Guest guest Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 Yeah!! And Congrats! How exciting to make that first batch of soap! Sounds like you are a pro already. >Let me say for anyone else here planning to try...it was so easy! Just >make sure you have everything you need close to hand, and take your time >measuring accurately. It is pretty simple and you are right about the above. > >First, I used the wonderful spreadsheet template that can be downloaded >from www.millersoaps.com - unlike the various lye calculators available >on the web, you don't have to be online to use it! Which is important >to me when I'm on old-fashioned dial-up at home. Hate having to tie up >my phone line while I play with potential recipes. Plus it has a great > " adjusting " feature for " rounding " your batches to a given number of >bars, which I like. I haven't used it before, but now I think I will try it! <snip> >I didn't think to check the clock as I started mixing, but I think I had >trace at around 10 minutes. I dumped in my lanolin mix and stirred and >blended for just a minute more to incorporate the scent. I grabbed my >big spatula and started glopping soap into my molds. I filled two, and >had maybe a cup of soap left, so I snatched a small plastic container >from the tupperware drawer and dumped it in there! I managed to only >glop a couple of tablespoons worth of raw soap onto the stovetop. Messy >stuff! Don't you just LOVE the stick blender! And only one little mess that is great! <snip> The log popped out beautifully! The vaseline trick definitely >worked. Hmm..wish I knew about that when I tried plastic molds the first time. LOL I ended up being quite destructive and broke them all trying to rip my soap out. hehe >I did a " tongue test " while I was cutting the soap and didn't get a > " zap " , so hopefully everything was measured correctly! I was a little >paranoid as I only have a cheapo little kitchen scale that measures in >quarter ounces...I think a decent digital scale is going on my Christmas >list! Yes, a good scale is a must have. I got some very reasonably priced off of ebay through Oldwillknot. He has all kinds but, I especially like the one that's for soap and candle makers. I use it all the time! And it has a plug in that he threw in free. Gotta love that. Well, congrat again on your very first soap! And..thanks for sharing your experience. I always love to read how other's do with their soapmaking. Take care, Margaret ps. The addiction is already setting in as evidenced by the below comment. > >Melissa Bell > >...who is now trying to figure out what she wants her next batch to be, >and who wishes she could spend an insane amount of money on various oils >and butters... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 15, 2004 Report Share Posted November 15, 2004 Yippeee!!! Now I have to try!! Thanks for posting your success story! Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2004 Report Share Posted November 16, 2004 Hi, I just made my first batch last month: Lavender Goatsmilk and I ground up lavender flowers and added it. I was scared because I was just sure it wasn't going to turn out right, but it did. The only problem I had was the coloring got too dark, but I'll adjust it in my next batch. I'm waiting to order more stuff so I can make some more. It's so much fun once you get over the initial intimidation. Michele Robles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 , " Melissa Bell " <mbell@a...> wrote: > Well, I finally got brave last weekend (11/5-11/7) and made my first > batch of soap! > Hello Melissa: I am so glad to read that it is as easy as that. I just went to a craft show and talked to about 4 soapers who gave me all kinds of advise. And told me they would be glad to answer questions as we are kind of out of the way, way up here in Northern Canada. One of these lovely ladies told me they wanted to get out of soaping for about 2 years as they move to the west coast. And she wondered if I would be interested in buying your oils and such. Well I did jump at that change as she told me she would give them to me below her cost and she had them all but the shea butter. I told her no problem there as I had the shea butter. So I will be starting your journey soon too. Hope I have as much success as you did. Keep up the great work and watch for me to start this too...now how long does soap last in the cupboard?...lol Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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