Maybe it's me...

[LunaSkye]

I have yet to reach a thick trace with my soap. I have blended and stirred for over an hour and it never came. I even managed to avoid cooking it when I put the slow-cooker back on (I turned it off around 117 degrees F). Here is the recipe:

evoo- 12 oz.
cocoa butter- .98 oz.
avacado oil- 1.06 oz.
lye- 1.84 oz.
chamomile tea- 1.48 oz.
banana puree (baby food)- 4 oz. jar.

Am I really am doing something wrong?

 

[newbie]

WHat are you using to stir? Do you have a stick blender? SOaps with such a high percentage of OO are definitely slower to trace and if you are hand stirring, that can take a very long time indeed.

 

[AustinStraight]

I agree that it's probably the high amount of olive oil...

 

[LunaSkye]

I use a battery operated stick blender because I have yet to find a stick-blender that I think I would trust. I know it is not the most powerful, but I have not had a problem using it with some of my other soaps.

 

[CraftyRedhead]

What else do you use to stir? My first batch I used a stick blender, but in between I made the mistake of using a whisk. I read stick blenders can make it look thicker than it is and to stop and stir by hand often until you become accustomed to what trace looks and feels like. So here I am whisking away for over an hour.. finally checked online and read whisks are used to KEEP FROM HITTING TRACE! I was so mad at myself! Now I have a couple great mixing spoons and no issues..

 

[LunaSkye]

I also use a wooden spoon to stir in between. I almost bought a whisk, but decided not to in favor of a spoon.

 

[Obsidian]

Get a plug in stick blender and you won't have any trouble getting trace. It will still take awhile with that much OO but you'll get there. As you've found though, you don't need thick trace to have successful soap. I've poured at emulsion before and the soap sets just fine.

 

[LunaSkye]

As you've found though, you don't need thick trace to have successful soap.

I actually had a similar experience with another batch. I will definitely get a plugin SB ASAP.

Thank you, everyone, for your help.

 

[LunaSkye]

I managed to find a hamilton beach SB for around $20 at walmart. I also bought some plastic spoons to replace my poor wooden spoon -_-. Stink in peace, my spoon. Stink in peace...

 

[IrishLass]

I managed to find a hamilton beach SB for around $20 at walmart.

I have the Hamilton Beach from Walmart, too. I hope you love it as much as I love mine. I've been soaping with it since 2005 and it's still working great.

IrishLass

 

[CraftyRedhead]

Yep, Hamilton beach here, too!