Why did it crumble?

[WillZ]

Today I unmolded a batch with Matcha. I had substituted ½ the water with Matcha tea and added a small amount of green soap colouring.
When I cut it, it crumbled like some dry Cheddar cheeses sometimes do. And I am wondering WHY?

Coconut oil: 25%
Hemp oil: 10%
Olive oil: 50%
Shea Butter: 5%
Beef Tallow: 10%

Water: Lye 2:1
Water 28.11%
Lye concentration 33.33%

Many of my soaps have a Water:Lye as 2:1, otherwise I might suppose that I hadn't added enough water.
Any ideas ??

 

[shunt2011]

I'm a bit confused by your water% and lye concentration %. How much lye and how much water did you use? You didn't list that. Did you wait too long to cut it? Sometimes that can cause crumbling. Did it gel?

 

[WillZ]

OK, that would be it. Yes, I waited several days before taking it out of the mold and cutting. Is there anything I can do to make amends?

 

[shunt2011]

Probably not now. I'd just move on. Consider it a learning experience.

 

[dixiedragon]

Can you post a pic?

I am also wondering if you got false trace. Did you soap cool? How long did you stir?

 

[WillZ]

 

[WillZ]

I was all bog standard - no false trace. I had added honey to the tea, and it jelled very quickly + the mold got very hot. I froze it for an hour.
Can I shred it and rebatch? I'd hate to write it off as a learning experience.

 

[cmzaha]

You waited to long to cut. It is really better to cut soap as soon as it is firm enough to pull from the mold. I usually cut a gelled batch anywhere from 8-12 hrs. Instead of rebatching I would shred it up for a confetti soap and save some to use, if it does not zap it is fine to use

 

[shunt2011]

I would do the same as cmzaha. Grate it and add it to another batch. I may have overheated as well. You didn't list honey in your original post. And may have been soaping too hot.

 

[WillZ]

Thanks guys. After shredding - what do you do?
Add a bit of water and melt it or what?

 

[shunt2011]

If you’re just shredding and adding to another batch you don’t need water added. You would only need to add water if you’re going to rematch it. I would just shred it, make another batch about half to 3/4 size then stir in the shreds when at a medium trace.

 

[penelopejane]

You need to add one part of confetti to part of batter. You don’t need to use it all in one batch. I usually reduce it by a bit less than the amount of confetti I’m adding. So to 1000g batch add 300g confetti reduce the batch by 20%. (Not 30). So use a 800g batch of oils instead of 1000g.

What temp did you soap at? It looks like you have stearic spots in your soap.

 

[WillZ]

I believe I soaped at about 100F, but it could have been lower, I had a hectic day. Why do stearic spots appear and what are they?