Re: Soap making question

[Guest guest]

Without seeing the recipe, this is a guess- If an amount of lye was given and

this statement (a 6% discount was taken) was after it, it means that when

they calculated the lye amount based on the oils used, they used 6% less than

the amount needed to saponify all of the oils, leaving some unsaponified oil

to add richness to the soap. I use the majestic Mountain Sage calculator to

calculate my lye amounts and you can choose the discount. Most everyone uses

some discount unless they are making soap for laundry. I generally use a

6-7% discount for my soaps.

HTH

Beth Akins

Dragonfly Toiletries

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[Guest guest]

I do understand the temps thing..sorry if I wasn't clear on that..just the

" discounted 6% " was what threw me off.

Pam

[Guest guest]

> It has the ingredients list and measurements then underneath that

tells the temps to mix solutions and such ..then a note added

says " 6% discount was taken " . This part, I don't understand what this

means.

> Assistance please....anyone?

The 6% discount refers to " superfatting " ie. when you have more oils

in the batch than the lye can convert into soap. You generally want

to have at least a 5% superfat because you don't know for sure

exactly what the sap values are of the oils you are putting in. You

can go to MMS (www.thesage.com) and cheeck out their lye calculator.

It's always a good idea to check out any recipe you find against a

calculator like this. I usually use about a 7% superfat. ( too much

extra oils and your bars will spoil faster) It might be helpful for

you to go to your local library and check out Cavitch's

books on soapmaking. They are very informative. Before you use any of

her recipes though, run them through the lye calc. as she superfats a

bit too high (IMHO). Oh- the MMS calculator will let you resize

recipes to fit your needs as well. You don't need to add any extra

oils at trace, just put them all in and " discount " your lye. That is

what you are asking I think.

I hope I haven't confused you more!

Jackie

[Guest guest]

The discount usually refers to the water portion. Just makes it so you don't

have to wait so long for the soap to dry.

HTH,

Vicki in so. CA

[Guest guest]

Beth and Jackie, thanks so much for your time and information helping with

my question. I did go to the site and ran a few of the recipes through the

lye calculator and the ones I checked were correct. I do have one I don't

understand..everything was measured in ounces except the lye and that part

read odd to me. I'll just go by the chart if I try it. Maybe that way it

will work out ok.

I know not near enough to do my own recipes yet, so to begin I'll try ones

others have shared. But for the lotion recipes that don't have a

preservative or emulsifier I don't know enough about how to add ingredients

to fix those to use. I wonder why they were left out of the

recipe....especially for beginners like myself it's frustrating for recipes

found on sites and in books to be shared with others to leave a lot to the

imagination and not be complete. I don't know enough yet to guess what other

ingredients need to go in.I do know the lotions need a preservative, but

which one I don't know. I will learn though and won't give up till I do.

ggrrrr LOL

I'll look at the library for the books mentioned, the ones I have are for

soaps only and not much on lotions at all. So tomorrow I'll go see what I

can find. Thanks for the recommendation. and thank you both for the help.

Much appreciated!

Pam

[Guest guest]

At 10:23 4-9-2009, you wrote:

>Hi all,

>

>Is Dr 's recipe for soap making pretty good?

It's the only one. That is how soap is made.

>I don't know anything about soap making, but am interested to try

>because I want to use clean soap as a tooth cleaning agent.

Hum, not sure about using soap in mouth.

.....

No, make that, very sure about using soap in mouth: don't!

Does Dr advice real soap for use in the mouth? Did I miss something?

>I have USP grade lye granules from a lab and some olive oil and

>coconut oil. I read somewhere that the resulting soap can tested

>for ph by adding a chemical to it or something,

To check for PH, use PH tester strips.

>but if I'm going to use it for teeth,

Did I say " don't " before? DON'T

> then I probably want a soap that is neutral ph. So I'm asuming my

> oil combination will be important.

>

>I also thought about adding a little bit of something for flavor and

>sweetness, like peppermint and xylitol, but then I am not sure about amounts.

DON'T use xylitol.

DON'T use anything that Dr hasn't adviced!

Adding flavours isn't an isue since you're not supposed to taste it.

Adding mint leaves, oressense of,

will make it smell minty.

>Any experienced soap makers out there?

Buy a book. Read the chapter in Dr s book again. And again.

Lye is DANGEROUS!

Do reasearch. LOTS of reasearch!

Find a soap making class in your area, to learn the techinque.

Remember: no soap in mouth!

Arwen

>-Ken Bagwell

>

>

>

>------------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Ken-

 

yes, I am a soapmaker in addition to being a Nutritionist and a Protocol

practicioner for 13 + years.

First, be not deceived by the term USP.  It is not what people think it is.  I

would never take any supplement that has a USP designation on the label.  See

" BRIDGE to LIFE   [or Life Bridge for details]

 

Next, if you really want to protect and guard your teeth you might want to

consider Baking Soda [aluminum free]  for tooth brushing, and implement an oil

swishing program to clean your mouth, gums, and other sensitive oral areas. 

[Details on request]  I have had expereinces wherein client's loose teeth have

solified and other oral problame have abated by getting on the swishing program.

