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I just about fainted when I saw that picture! I bet that's enough lye to make soap for everyone in the country, and then some! --Metal Substance

Mineral oil is totally unsaponifiable, since it is derived from petroleum and doesn't have the same chemical composition as plant and animal fats. I wouldn't think it would work as a substitute for castor oil. --Metal Substance

Lard, Castor, and Shea (although I'm about to try tallow instead of lard, since I've been able to get it for free from supermarkets). --Metal Substance

I just picked up some waste beef fat from my local supermarket, and I'm going to render it this weekend into soap-ready tallow. Other than that, I have just made a peppermint-scented 1-lb. batch of tomato juice salt bars that are waiting to set in the mold before I take them out to cure...

Rumor has it that activated charcoal results in a nice black soap, but I have yet to try it in a recipe. I'd think that the charcoal might lessen some of the soap's fragrance due to its odor-absorbing properties. --Metal Substance

Hi all, I'm attempting yet another experimental batch - a salt bar with tomato juice. I'm aiming for a 15% superfat to keep the bar smooth. Here are the ingredients that I've used: Lye Liquid: 6.10 oz. tomato juice 2.22 oz. lye Soap Fats: 14 oz. coconut oil 2 oz. castor oil...

Don't forget to pick up a stick blender! However, when making my first three batches, I stirred the soap manually just to get a feel of what it's like (plus, I used fats that resulted in faster trace, like lard and coconut oil). --Metal Substance

Wow, those are amazing! I haven't mustered up the courage to swirl this early; I'm still in the stage where I'm experimenting with various oil formulas. :? --Metal Substance

Thanks for the tip. I've been making exclusively 1-lb. batches up to this point and I'll have to see how some of my soaps work out in larger quantities. --Metal Substance

WOW! I got to testing one of my shampoo bars on my hair, and this batch was INCREDIBLE! The lather was smooth and perfect, and felt really good on my hair. I don't think I ever want to go back to using Head & Shoulders ever again. Next: I will need to use this shampoo on a long-term...

The trouble with U.S. measurements is that there are many different meanings of the word "ounce" -- it could be a fluid ounce (volume), a troy ounce (weight), or an avoirdupois (also weight), all of which mean different things. Most of the time, when we talk about an "ounce" we refer to the...

It's funny that you mention Mother's Day! In my weekend soap pot, I'll be making a batch for my mother-in-law, with the opportunity to test out some decorative soap molds that I picked up. This will be a one-pound batch consisting of 75% lard and 25% coconut oil, scented with lavender EO and...

I just took notice, also, that many "store-brand" vegetable shortenings are formulated similar to "Old" Crisco. I might try using some to see how it turns out in soap, but I wouldn't eat any of it in a million years -- it's too much trans fat for my diet... --Metal Substance

Hi all, A number of years back, Crisco reformulated their shortening products to result in fewer trans fats. They switched from this ingredient list: to this ingredient list: For those who soap with Crisco, did this affect the performance of the soap after using the reformulated Crisco...

It might also be soda ash (sodium carbonate) that formed as a result of the lye reacting with the air. Soda ash isn't caustic to the skin; it's just an appearance issue. --Metal Substance

I don't think mineral oil is saponifiable at all. It doesn't consist of glycerin or fatty acids; the molecules in mineral oil are simple hydrocarbons that don't react with lye. For the record, has anyone tried to use mineral oil as a superfat? --Metal Substance

Thanks for the tip. I'll let my two latest batches "breathe" for a while before sealing them. --Metal Substance

If you're also looking for lye and if you happen to have a Lowes in your area, they might carry the "Roebik Crystal Drain Opener". These are 2-lb lye jars that typically run between $7 and $8 a piece. I bought two jars and was never questioned about my intentions using the product. From...

Hi all, What kinds of experiences did you all have using store-bought food coloring for cold process soap? Does the color turn out vivid, and does the coloring cause the soap to seize? The store-bought colordings use water and propylene glycol as its base. Thanks, --Metal Substance

I'd be curious to know what happens with a blend where the fats that are either all solid at room temperature, or where the majority of the fats are solid (say, 75% lard and 25% olive, or some similar combination). My guess is that since fats are always soluble within each other, the mix will...