For a newbies this is a must have video. It gives the way it looked and the final product. I know it will be of help to many. Glad you are posting again. I hope all is well.
Great video what I found that works great for me so you don’t get that steam from the lye in your face is to measure half of my water that is distilled I keep the distilled water in the refrigerator for soap so no one in my family touches it and the other half of my weighted water is in ice cubes by doing so I don’t get that steam in my face I found that has helped me tremendously when making my lye solution I hope this might help someone else out too.
That’s a good idea. I put a lid over the bucket after stirring. I don’t snap it down tightly, but just enough to keep the steam from rising as you said.
I have gotten lye water or fresh soap batter on me hundreds of times. If you have an open cut, it stings like crazy and you *have* to wash and rinse it immediately. Lye on unbroken skin feels itchy initially. You might not realize it at first, so use proper protection (especially splash resistant goggles and of course gloves) and I’d recommend showering after making soap. Keep a good water source nearby and have some vinegar handy. (I use vinegar to neutralize a lye spill on the floor mostly.) I hope that helps.
Hi Liza!! I keep making soap, but didn't have time for recording until recently. It's still crazy-busy around here, but I have a new laptop that makes editing faster. What kind of soap did you make?
Three butters kokum cocoa shea, a vegan one and lard coconut castor Olive with a custom blended floral. Outdoor scent. Added goats milk. It was so fun.
Hey! Question! You said in a comment I read that when you add lye to room temperature water, the mixture heats up because of the chemical reaction. So when making recipes, am I just adding room temperature distilled water with the measured amount of Lye for the specific recipe letting it heat up, then allowing it to cool down before I mix the lye with oils?
The lye heats up the water, yes. Some experienced soap makers use that heat to melt the oils in their recipes, BUT for the rest of us… you’ll get more consistent results by letting the lye water cool. In your comment, you imply that you “add room temperature water” to the lye, but we ALWAYS add the lye to the water. Just wanted to make sure that was clear. This might be a carry-over from using KOH potassium hydroxide lye which spurts and sizzles when added to water, but I’m not sure. So to keep people safe, I’ll emphasize the lye is added to the water, not vice versa.
I use room temperature distilled water. The chemical reaction between the water and lye make it heat up and get very hot (175-200 degrees is my estimate).
Good idea. Do you freeze the distilled water as cubes? How/where do you store your lye solution if you are not soaping the same day? (Thanks in advance!)
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 Yes I do freeze the water into cubes. It's easier to stir cubes rather than a big chunk of ice. As far as the lye is concerned I do use plastic but I use the numbers safe to reuse (#2,#4, and #5) I have been toying with the idea of master batching my lye. I think that would be better since the solution is only 50% lye. I used to think master batching lye was dangerous until I understood how to properly do it! lol I don't have a problem with storage because I do not have any children or pets. BUT I do label my containers on the off chance I might have a "senior" moment lol Happy soaping!
Do you think lye water could be stored in empty 2lb lye bottles with childproof lid -- the kind the sodium hydroxide beads come in? A friend told me she mixed lye and put it in a milk container and it ate through the plastic... makes me a bit hesitant to master batch it. Thanks for the reply!
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 Absolutely! It was scary for me initially. I'm still a relatively new soaper but I am OCD about learning everything to do with soap making. I have been a recycler for eons and that is how I know about the good vs bad plastics. I've never tried using my empty lye bottles but I'm pretty sure they can be used. My lye bottles are HDPE #2 so it's definitely the strong plastic. I wouldn't use plastic if I were going to master batch. I'd only use stainless steel or glass. The trick to storing it for a long time is keeping it air tight. I'd use mason jars because of the canning lids. I must say it made me feel good to see a question from you! No one has ever asked me about tips so THANK YOU ! :0)
Lol, you're welcome! I like to learn :) I don't pre-mix my lye often because I still have kids and pets here and it's too risky (for me). I prefer to use hot lye and cool fat these days and do a heat transfer. It's not my favorite, but works.
To make soap successfully, you need to calculate the amount of lye and water your specific recipe needs. Each oil needs a different amount of lye based on it’s saponification number (how much lye does it take to change one gram of this oil into soap). That is why videos like this are vague. A free online soap calculator allows you to enter your recipe with weights of each oil/fat and then recommends how much lye and water to use. I tend to use 2x the weight of the lye for the water portion. Hope that helps!
