Sounds like there is a story there- what happened?
My guess is the static electricity got to them and they popped like popcorn all over the place!
The evolution of the TBL soap—first one on the left I made one batch and then separated the blue and black. I didn’t add the essential oil until I was ready to pour, but as you can see, the blue layer hadn’t set up enough when I poured the top black layer. 2nd batch I made 3 separate batches and only started mixing the next batch when the first layer became dull and was set up. Oddly, I used the same amount of activated charcoal in the 2nd batch as I did in the first, but it’s not as dark, so 3rd batch I added more charcoal.
You mean they-they make rainbows in your tub!?
That's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Ever.
Rainbows = mood elevating. Lately I’m way into rainbows!!You mean they-they make rainbows in your tub!?
I am fine, no worries
. By hearsay, however, a “good friend of mine” indeed had less-than-ideal experiences with the NaOH micro-pearls. As you know, they love to cuddle with everything plastic in reach, including the thread of the bottle in which the NaOH came. It is a (not entirely implausible) rumor that the lid not even opens any longer without applying unpleasant amounts of force.
@TashaBird , those are beautiful! I was never into bath bombs but now I can see how fun they are!! I love rainbow stuff. One of my daughters is infatuated with them too!
Owl, this is interesting. I haven’t master batched because I make a lot of smaller batches using goat milk.. but I’m starting to realize this isn’t very productive as I’m getting requests from some places to wholesale.. I don’t think I’d be able to keep up doing it the way I am. I’m using 1/2 aloe and 1/2 goat milk now, so I think I could masterbatch the aloe? Adding the goat milk later.. and it’s always frozen as I don’t milk in the winter. But doable, right?I am fine, no worries
What I'm having a hard time to believe, however, is that said person, otherwise not so much known for careless and clumsy handling of dangerous chemicals, managed to spill a heaped teaspoon worth of NaOH pearls all over the working space. If this were a real story, the cleaning up afterwards would have been a real pain!
Why are people so stupid? Why isn't everyone just using masterbatched NaOH solution like I do?
I was wondering the same thing and will be following for answers! I searched but didn’t find any pertinent post. I’ve not mastered searching on this forum yet!
. Guess why the word “try” is hidden inside “chemistry”!Beeswax-based lotion bars?
Because some of us don't want to have extra bottles/buckets of anything sitting around in a space that is already too small.I am fine, no worries
What I'm having a hard time to believe, however, is that said person, otherwise not so much known for careless and clumsy handling of dangerous chemicals, managed to spill a heaped teaspoon worth of NaOH pearls all over the working space. If this were a real story, the cleaning up afterwards would have been a real pain!
Why are people so stupid? Why isn't everyone just using masterbatched NaOH solution like I do?
I found a thread from 2017 mostly not recommending master batching straight goat milk, but I think it could be done with 1/2 something else? 1:1? Adding the other 1/2 later? I realize master batching is to save time right? But would also solve the frequent “bead” explosion ? I didn’t really think I’d be “thinking” about this later….
)
Ewwww, geez… I see Pom poms again… I didn’t even think that it couldn’t be aloe.. but that makes sense. I know @zany kept her milk solution in the fridge overnight.. maybe I could do that and call it a day. When one master batches with water, how long does it last? Out of curiosity..@Basil @violets2217
I too have never heard from masterbatches that are made from anything but water. Maybe for a reason? It sounds likely that the VERY strong alkaline and water-pulling environment in a 50% NaOH solution can, over time, even attack additives that are otherwise rather lye-resistant (like the goodies in aloe vera juice). Even if it “only” precipitates, it'd be annoying enough.
But in the end, there is only one way to find out
And those who know in advance which type(s) of soap they want to make from a lye masterbatch, can aim for working strength (e. g. 35% instead of 50%) from the beginning, which saves time, nerves, and a dilution step when actually making the soap.
right? 
oh my gosh! I can’t stop! Realized “try” and that’s why I have 30+ goats 
Yes, indeed, thin blue line. I'm making these for a police spouse organization. The second one looks a lot more grey in person.
No blue in the black. Blue mica for the blue and activated charcoal for the black.
The lather is definitely grey. I love layers, but don't love doing them. They are too fussy for me--I'm more of a freeform kinda gal.
