First Soap

[Momonga]

Fell behind a week with a sick baby, but finally got to make my first soap.

:-| Here it is. Note the little M&P mold from Michaels. Once again, I ran out of patience waiting for my mail order stuff. "Well, it'll make a [soap]".

1: Drat! L x W x H x .40. Why is it even simple math always kicks my...
2: Looks like I got the dreaded partial gel, although you can't see it well in this pick.
3: Very thick trace! But I did this on purpose because I was playing with it to see how fast it happens.
4: But... I did it! I made soap, and no one died, and no major damage to the property occurred.

Next up, in the pot swirl, and have husband calculate quantities.

 

[ruby61]

Woo hoo! Looks great, dont worry about partial gel, next time either insulate with a towel or put in fridge. It's just aesthetic so congrats!

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Ooh, your top looks pretty! Great first soap! Who cares about partial gel...sometimes once its cut it evens out appearance wise...and it's only aesthetic. I actually have 6 of those Michael's molds...they're the exact same HDPE (?) material that my other molds are (like my Cumberland slab mold) and they work just fine...however, they're expensive if you don't use a handy 50% off coupon! (Does it seem I always reference a 50% coupon when Michaels comes up?)
For future reference, I find that 32 oz of oils fits this mold if you want fluffy tops. It's sold as a 3 pound MP mold, but it will not hold 3 lbs of oils once you add your water/lye solution and additives. I get (6) 1.5" bars out of these molds. Also, you don't HAVE to line these, but I find the soap removes earlier and easier if I do...otherwise I've had to go the freezer route, which always annoys me...

 

[chicklet]

Congrats on your first batch! As for partial gel - non-soapers will say "Wow! How did you get that oval shape in the middle of the bar like that!" I used to say "oh that's ugly partial gel" but now I say "isn't that cool?" And they agree!!

 

[Smee]

YAY!!! You did good! It looks fabulous!!!

No lye holes to the center of the earth? No neighborhood evacuations??
Sounds like a resounding SUCCESS to me!!
Congrats!

 

[Cherry Bomb]

This looks great! I love the top. Great job on your first soaping experience!!!! What FO or EO did you use if you used any? I have been contemplenting buying a mold like this or a silicone loaf mold. You're addicted aren't you?!?!?!?! :grin:

 

[melstan775]

:wave: You did it yay! Sounds like great things ahead.

 

[Momonga]

For future reference, I find that 32 oz of oils fits this mold if you want fluffy tops. It's sold as a 3 pound MP mold, but it will not hold 3 lbs of oils once you add your water/lye solution and additives. I get (6) 1.5" bars out of these molds. Also, you don't HAVE to line these, but I find the soap removes earlier and easier if I do...otherwise I've had to go the freezer route, which always annoys me...

Thanks for the gouge! I think it will be a great small batch mold, for my mad experiments.

Cherry Bomb, it was baby powder FO - not my thing, but for my first soap, I decided I ought to use one of the free samples I've got from Brambleberry. So this is a bastille. I'm wondering if I can give it to my little jelly bean for her first bar soap.

7.94 oz. OO
1.47 oz. CO
0.29 oz. Castor Oil

Is that too much CO for a toddler? And yes, that is a tiny little batch. I really don't do math well.

 

[danahuff]

The top is pretty. Like it! Much prettier than my first soap, for sure!

 

[deg195]

the top looks great. Sometimes I get a partial gel and every time my son says I love the way you did the circle- you should alway do that...

 

[Badger]

The top is very pretty and it looks wonderful! So what if the math was off a bit, you are learning still and that is what matters! I hope you had fun with it! My first batch is laundry soap now ;-)

 

[lizflowers42]

Wahoo! It looks fantastic!

The top is very pretty and it looks wonderful! So what if the math was off a bit, you are learning still and that is what matters! I hope you had fun with it! My first batch is laundry soap now ;-)

And yay laundry soap!