A few drops of Oil of Oregano can be added to the base oil to provide a

more aseptic swish.

 

Soap is by nature aklaline [lye is the most caustic alkali - solid Sodium will

explode when immersed in water] and I can't believe it would be a good substance

to introduce into one's system.  If you feel you must test it's pH then use a

litmus paper. Remember anything very alkaline would tend to kick up your own and

anything above 7.4 is TOO alkaline and dangerous, just as an acid ph [below 7.1

or 2]

 

about additives ... soap is a chemical compound and an INorganic one at that. 

so, whatever you out in it will probably, on some scale react with the alkaline

soap substances .

Essential oils are the accepted medium to make soaps more pleasant, but few of

them ought to go into the mouth.  Always test with a bit of the EO in some olive

or sesame oil first.

 

Try a bigger used book store for soapmaking books.

 

Good Luck!

 

Nutricon - Wm

From: kenancy2000 <kenancy2000@...>

Subject: Soap making question

Dr

Date: Friday, September 4, 2009, 2:23 AM

 

Hi all,

Is Dr 's recipe for soap making pretty good? I don't know anything about

soap making, but am interested to try because I want to use clean soap as a

tooth cleaning agent.

I have USP grade lye granules from a lab and some olive oil and coconut oil. I

read somewhere that the resulting soap can tested for ph by adding a chemical to

it or something, but if I'm going to use it for teeth, then I probably want a

soap that is neutral ph. So I'm asuming my oil combination will be important.

I also thought about adding a little bit of something for flavor and sweetness,

like peppermint and xylitol, but then I am not sure about amounts.

Any experienced soap makers out there?

-Ken Bagwell

[Guest guest]

i have tried using dr.bronners soad to brush my teeth with and it left my mouth

feeling really clean, but i didn't use it that long , prefer good natural

organic toothpaste.

Soap making question

Dr

Date: Friday, September 4, 2009, 2:23 AM

Hi all,

Is Dr 's recipe for soap making pretty good? I don't know anything about

soap making, but am interested to try because I want to use clean soap as a

tooth cleaning agent.

I have USP grade lye granules from a lab and some olive oil and coconut oil. I

read somewhere that the resulting soap can tested for ph by adding a chemical to

it or something, but if I'm going to use it for teeth, then I probably want a

soap that is neutral ph. So I'm asuming my oil combination will be important.

I also thought about adding a little bit of something for flavor and

sweetness, like peppermint and xylitol, but then I am not sure about amounts.

Any experienced soap makers out there?

-Ken Bagwell

[Guest guest]

I second that. I'm a soap maker too. There is a lot involved when making soap.

Much knowledge is needed, more than can be listed here. Equipment is needed,

like safety equipment, a scale, and stick blender, just for starters. Equipment

used to make soap should not be used to make food, because of contact with lye

and EOs that can't be taken orally. Also, it takes experience. Most soap

makers start with the simplest of soap recipes, then refine their methods and

recipes to get exactly the right formula for their needs. It can take months

for a soap recipe to cure enough to know whether you like it. There are several

good soap maker lists and websites.

I would like to encourage anyone who would like to try it, and say that in my

experience it's a commitment and a skill that takes time and practice to master.

-

>

> Re: Soap making question

>

>

> Ken-

> Try a bigger used book store for soapmaking books.

>

> Good Luck!

>

> Nutricon - Wm

[Guest guest]

how to make soap

http://www.maplesprings.com/makesoap/index.html

>

> I second that. I'm a soap maker too. There is a lot involved when making

soap. Much knowledge is needed, more than can be listed here. Equipment is

needed, like safety equipment, a scale, and stick blender, just for starters.

Equipment used to make soap should not be used to make food, because of contact

with lye and EOs that can't be taken orally. Also, it takes experience. Most

soap makers start with the simplest of soap recipes, then refine their methods

and recipes to get exactly the right formula for their needs. It can take

months for a soap recipe to cure enough to know whether you like it. There are

several good soap maker lists and websites.

>

> I would like to encourage anyone who would like to try it, and say that in my

experience it's a commitment and a skill that takes time and practice to master.

>

>

>

> -

> >

> > Re: Soap making question

> >

> >

> > Ken-

>

>

> > Try a bigger used book store for soapmaking books.

> >

> > Good Luck!

> >

> > Nutricon - Wm

>

[Guest guest]

For the record, Lyn and I have been brushing with UltraSafe Plus soap from

www.SaferSoaps.com for years. It is non-toxic, anti-bacterial, pure and works

well.

Got the idea from 's Tooth Soap, which is shredded soap that also works

pretty well. Using soap keeps the tooth surface clean so it can remineralize and

sometimes heal cavities. Glycerin coats the teeth. Lyn has had two small

cavities remineralize recently, to the surprise of the dentist.

Blessings!

Arthur

www.BestZapper.com

www.ForgetDrugs.com

P. S. Are you as healthy as you would like?

Re: Soap making question

> >

> >

> > Ken-

>

>

> > Try a bigger used book store for soapmaking books.

> >

> > Good Luck!

> >

> > Nutricon - Wm

>