Help with soda ash

[kaygrrl]

Hi!
I recently made indigo-colored bars, which upon unmolding had considerable soda ash! I’d like to know your thoughts on what to correct for future batches. Thanks in advance! My recipe:

Beeswax .48 oz (3%)
Indigo-infused Almond oil 4 oz (25%)
Castor oil .80 oz (5%)
Tallow 7.52 oz (47%)
Coconut oil 3.20 oz (20%)

Additives/other ingredients:
1. Zany’s faux seawater for lye mixture
2. SL (1tsp was added to lye water)
3. Citric acid (.32 oz diluted in .64 oz water that was then added to oils)
4. Additional 14.55 g NaOh to account for what was neutralized by citric acid

 

[Zing]

That is a unique mold!! Is it one bar? I have learned that for my cavity molds, that if I unmold at 24 hours, I get soda ash -- now I unmold after a week and get no soda ash.

For my loaf mold, I pour the batter, spray with alcohol, cover with plastic wrap, a piece of cardboard, then towels, and don't get soda ash.

 

[KiwiMoose]

If i don't gel I get soda ash.

 

[AliOop]

@kaygrrl I find that cavity molds are especially prone to ashing, since they don't heat up as much and also cool off more quickly. I recommend gelling them on a heating pad and then keeping them covered for a few days as @Zing suggested. Good luck!