I've been reading in the archives and found a post by soapmaker man. I'm hoping someone can explain it to me... I'm a smart person, but for some reason, I can't wrap my brain around this.
He says,
"by Soapmaker Man » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:38 am
I make a premix lye solution of 50% strength. This is equal amounts by weight of liquids (I use aloe vera juice) and lye. I usually make batches of 25 ounces each, let cool, then store in a bleach container with the built in pour spout. Here goes how to figure how much is needed.....
Say your recipe calls for, lets keep this simple, 10 ounces of lye and 30 ounces of water. With a 50% strength solution and a recipe calling for a 30% solution, needing the 10 ounces of lye, you figure it like this;
I know that my 50% is 1/2 liquids and 1/2 lye. I weigh out 20 ounces of 50% solution, or 10 ounces of aloe vera juice and 10 ounces of lye. The recipe calls for 30 ounces of water. I take 30 ounces minus the 10 ounces that is in my 50% solution, knowing that I need to add 20 ounces of liquids, aloe vera juice in my case, to the 50% solution to get it to a 30% solution. This is where I add my goat milk to bring it down to a 30% solution to soap with.
That is it, very simple basic math! I love having everything ready in two containers...my masterbatch of oils/butters, my favorite recipe, and my jug of 50% lye solution. I just shake the crap out of each one before pouring them out!
Hope this helps you understand. I've been doing this for a year now!
Paul..."
I normally make a two pound batch, which is about 12 ounces of water. How much of a 50/50 lye solution would I use and then how much additional water/liquid should I add to get it to 38%?
Thanks!
He says,
"by Soapmaker Man » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:38 am
I make a premix lye solution of 50% strength. This is equal amounts by weight of liquids (I use aloe vera juice) and lye. I usually make batches of 25 ounces each, let cool, then store in a bleach container with the built in pour spout. Here goes how to figure how much is needed.....
Say your recipe calls for, lets keep this simple, 10 ounces of lye and 30 ounces of water. With a 50% strength solution and a recipe calling for a 30% solution, needing the 10 ounces of lye, you figure it like this;
I know that my 50% is 1/2 liquids and 1/2 lye. I weigh out 20 ounces of 50% solution, or 10 ounces of aloe vera juice and 10 ounces of lye. The recipe calls for 30 ounces of water. I take 30 ounces minus the 10 ounces that is in my 50% solution, knowing that I need to add 20 ounces of liquids, aloe vera juice in my case, to the 50% solution to get it to a 30% solution. This is where I add my goat milk to bring it down to a 30% solution to soap with.
That is it, very simple basic math! I love having everything ready in two containers...my masterbatch of oils/butters, my favorite recipe, and my jug of 50% lye solution. I just shake the crap out of each one before pouring them out!
Hope this helps you understand. I've been doing this for a year now!
Paul..."
I normally make a two pound batch, which is about 12 ounces of water. How much of a 50/50 lye solution would I use and then how much additional water/liquid should I add to get it to 38%?
Thanks!