A Bit Confuzzed--Could Someone Please Try To Help Clarify?

[Krickett]

I have recently just finished reading The Handmade Soap Book by Melinda Coss. It seems to be a really good book and has some nice soap recipes in it however she has me a bit confuzzed on measurements/weights. On pages 24 & 25 some of the weights are different and I am wondering if it is a printing error or what? For instance for Almonds (ground) she has only a teaspoon (5g) per lb (454g) of soap is required. Then farther down Borax for instance she says to add about 1 teaspoon (5g) per lb (454g) of soap, then for Bran it says to add about 2 tablespoons (10g) per pound (454g) of soap, shouldnt this have actually been (30g) if a teaspoon is (5g)?
Then farther down still there is Clay she says to use approximately 1 tablespoon (15g) per lb (454g) of soap. There are several of these differences so I am guessing it is a misprint of some sort. And am wondering if the (5g) is accurate for a teaspoon or tablespoon? Any help in clarifying this for me will be greatly welcomed? In advance many Thanks for your time and help!!


Krickett

 

[MakeArtNotWar]

I can't help you with the recipes but I use this converter for a quick answer. I just used it to convert my tbs of honey to grams.

Hope it helps.

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/gram_calc.htm

 

[Krickett]

Many Thanks MakeArt. I have added that link to my soap making things. I have yet to make my first batch of soap--other than M&P that is. I am reading and collecting info as well as ingredients. And there is one other thing I am wondering about. Some recipes call for Tallow isnt Lard the same thing? Or I guess what I am asking is could I use Lard instead of Tallow if it isnt the same thing? Again Thanks to one and all for all the answers and helpful advice!

Krickett

 

[Soapmaker Man]

Krickett, Lard is rendered pig fat, and tallow, generally speaking, is rendered beef fat. The saponification numbers are a bit different. Look at a reliable calculator for the sap. values.

www.soapcalc.com is a good one!

Paul

 

[ADKer]

a teaspoon won't always be 5 g--it depends on what you're measuring. for example:
1 cup of sugar is about 7 ounces
1 cup of flour is about 4.25 ounces
1 cup of water is 8 oz.

NEVER assume that volume (tsp, tbsp, cut ml, l) and weight (g, oz, kg, lb) are the same--you can make some mistakes interchanging them.

 

[cdwinsby]

Teaspoons and tablespoons are the imperial volume measurements and millilitres or mls. are the metric volume measurements. 1 tsp = 5 mls; 1 tbsp = 15 mls.

Grams are metric weight measurements. Sometimes it's confusing alright!

Cathy

 

[Guest]

Hi!

It's important to run all recipes through a lye calculator. soapcalc.com uses grams and will convert it to ounces for you. However - you should use a scale that will accommodate grams as it is much more accurate for smaller batches.

 

[Krickett]

Many Thx for all the answers and help you all have given me!!


Krickett