Partial gel - soaping too hot?

[KudzuGoddess]

Made some soap last night, combined oils and lye water at about 120 degrees, maybe a little less. Put the mold on the cold porch (New Hampshire in Autumn) uncovered. This morning I have partial gel. I should have waited longer for everything to cool, yes? I also learned that a little bit of brown oxide goes a long, long way. This was not supposed to be milk chocolate color but I think you all get the point. Can I fix this by putting it in the oven?

 

[SoapDaddy70]

I am confused. Did you want it to gel or not? If you wanted it to gel then you should not have put it outside to cool down.

 

[ResolvableOwl]

Can I fix this by putting it in the oven?

You mean Emergency CPOP? Yes, you can give it a try. But I'd guess that the bar will turn out just fine if you let it sit as is. Partial gel often mellows out by itself, when the appearance of gelled and ungelled soap approach each other after a few weeks of cure.

For the future, either go with your temperatures as low as possible (before getting troubles with false trace) and with lye concentration better higher than lower, or enforce gel by good insulation or CPOP.

 

[KudzuGoddess]

I am confused. Did you want it to gel or not? If you wanted it to gel then you should not have put it outside to cool down.

Good question! I did not want gel in this case. I am good at getting gel when I want it, but no gel seems to elude me.

 

[SoapDaddy70]

Good question! I did not want gel in this case. I am good at getting gel when I want it, but no gel seems to elude me.

Not sure what setting you use for your lye solution but if you decrease the amount of water in your lye solution it will require a higher temperature before entering gel phase. If you use lye concentration try going up to as much as a 38-40% lye concentration.

 

[KudzuGoddess]

Not sure what setting you use for your lye solution but if you decrease the amount of water in your lye solution it will require a higher temperature before entering gel phase. If you use lye concentration try going up to as much as a 38-40% lye concentration.

Interesting, I use 1.5:1, is that 40%?

 

[ResolvableOwl]

Yes.
1/(1+1.5)=0.4=40%

 

[Zing]

I don't have time right now to find the link but there is an EXCELLENT youtube on fixing partial gel in the oven. Do a search on this forum. She takes you step by step and it's literally a matter of seconds per step. Good luck to you. It's a great color!

 

[AliOop]

You can also put this back in the mold and put it on a heating pad on high; I'd give it about an hour, but you can also watch it to see when the gel has spread to the outer edges. Then remove from heat, and cut when firm and cool.

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

You can also put this back in the mold and put it on a heating pad on high; I'd give it about an hour, but you can also watch it to see if the gel has spread to the outer edges. Then remove from heat, and cut when firm and cool.

Fantastic suggestion. . I wouldn't of thought of that.

 

[AliOop]

Fantastic suggestion. . I wouldn't of thought of that.

I've learned to use heating pads (usually with insulating boxes or bags) because I can't stand the smell of FOs in my oven.

 

[Peachy Clean Soap]

I usually pop it in the oven @ lowest temp & watch it... Thought your soap issn't cut @AliOop has a great idea.