Soap Making - Your questions answered!

[@margarethampton-pope1508]

Great advice Jon. And yes, please post your Don’t Be A Jerk videos…. I love them.

[@TheRashDesigns]

I'm unlearning so much bad soaping habits from you and your videos, thank you so much for being your no nonsense and straight shooting self. Started reformulating my bars because got caught up in everyone and their must have butters, no palm etc. You know what happened? my bars are so expensive no one wants to buy them. Tried a formula with the oils they said don't use and guess what it's a better bar that the one with the the must use this!

[@tectonicbrewing4168]

Cold process, typo mistake. Thanks for answering my question. And thanks for straight forward genuine answers. John, as a comment on the matter of people back in time from Syria or the middle east not using lye, those translations are wrong. I'm from Syria, and I know from first hand experience that they use caustic AKA lye (called Atruny in Arabic). Many decades, they used ash (or extracted caustic from ash). We always used caustic. Thanks

[@unclejonssoap]

Yep! Understood. It happens with auto fill all the time ..lol. Hopefully I helped some.

[@itzcloveynuh1207]

I usually add chicken fat or leftover oils in my soap making. Helps reduce the amount of oils I use as they are very expensive. I love canola oil in my soaps and vegetable shortening as well. 👍☺️

[@susiecardwell5233]

Thank you for your honesty!!

[@corryg6403]

Yay my favorite youtube soaper. I use canola and lard or palm for the vegans never had a problem with canola and I don't need TD to get a whiter bar. I have been using trash bags since your video I just use clear trash bags from wallyworld Canada I think some people think there is no lye in soap when they read the ingredients as sodium tallowate no lye is listed but its there

[@marisolvalez4719]

I really like your calm cool collected soap videos thanks for the info

[@loricolwell1470]

I've missed the no sugar coating videos. Glad to see you back and yes to the "Don't be a jerk" videos.

[@kberken]

I wonder if you've ever considered showing us how they made soap in the olden days with fire ash. Haven't watched your videos as much lately but I want to make another batch of soap once I feel better with this covid! I've got all my supplies, but might get some cheap oil to get going. Thanks for your helpful videos! I also like your don't be a jerk videos too.

[@sharonhamilton4328]

Go to Amish soap on you tube. Big eye opener

[@cedarwings1960]

Thank you uncle Jon. Miss your videos yes please do the don’t be a jerk videos. Big shout out from Vancouver Island British Columbia

[@mariegilus4442]

I'm in connecticut, thanks for these information.

[@americanmade1701]

Ty uncle john...getting low on olive soooo gonna try canola...good to see ya...how about a tour of the new shop as gas is sooo expensive...yes to don't be a jerk..

[@SeaStarSoap]

Thank you for sharing! I’ve missed you and glad your back doing videos!

[@joneo]

Thanks for answering my question! 😎

[@hbrunet72]

As always, another informative and educational video! Thanks Jon!

[@tubalchemy432]

you are so cool ...thank you for being so transparent ..not sure if you really understand how inspiring you are to new soapers..in this unpredictable world, i still want to make soaps and your calmness helps me keep going ~ peace

[@flyfishing1776]

Such words of Wisdom Thank you. Many Blessings

[@Sassycatsoapery]

Hi from Florida! Thank you for sharing this information!

[@tonybirdwell2624]

Thanks for another great helping video that is not all blah blah blah! Just the facts sir, just the facts.

[@marlenelopez]

Love the "don't be a jerk" videos!

[@denisesteil1890]

Thanks for another informative, and entertaining video. Your approach to making soap is much like mine. It's nice to know there are other imperfect people making perfectly acceptable, sometimes even really good soap.

[@beachz101]

Always great information! Can’t wait to get down to snow hill!

[@sykosuzi]

I love your Don't be a jerk videos! I was sucked into that expensive oil and butter trap and recently decided they do not make a better bar of soap in my opinion. my first soaps were made with Soybean oil, Rice Bran and coconut oils and they were great for my family. Then i put a little palm oil to get a harder bar and then i tried a little lard and the oil shaming started. So i started adding Cocoa butter and then Shea butter and a bunch of other expensive oils, they cost me more to make them and honestly they were not as good as the first soaps i made. Someone is going to have an opinion on what you should use. I have learned to do what works best for me and let them know Dollar Tree and Walmart sell soap maybe they should check out what they offer. lol Especially with supply shortages and rising costs to ship it makes more sense to use what is available locally and it is still better than commercially made soap. Just my opinion. Happy Soaping!

[@77gmcnut]

Another great video. Always enjoyable. Thanks Jon.

[@Commonmomhomeschooler]

Love your videos! Keep them coming

[@karendenbok3206]

Good video!

[@lovelyfish8053]

Hi ,thank you for your videos ..can you please post the link from where we can buy the soap fragrance,thanks

[@unclejonssoap]

I don't have the link handy just now but search bulk apothecary online. It's a very good source for me here in the US.

