TrishNZ
Well-Known Member
Should the oils and lye be approx 57C (134F) when mixed together?
Can't see any posts on this.
Can't see any posts on this.
Thanks...when you are new at this game - everything seems to matter and everyone has different opinions. Its hard sifting thru it all.I don't check my temps, haven't done for I don't know how long, couldn't even tell you where a thermometer was in the house. Just melt the solid oils and add to the liquid ones, make up the lye, let it cool, then combine.
Thanks...when you are new at this game - everything seems to matter and everyone has different opinions. Its hard sifting thru it all.
I poured my first soap and it looks ok...basically did as you said, but made sure the lye was cool enough to add to the oils.
Perhaps you read something about working with beeswax or soywax or stearic acid as an additive. In those situations, higher temps are required in order for them to melt and stay soft while mixing all ingredients. But for oils that are already liquid or close to soft to start with, (liquid oils and even 76° coconut oil for example, when in warm climates) lower temps give you more time to work with the batter. And once you melt your hard oils like cocoa butter, or palm or animal fats, and mix them with the soft oils, the cooler side of warm is better for time to work with the batter. Now I am talking about Cold Process soap making, by the way.
For Hot Process, the temps do go higher, of course, but that is another story. Perhaps you were reading about Hot Process methods? In that case, the higher temps do make sense.
Sometimes it's confusing when new, to read about several different methods of soap making and then the information can kind of get all jumbled together and it's hard to remember which is which. Especially if you haven't tried the methods much yet.
I don't check my temps, haven't done for I don't know how long, couldn't even tell you where a thermometer was in the house. Just melt the solid oils and add to the liquid ones, make up the lye, let it cool, then combine.
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