Pre mixing colorants

[Carl]

When using oxides and micas, how do you decide if you premix it or if you just put it right in with your batch?

When I say premixing I mean stirring up in a small amount (maybe an ounce) of solvent (water for water solubles and oil for non water solubles) before putting it in the soap

 

[Susie]

I just mix them into the batch. I decided that all those extra steps did not work for me long ago. But I do stay away from TD and other known problem colorants. There are too many ways to get a good color to sweat the extra work.

 

[IrishLass]

With micas, I stir them right into the batter as they take to mixing very easily that way, but not so with ultramarines and oxides. Those latter 2 will form pesky specks if I don't smooth them out in a little glycerin first before adding to my batter.....unless, that is, I hit them really hard with the stick-blender, but I don't like to do that if I don't have to as I'm not fond of having my soap trace faster than I want it to.

Glycerin is my solvent of choice when I pre-mix my colorants, as it mixes quite well with both water and oil-soluble colorants.


IrishLass

 

[Carl]

With micas, I stir them right into the batter as they take to mixing very easily that way, but not so with ultramarines and oxides. Those latter 2 will form pesky specks if I don't smooth them out in a little glycerin first before adding to my batter.....unless, that is, I hit them really hard with the stick-blender, but I don't like to do that if I don't have to as I'm not fond of having my soap trace faster than I want it to.

Glycerin is my solvent of choice when I pre-mix my colorants, as it mixes quite well with both water and oil-soluble colorants.


IrishLass

Interesting

Does the addition of the Glycerin change your recipe at all? I'm assuming since it's not an oil it doesn't saponify and acts as a carrier only?

 

[IrishLass]

No, it doesn't change my recipe at all. I only use enough glycerin to make a smooth slurry of the colorants, which most times is just a teaspoon or so.


IrishLass

 

[decisions]

If I'm coloring the whole batch, I add the colorants to the oil and stick blend it in before adding the lye and other goodies.

If I'm going to do a swirl, I put the colorant into it's container, add a few mls of the soaping oils and mix with one of those mini mixers. Then I add the lye to the main batch and mix until there is just barely an emulsion and then add some of that batter to the colors. If I need to color the main batter, I'll add the mica directly and stick blend while getting to thin trace. I use the mini mixer to blend the small amounts of color