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| Leonie2 |
Waiting for trace (n)nModerator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 334 Posted: 05 Mar 2006 06:08 pm Post subject: waiting for trace -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am sitting here in my yellow marigolds (washed hands with gloves on, don't want to melt the keyboard by accident). We have made tha basic lardy soap recipe from Melinda Coss and it isn't tracing at all. About an hour now, supposed to take 30 minutes. OH is getting despondent. n Back to top Kathy Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1008 Posted: 05 Mar 2006 06:35 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think the temperature difference between the fat and the caustic soda make a difference. I guessed mine the first time and it took about 1.30mns, the second time I had thermometers and it took around 40mns. Good luck! _________________ Take care Kathy Back to top n Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 334 Posted: 05 Mar 2006 06:56 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Am I being dim? After a couple of hours won't the solid fat have resolidified? How do I know the difference between trace and a fatty lump? n Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 05 Mar 2006 07:41 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- what's happening now n? has it reached trace yet? Back to top n Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 334 Posted: 05 Mar 2006 08:02 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nope. It's whiter and thicker, but I think that could be just because its cooling down, and turning back into lard!!! OH is sniggering now..... n Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 05 Mar 2006 09:08 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The thickening should be due to it reaching trace, because you've mixed it with water the oils should not return to their original consistency even when cooled. I haven't tried the basic recipe myself but some others did take quite a bit longer than the book said and others were much quicker....but 2 hours is a long time. Are you sure you weighed the ingredients accurately, did you weigh the water....just thinking aloud what could have caused the problem. Please don't give up, it really should be much easier than what you're experiencing. If it doesn't reach trace, I'd pour it into the mould anyway and leave it somewhere safe overnight, the book does say that even when there's a mess up, unless you made a major mistake, the mixture will eventually reach trace. Back to top n Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 334 Posted: 05 Mar 2006 09:48 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well it has gone thicker, I am still not convinced that is wasn't just because the fat had cooled down to a temperature where it would have resolidified anyway, but never mind, we'll see what happens. The only thing we did which was possibly different was that we used the metric weights rather than the imperial ones, we were meticulous in the weighing and checking temperatures etc. I made lavender flavoured purple soap (used a bit of purple grated wax crayon at the end which was quite successful). It solidified very fast at the end so it needed to be spooned into the moulds and flattened off with a knife. OH made cocoa coloured oatmeal soap. His poured very easily. Which one did you make first? Has anyone got a favourite one from the book to try next? n Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 05 Mar 2006 09:51 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- so you made 3 batches n? That's good going, I only manage one batch a time. Back to top n Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 334 Posted: 05 Mar 2006 09:54 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No, I'm not that brave. We made a double quantity of the lard based one and then divided it at trace (if that's what it was) and each got half to play with. n Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 05 Mar 2006 09:59 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ahhhh, the mud clears Well if it was that thick to spoon it into the mould then I'm sure it's okay. When I first made soap I remember worrying if trace had been reached because it wasn't as thick as I imagined it should be, the soap turned out fine. Back to top n Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 334 Posted: 07 Mar 2006 09:57 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well. the lilac one (faded form purple) is fine now but the oatmeal one is a bit porridgey and didn't come out of the moulds very well (the letters got gunged up with oaty mixture. I think although the moulds with the letters in are pretty, we probably would be better with fatter lumps of soap rather than the larger, flatter bars the moulds create. Maybe they are better for melt and pour soap, the ones you made Jesse seemed to work out much better and looked more professional. I think too, that when I saw the moulds I thought they would give a really nice look to the soap, but now I have done it, it's the more handmade cut-with-a-bent-kitchen-knife appearance which is what I am after. I forsee lots of baths ahead.... instead of showers, you silly lot! Does soap cure from the outside inwards, or at the same rate all the way through? I suppose what I mean is if you make a fatter bar does it take longer for the curing process to "reach" the middle of the bar a bit like baking a large cake? n Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 07 Mar 2006 10:07 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm not sure if it takes longer for fatter bars but I have made chunky bars and used within 4 weeks and they've been fine. I too prefer the chunkier homemade look, they're a nicer size to hold. Back to top Kathy Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1008 Posted: 07 Mar 2006 10:48 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mine were ready after a bit less than 4 weeks. OH checked the thickest one with his tongue, and it didn't make his tongue tingle! I used a cardboard milk carton for mine and it sliced quite easily, even the stuff I boiled. I need to make more quite soon but haven't decided which recipe yet. _________________ Take care Kathy Back to top Lottie Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 740 Posted: 07 Mar 2006 12:40 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Right, keep this up, and you will definitely motivate me to have a go. I can't move at the moment - shouldn't even be on here, but I am having a look to take my mind off my physio treatment. I mustn't lift anything heavy - like a casserol dish full up, so will wait a couple of days. Off to read Melinda's book again _________________ I am at that purple age! Back to top Leanne Perennial Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 342 Location: herts Posted: 07 Mar 2006 12:47 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lottie, i am the same at the moment! I took a tumble down the stairs yesterday, and I am very stiff and achey today! that'll teach me to wear slippy socks! so I am having a quiet day, ive made some soap(lavender) which i am waiting to trace, and later plan to make some viennese cookies and a cake. I am still toying with ideas for my spring swap gift, I think ive decided what to make now! And ive stsarted my next pair of socks too. hope you arent too painful after your physio, make a cuppa and rest for a bit. _________________ Leanne Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 07 Mar 2006 01:05 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Put your feet up Lottie and do lots of reading, hope you're feeling back to your usual self soon. Leanne I've nearly slipped down the stairs from wearing socks, hope you're okay! Good luck with the soap, I think lavender must be the most popular soap for making, it's so easy and I love the smell of lavender. Back to top Leanne Perennial Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 342 Location: herts Posted: 07 Mar 2006 01:07 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- thanks jesse! Lavender is my very favourite scent, I darednt go to Norfolk to visit Lottie, one whiff of those lavender fields, and i'd be there, inhibitions thrown to the wind. rolling in the lavender like a cat!!! _________________ Leanne Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 07 Mar 2006 01:10 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to top nanny Evergreen Joined: 19 Feb 2006 Posts: 522 Location: deepest suffolk Posted: 10 Mar 2006 10:12 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the way i understand the word 'trace' is that it has solidified enough that if you dribble some of the mix off the spoon, it leaves a raised ridge on top of the mixture. it is at that point that the mixture will accept any other ingredients successfully and allow those ingredients to be thoroughly mixed througout the fat etc. any more solid and the added stuff won't be incorporated properly.....any more liquid and the chemical reactions will be ruined by the extra heat in the fats and caustic soda/water mixture does that make any sense after 3 glasses of chilled white south african? _________________ pass the udder udder to my udder brudder and i'll pass the udder udder this -a -way Back to top Lottie Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 740 Posted: 10 Mar 2006 11:42 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can you post the 'easy' lavender recipe please if that is a good one to start with. I was pretty rough - understatement after physio - but have perked up now. You can see that I have been busy on my www. I am not a happy bunny unless I can do things - which sounds like a lot of you on here too! Bored does not feature in our vocabulary does it - we get up and do something instead. Made lemon and lime curd this afternoon again - getting a bit addicted to it! Sorry peeps - just see that this is the soapmaking section - so had better stop waffling. _________________ I am at that purple age! Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 10 Mar 2006 11:50 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to top |