Recent content by RBL

I make 100% coconut oil soap at 38% lye concentration so they're harder faster. Gelling helps them last longer, too. I'm thinking an 8 week cure will be long enough to start using them. I have some at 7 weeks now, but at 4 weeks they do melt fast. Rubbing the bar straight on your skin will...

42% off Nutiva coconut oil at Amazon. $39.75 for 108 ounces (6.75 pounds) and free shipping. These are selling like crazy. They had 14 in stock last night and was down to 2 by noon today. Looks like they restocked again. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003QDRJXY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20...

I'm fairly new to soap making, but I think I have a solution to partial gelling and volcanoes. I was making a 100% CO batch and used a stick blender immediately after mixing the lye and oils. It traced within 10 minutes and I molded it. After 30 minutes, the mold became warmer until the top...

I'm a newbie but very scientifically minded. I've been working on completely gelling small batches under different conditions. See my thread at http://www.soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=201313 This PDF will explain why soap gels...

They haven't cured yet. They're only a few days old. I will let you know if the rings change at all over time.

I have been making small batches of Marseille style soap in paper cups of about 7oz each. I cut them into three sections one inch thick. The picture shows gelling and overheating problems and my progression to a successful 100% gel. I can usually un-mold after six hours and cut them the same...

I'm going for a Marseille bar, afterall. Thanks for all the replies and advice. There's a lot of love for Castor oil in the soap community. I'll look into using some. Marseille soap requires 72% OO or palm. My mistake, true Castile is 100% OO. I have a bar of Kiss My Face pure olive and...

I have zero experience producing any, but soap making has now permeated my nightly dreams. The delicious oils contrasting with the dangers of lye combining to make something so good for my skin is an amazing concept to me. I had to make some, but first, I spent weeks reading how. I want to...