Water discount?

[SimplyE]

If I am to understand, a water discount is taken to "help" speed up cure time a bit. Correct? :?

How do you know how to calculate a water discount safely. I would also imagine this is not a practice that should be used often. I am looking into trying this with a castile/GM bar. Does this make sense?

TIA

ETA: Maybe I would not want to do a discount with GM, rather water?

 

[MikeInPdx]

See my responses in italics below....

If I am to understand, a water discount is taken to "help" speed up cure time a bit. Correct? Confused

That's correct. The less water that there is to evaporate the faster the soap cures (to a point).

How do you know how to calculate a water discount safely.

You can go to soapcalc and change the number....the default is 38%....I back it off to 33% for a lot of my soaps. That seems to be a good number for me.

I would also imagine this is not a practice that should be used often.

I use a water discount most of the time, and then CPOP. You probably shouldn't do it with hot process soaps (at first anyways, although I have succeeded by moving fast, new FO's (especially florals and spice), or if you add something like stearic acid to your mix (although again, I can move fast and have done it successfully). Just be ready for your soap to trace faster and have your molds prepped and be ready to MOVE.

I am looking into trying this with a castile/GM bar. Does this make sense?

Castile is probably where a water discount makes the MOST sense.....good thought. It takes so long to set up that any help you can get is good.

TIA Very Happy

ETA: Maybe I would not want to do a discount with GM, rather water?

Not a GM soap maker...sorry I can't answer that one.

 

[IrishLass]

ETA: Maybe I would not want to do a discount with GM, rather water?

I would! Actually, I do it all the time with my goatmilk and coconut milk soaps. I soap them like I do my non-milk soaps- with a 33% lye solution. That's a good, safe water discount amount to soap with for most soaps, milk or not (at least that's been my experience).

HTH!
IrishLass

P.S. Mike gave you great answers to all your other questions. 8)

 

[SimplyE]

Thanks guys! I figured I was on the right track, but wanted to double check with you more experienced soapers. I tend to get confused with water discount/lye discount, etc.