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I do - I melt the stearic acid & cetearyl & other ingredients completely & add half the sci, wait until it is melted/ combined & stir in the other half. I thought I was doing the same as @KiwiMoose but I guess I modified her approach a little as I really like how well the instant pot works. I’m...

I make large batches in the instant pot - adding all ingredients up to the sci and including the sci - and then dispense it into a 2 cup measuring cup and add the phase 2 ingredients & do my testing & pouring from that. Also I microwave in short bursts to keep it fluid. I make 650 grams at a...

Are you using the pourable shampoo recipe? @KiwiMoose saved my sanity making those. I (sort of) have it down now. Main thing is wait until everything is melted before you add SCI. I use an instant pot as a slow cooker, works well.

Chemists Corner… looks like a new rabbit hole for me… (must wrap soap, must wrap soap 😑… SQUIRREL! 😃) ETA wrote this before I saw @AliOop ’s perfect gif 😄)

I get my sorbitol on Amazon, I’m not sure if it available locally.

Oh and lmk if you buy from them I can save you the wandering around that I did 😄

I love lavender - but one of my customers (buyer who buys for a museum gift store) is so sensitive to lavender that she breaks out in lesions with any contact. I’ve seen it - it’s very dramatic. As I understand it, it’s linalool that is the culprit, or more specifically the hydroperoxides that...

That’s what I use too - I think it is less likely to scorch, too.

I have been getting ads on Instagram for Catania Oils - they are a wholesale distributor of oils (no cocoa or shea butter). Recently they posted that they are now allowing customer pickup. They are located in Ayer, MA, not too far from me (in the US) so I decided to try them out. It was a little...

To enter the April 2024 SMF Challenge, post your name in the list below. Then copy and paste these instructions and the entire list into a new post, adding the next number at the bottom. Sign-up list: 1.Vicki C - I have something I have been wanting to try! 2.

Can you get a copy of their guidelines? I think that will help get at what they are asking for.

My daughter is a scientist and a runner and she thinks in metric units. Might sound pretentious but she’ll say “Oh it’s like a kilometer from here.” And I think “oh so like… more than a mile? Less than a mile?” When I go to the doctor they always weigh me in kg. Since I have no frame of...

Maybe this was the wrong thread @Mike E maybe repost under soap showcase and photo gallery?

I know that a kilogram is a little over two pounds. But I can’t really switch back and forth. My molds hold 1550 grams of batter. I know what that looks like and feels like and it’s about 3.4 pounds (just looked that up) but I’m not very good at switching back and forth. Just like I am not good...

Oh I agree - my current scale measures to hundredths of an ounce but I had a scale that read in fractions of an ounce, like 4 3/8, which was downright annoying. I guess it was for cooking? Now I have just gotten used to grams and that’s what I use.

I agree. The Classic Bells soapy stuff sees a LOT of visits from me. Very appreciative.

My system is very primitive and I sort of have to hold the press down with one hand to make it work. I think it’s supposed to be attached to a workbench. @Mike E did you design it yourself or did you find an stl somewhere? Oh no - I see the photos were taken off maybe they went somewhere else.

Yes, you’re right @DeeAnna. I would love to hear what myths you do think should be debunked! And fwiw I have nowhere near the chemistry knowledge you have.

That’s so cool! I love the jig you made. I bought an arbor press last year and I use it for pressing bars out of soap shavings. The whole job gets messy but it was a good investment. I made a little three part mold on my 3D printer but it is nowhere near as slick as yours - now I need to make...

Yes - I agree, and I don’t know why I’m stomping my foot about it - I just get weary of accomplished soap makers on YouTube stating that “grams are more accurate.” You hear it ALL the TIME. I think it is confusing for beginners and reinforces this erroneous logic. And tbh I think I’m sensitized...