Recent content by Phantasm

Hi all, I have been learning to make soap, shower gel and candles for a bit with a view to selling them. The candles are nearly there, but I could not work out how to do soap to sell due to the long cure time. Now, I always considered using bases such as melt and pour or liquid concentrates...

Oh I have no intention of changing anything until I have tried the first two. I made another batch this afternoon, as I am away for a week from tomorrow. Already learned that small moulds are pretty hopeless for HP. What I would like to do is read a little more about the different oils and their...

Well, the first ever batch looks ok. Out of the mould, sliced up, appears to have the correct consistency, nice lemony smell. Away for a week from tomorrow, my try one piece when I get back, then start my next attempt. See how this one fres, and amend according or try substituting an oil for...

There is one more ingredient I have found that is very important. Mouthwash!

Thank you. Unfortunately I heard tonight a friend died of cancer. She was only young, 40 (ish) and we knew she was ill, but the diagnosis was only six months ago, and it is a terrible shock. My get up and go has rather dissipated for now. There is huge sadness, but i will be making the soap...

Thank you. I have found a site that also goes a little way to explaining this stuff. It is certainly wise to do this reading up and asking questions now rather than mess it all up and lose confidence. Oh dear, my stick blender is useless. It can only be used for 1 minute, and then has to...

Thank you! I am finding that soapee.com calculator rather confusing, so many options. Why would I not adjust for water in oils? I do not understand which to use, 25% lye concentration or water percentage Why does it not allow a total batch weight input, only total oil weight? Superfat...

Well, most of the equipment has arrived, except water distiller and the actual ingredients, both have been dispatched though and will arrive tomorrow. The kit I am making my first batch with contains olive oil, palm oil and coconut oil. I also have a few little bottles of fragrances. I do...

Bare metal sink. Plastic jugs are heat resistant to at least 212F, I checked. A plastic tray on worktop seems a possible solution.

I am using a starter pack to begin with, and a couple of additional scents. I am going to be using HP, and from what I read and see, once the zap test is passed, the mixture can thicken rather quickly, hence the need to "get on with it". I will try CP as well, but not just yet. I feared...

I have a granite cutting board. If I drape a towel or dishcloth over that, would that be ok? No, I will take it slowly until fragrance time, have to be quick at that point Thanks, I may well have done that.

Time I logged off for tonight. What a truly lovely welcome from you all, and thank you for making me feel part of a team so early. I do not understand superfat yet, although I have heard about it, I will check it out tomorrow. I do wish to add some fragrance, but every single tutorial shows...

Oh dear, I am now horribly confused as it is late here. Oils will be coconut, olive and palm, so I need a recipe with only those for now. How much of each I have no clue. My first setback and not even switched the cooker on..... Edit: The site has loads of recipes, I will look tomorrow

No, not yet. I have spent hours reading up and watching tutorials. I am going to wait until I have the ingredients, and then pick a recipe. It sounds like a plan though, but it will be a very simple recipe. I will start to look at various possibles tomorrow, Friday is scheduled to be D-Day...

Cheers. Yup, I think I have most of the gear, I certainly do not intend to leave it alone for long, to stir or not to stir, t'was the question. Going to watch a tutorial or two more, but information overload is starting to rear its head, I need to actually do it. One thing I do know, lye...