space for piles and piles of curing soap.
What I fancy trying is some natural type soap like honey and oatmeal and milk and honey. Have you tried honey in any of your soaps? Got any tips for me?

[Chickpea]

I *luurve* putting honey in soap. It gets really hot though. It can trace quicker than other soap so keep your eye on it. And where you would normally insulate it well after putting it in moulds, lay off the insulation when it's a honey soap.