[@hagit33]

If you use iced water and mix them with the lye the heat isn't that high so you won't have problem with glass and also the fuels from the lye reaction to water is less heavy...not sure have is the right english word but i guess you will understand what I'm saying. What do you do with those plastic begs i didn't understand it? Thanks And about the middle east thing you said lol that's funny, I'm from Israel and baking soda is very popular here and almost 80% don't know what's soda caustic so i guess when they say soda baking they are prob at least 80% think it's the same.

[@susanmeadows8167]

Love your Don't Be a Jerk Videos

[@gumpf3522]

can you add black African soap or goatsmilk base to the oils and then blast it off with lye

[@sharonhamilton4328]

I'm in the south .. my soap takes 2 days to set up completely. Once outta mold, a white, dusty film forms. Once wet. It rinses off.. I use correct lye now.. I was guessing.. opposite I know. Fixing to add palm tree wax.

[@iwannaapple7190]

Sounds like soda ash to me. I live in the south too. Cut your water down to 1.85 x lye amount. Depending on your ingredients, that still leaves enough time for design. Blend well till you get a decent trace. No more soda ash and you can cut in about 8 hours depending on your blending. Will definitely be cutting in 12 hours. Soda ash, for me, mainly occurs when too much water is used while not blending enough. This theory can be tested when using the ghosting technique. The side with more water will get soda ash. I've actually used one of mine in the bath tub within 12 hours. That particular bar still lasted 3-4 weeks with no cure time.

[@sharonhamilton4328]

@@iwannaapple7190 I thought lye content was to low when mixing, but figured to stop just remembering amounts and start weighing. So having to mix it 15 min or more I'm right? The water has to evaporate leaving behind signs of "cut back on water stupid" Trashing weighing. Going back to looking. For me. That's how I cook. Soap is cooking in different ways. Treat it like I do food.. Humm thanks. Bc my way.. perhaps few like that. But not all. I figured souths humidity caused it too. Couldn't give away ugly. > have tons of soap.. my other half bought new cute molds. But I dread using bc they stick. Idc about designs. That's silly to me. It's soap

[@iwannaapple7190]

@@sharonhamilton4328 A low amount of lye will leave mushy soap. I made my own lye calculator. Its on etsy if youd like to see. Once, I misread the ingredients and accidentally only used 25% lye. Took a year fo be able to use. I premix my lye 50/50 and read the wrong line on the soreadsheet.

[@iwannaapple7190]

@@sharonhamilton4328 Oh yeah, sorry. No you dont have to mix for 15 minutes. Just till a trace. However, depending on what type of olive oil your using, that can take a bit sometimes especially when its your ownly ingredient.

[@sharonhamilton4328]

@@iwannaapple7190 normally 2. Once I used carrot seed oil, olive oil and tad of glycerin.. it had best lather

[@mariegilus4442]

What was the size of your mould for the tumeric soap

[@tobiasperkins1933]

Does it really matter how hot the lye water is? And does it matter how hot the oils are as well?

[@joshuamedina7292]

Are silicone molds worth getting?

[@pattiemoseley8752]

OMGOSH, yes please. I love don't be a jerk. With all that is happening in the world, we all need a good laugh

[@catchthis7563]

Hello, I have a question :) Can I use Glycerin in soap and how do i calculate it? Can i just add it to my soap?

[@unclejonssoap]

You can! There's no hard and fast rule, but I would keep it at 1-2%. Too much and your soap will be very soft. Plus, there's glycerin in there just from the soaping process.

[@catchthis7563]

@@unclejonssoap Thanks for the information! I actually tryed it out alrdy (15%). They sweat a little in the curing phase but it will stop. Its a little soft yeah but not to much. Do I feel a diffrence compared to a classic Olive and Coco? Not really tbh. Sadly i bought 5liter HAHA

[@torchape]

I like the Don't Be a Jerk videos. Whether others do or don't like it, they should consider them character building!

[@soundsnags2001]

Does lard soap expire faster??

[@unclejonssoap]

Nope! In fact, I've going that, when made well, it will last basically forever.

[@shannahmiller]

Oh that's terrifying - I sure hope people aren't using caustic soda instead of baking soda. This was an interesting video, thanks, Jon!

[@unclejonssoap]

🤣👍

[@karinblair1367]

Yes, I enjoyed Don't be a Jerk.

[@emmanash6699]

The clay/metal thing comes from stories about bentonite clay. If you use metal containers/utensils you do something that deactivates(?)/does something *bad* to the clay. As far as I know, it's only bentonite, and only if you believe in the alternative therapeutic qualities of the clay

[@unclejonssoap]

Gotcha. Well hopefully those that believe never find out how it's collected then🤣

[@terrinewman7390]

uncle Jon, if I wanted to make soap for just me would it be cost effective? keep in mind I live alone.

