12) Beginner Soap Making Series- To Gel or not to Gel

[@ladymitch32sunshine88]

Hi, I just wanna ask, after putting the soap to the loaf wood mold, what temperature ready to start using the heating pad? And When to shut off the heating pad? What is lowest temperature in a soap when I shutting off? Thank you so much for sharing and response

[@TinaMoenck]

I would use low heat, and cover. Make sure to come back shortly often and check to make sure its not over heating. Once gel has happened, take the heating pad off.

[@jackvsadam2679]

About how much time does gelling your soap take off of the overall curing time?

[@hlumelabongobi3933]

Hi Tina. How do I prevent overheating and volcanoes while gelling?

[@TinaMoenck]

Sugar causes a lot of heat, and can cause volcanoes. Also the best way to avoid over heating is to combine the lye water with the oils when they are both around 100 degrees F. 120 degrees is about max. You can also place it in the fridge right after pouring into the mold. You can also put in the freezer. I don't leave mine in the fridge or freezer for more than 12 hours. This can prevent gelling altogether, which will cause a longer cure time.

[@hlumelabongobi3933]

@@TinaMoenck thank you for your response. I'll definitely watch my oil and lye temperatures next time. My charcoal soap overheated and caused alien brain and I had no sugars in it so it's probably my oil and lye temperatures. Thanks for the tip 😊. I definitely like the idea of geling my soaps but it's just t he overheating I fear.

[@abbeyp8834]

Kool! When do I cover it with Saran Wrap do I wait a few minutes? I don't want to mess you up the top

[@TinaMoenck]

I leave enough space at the top to cover with saran wrap right after pouring and spraying with rubbing alcohol. If you have a high top soap then covering won't work without messing it up.

[@abbeyp8834]

@@TinaMoenck Thank you! Makes sense.

[@caxsmith]

I started CPOP, and the top of the soap seems fuzzy, or the soap has lots of tiny little air bubbles.

[@TinaMoenck]

caxsmith cold process oven process can do that if it gets too hot.

[@tanyaartstudio481]

I don't see what the gel is?

[@TinaMoenck]

Tanya Green The gel phase can be harder to see in some soaps. It's the chemical process of saponification. The Soap naturally does this. It heats up and turns to a vaseline consistency. This is the process of becoming soap. The gel phase isn't necessary to make soap, but it speeds it up. Soaps that don't gel take longer to cure.

[@msasidharan5019]

Can you explain me the steps for non gel soap

[@TinaMoenck]

M SASIDHARAN You have to soap colder 80 to 90 degrees F. You can't add any type of sugar, because it creates a lot of heat. After pouring I immediately put the soap in the fridge to prevent the gel phase. I'll usually leave the soap in the fridge over night. Non gelled soaps take longer to unmold and cut, and to cure.

[@carolferguson5467]

None of us are really understanding the gel process as I'm seeing in the comments?! Why and why not it may maybe nessary?

[@TinaMoenck]

Carol Ferguson The gel phase is the chemical process of saponification. The Soap heats up and turns to a vaseline consistency. The gel phase speeds up the process, but isn't necessary to make soap. Non gelled soaps just take longer to saponify and cure. The gelling process can affect the look of the soaps and darken them. If I do cp milk soaps I soap much colder and put the soap in the fridge to keep it from gelling to avoid the soap turning brown. Gel or not gelling is preference.

[@carolferguson5467]

Tina Moenck Thank you so much Tina for getting back to me. I just ordered all the books you recommend to better educate myself. Thank you for all you do! Could you recommend some books that go into making shampoo bars, conditioner bars, lotion bars? I'm also looking for an apple cider coconut milk hair rinse bar? I'm sorry if I'm be presumptuous ?!

[@TinaMoenck]

Carol Ferguson I know a soap maker who is working on syndet shampoo bar ebooks. I'll be posting about those in my group, when they are available. But a regular shampoo bar recipe can be found on Liz Ardlady's blog.

[@carolferguson5467]

Tina Moenck Thanks again! I joined your Facebook group as well but I have not seen an acceptance yet, lol can you tell how excited I am! Lol

[@TinaMoenck]

Carol Ferguson I'm not sure I saw your name come up. Here is the group link facebook.com/groups/881719151947634/