sevenebulas
Member
I've been soapmaking for several years but recently made several changes. I started doing it in the cold basement, switched from using 38% water to 33% lye solution (which solved my soda ash issues!), using more varied scents (some make it crack! ahh!) and have been experimenting with soaping at cold temperatures so I can do more masterbatching (I used to soap between 100 and 110 degrees) and hopefully avoid cracking issues. Suddenly I feel like a newbie because I keep having problems I've never had before.
My latest problem was with a batch where lye and oils were both at 70 degrees (my oils were clear, not cloudy). I was making a christmas batch with cocoa butter, which I've done once at 100F before, but tried doing it at 70F two days ago. When I cut it a day later, it had weird swirling impressions in the slices instead of being smooth. I use a wood mold and don't insulate so it stayed pretty cool. I used sodium lactate also..is it possible not stirring it in evenly could cause the uneven surface? Here is a picture. It's hard to see but more obvious near the top.
It's not a huge problem but I just wish I understood what was happening.
My latest problem was with a batch where lye and oils were both at 70 degrees (my oils were clear, not cloudy). I was making a christmas batch with cocoa butter, which I've done once at 100F before, but tried doing it at 70F two days ago. When I cut it a day later, it had weird swirling impressions in the slices instead of being smooth. I use a wood mold and don't insulate so it stayed pretty cool. I used sodium lactate also..is it possible not stirring it in evenly could cause the uneven surface? Here is a picture. It's hard to see but more obvious near the top.
It's not a huge problem but I just wish I understood what was happening.