[@unclejonssoap]

It sure would! You can buy less expensive oils and fats and make an inexpensive unscented soap. Or, you can render your own fats from bacon and hamburger, etc and blend with canola oil and make a good soap that way.

[@sjastram]

This is a year old. You state you wont use olive oil due to alterations in it. I am reading about a huge shortage coming our way. You talk about using canola, but none of your soaps on your website contain canola. Just wondering what gives?

[@unclejonssoap]

We're actually transitioning over to mainly canola. It's been a disorganized mess but we're getting there.

[@MsAubrey]

In little corners of the world where people can't simply order NaOH from a supplier, those people are probably making their own NaOH: "To make lye in the kitchen, boil the ashes from a hardwood fire (soft woods are too resinous to mix with fat) in a little soft water, rainwater is best, for about half an hour. Allow the ashes to settle to the bottom of the pan and then skim the liquid lye off the top."

[@iwannaapple7190]

Talk about people adding to their agenda, my daughter wanted me to put some kind of acid in some soap. My wife looked up the percentage while I looked up people's facts"opinions" on the matter. Several people claimed to know that the acid would not survive the lye process. My feelings on that are how do they know? Natural ingredients are actually very h are to get rid of (the only thing I remember in my science class). I made a batch. Next thing I know my daughters calling to tell me its the best soap she's ever tried to get rid of her acne. Her face is now acne free. I tried it myself and definitely noticed a difference in lathering and bubbles. In the end, what do they know? They did try tp present it as some kind of fact but they really don't know cause they are not honest with themselves!

[@carolgrimes3831]

Why is my lye water still cloudy a day later

[@itzcloveynuh1207]

Dry measurements for me depends on how creamy you want it. 🤔🤷

[@MsAubrey]

I sure wish I could use coconut oil to make my bars less expensive... I started making my own soap because commercial products and most artisan soap makers use coconut oil or some derivative of it. I don't like hives all over my body. Just sayin. However, I'm lucky that I live in an area in which many people will spend $10-12 for a single bar. I'm not making a lot of money, but it's a side gig.

[@rockynuisance]

Hi Jon. You say it so well, about the hypocrisy. I'd like to appropriate your video for my channel.

[@unclejonssoap]

Feel free to use some clips and link back to the channel😁👍

[@rockynuisance]

@@unclejonssoap I will thanks! When I figure out the technicalities of doing it!

[@rockynuisance]

@@unclejonssoap Ah! I've just noticed the button that says CLIP! Derrrr.....

[@unclejonssoap]

All good! Can you shoot me a link when finished?

[@rockynuisance]

@@unclejonssoap I will, but knowing myself, it'll be a while!

[@Equalls31]

16 oz is a pint not a quart(32oz) but I love your videos

[@unclejonssoap]

Yep.. screwed that up..lol

[@amberskarmapgh]

Dont be a Jerk is greatttt...plz do one again!!! im in restaurant/customer service so i say Why do people come demand we run as fast as The Flash or something ridiculous to cater to them while they stare and judge even though youre taking care of 4 other full tables along with other servers doing the same, yet in the they're job when it comes to catering to the public and not relying on tips from the same people who are jerks, they dont give a Hoot about getting you the same service and respect that they come demand while dining! its absurd. i see the same people who will give you the worst time about ranch Dressing while theyre working the counter somewhere and they have these long lines while they take extreme amounts of time to do whatever and at the same time give the public no respect or kindness. Those are the realest jerks I know!!

[@unclejonssoap]

I might do that! I also have a channel where I narrate Reddit stories about entitled people, malicious compliance, etc. Just look up story time with uncle reddit on KZbin. There are two of them. One has an MC in the logo.. that's the one. The other one is mainly my tales from tech support channel. 😁👍

[@amberskarmapgh]

Ohhh sweet! I'll definitely check em out Unc! You're someone I've been taking some good advice from so I can't wait to see more. Thanks for doing all this for us soap people, it's appreciated

[@amberskarmapgh]

Ohh also you're funny af with the videos haha

[@iwannaapple7190]

One thing no one mentions is black people. Soap is racist!!!! Some recipes that you think might be good are not actually good for black people. I was shocked to learn that all the hard work and figuring and thinking about my soap went down the drain when one of my fellow coworkers left white lines on his skin. He was the only one honest enough to tell me. Normally people won't tell you these things. I scrapped 3 boxes of soap immediately and came up with a recipe just to avoid that. I eventually did and now everyone likes it. It is not hard to keep a customer now. Moral of the story is if its good enough for darker skin its good enough for every one.

[@itzcloveynuh1207]

19th. 🍹🍸🥃🍷🍾🍻🍺🥂💋❣️💖💕💞💓💗💝💐🌺🌷🏵️🌹😊🙃🤗