That's why I'm in comments lol I'm almost done with video and yikes I don't think she said how much water 😳yikes...and I'm totally ready to make soap as soon as I get measurements 🙏I was like please let someone have asked about the water then see your comment lol
@sharinnature If you know how much lye to use (like 125g), use 2x that amount for the water (250g). Once you see how the soap batch performs, you can reduce the lye:water ratio.
It seemed like you already knew how much lye to use, so I answered you. Making soap means you need a specific amount of lye for the fats/oils in the formula. The water is a variable, but 2x the lye weight is a good start.
Liquid soap almost always uses potassium hydroxide lye instead of sodium hydroxide lye as shown in this video. The potassium hydroxide spurts and bubbles/boils faster/hotter, but otherwise the procedure is similar.
The distilled water is room temperature (or can be chilled in the fridge ahead of time. Adding lye to it causes a chemical reaction that heats the water up to 180-200 degrees, I’d say.
I use at least 2x the weight of lye in water - like 1oz lye in 2 to 2.3oz of water. You can multiple the lye weight by 2.3 to find how much water to use. It can vary as some people useless water to make a harder bar. Here is a Brambleberry / Soap Queen article on water in soap: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/water-discounting-cold-process-soap-how-why/
No you cannot, but this is a good question. Melt and pour soaps are actually detergent based and not true/natural soap. Well, at least most are not. You may find a few videos on making transparent glycerine soap by adding chemicals (propylene glycol? Glycerin? Alcohol? Or maybe sugar water) to hot process soap while it’s in gel phase. That soap may behave a bit like melt and pour. I played around with it years ago. As far as cold process soap goes, you can rebatch soap to make scraps or shreds turn into bars, but that’s different from the easier Melt and Pour style soaps. I hope that helps a little.
I check your responce to those people who are asking you about the measurement of water you used on this specific video. You did gave an advice that it depends on the soap calc and the oil. You also said that if your using 10 oz of lye then the water should be 20. For this video that you used 814 grams of lye, what is the measurement? Should I guess that you used 1628 grams of water?
Yes, that is a good guess. I would probably use more water with floral fragrances or ones known to accelerate the soap batter. If I were new to soap making, I’d be making a much smaller batch and adding more water (2.5:1 ratio) just because of less experience. There are many factors involved.
Rainwater would be better. If your sink/tap water has minerals in it, it can make the soap misbehave. I once used regular water to make a dish detergent in South America. I added lye to the water. It got a layer of orange scum on top from impurities in the water. Distilled water is best. Rainwater collected in a clean container is a good option. If neither of those are available, use sink water and see how it goes.
Distilled is preferred. I think ultra purified or reverse osmosis water may work. Water qty is 1.5 to 2 times the weight of the lye, but depends on your recipe.
The amount of water is based on the amount of lye. The amount of lye is based on the quantity and type of each oil in your recipe. It has to be precise. There are free soap calculators online that tell you how much lye and water to use for your oils. You’ll need a scale. Hope that helps point you in the right direction.
Is it lye like Drano? Or Liquid Plumber? I don’t think you can use that. Around here those products are not pure lye and could have metal shards in them.
Yes, it can be called caustic soda. Both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are called “Lye” though. I’m not sure which lye you’d get if you ordered “caustic soda.” Sodium hydroxide is used to make bar soap. Potassium hydroxide is used for liquid soaps. A “soap base” sounds like soap that is already made - like glycerin melt and pour soap base that you melt in a double boiler and pour into molds. In that case the manufacturer already mixed the lye with the fats. Hope that helps
Every recipe needs a different amount of lye. Find a recipe that includes the oils you have on hand and then use a lye calculator to determine how much water and lye to mix.
When I first started making soap, I didn’t use a mask. I mixed lye outside or in a well ventilated area. I mix 10 larger batches at a time now and use a respirator- I think it’s an N95, but you need one for chemical fumes.
I always try to notice the condition of the spatulas in soap videos. Unless they have just been replaced, they look like they have been gnawed on by rats! Or in my case a puppy. Love the well used look ☺️
I would not... but it may be possible if it is pure. I believe plumbing lye manufacturers started adding other ingredients (like metal?) to lye so illegal drug manufacturers can’t use it for making drugs. One of my friends said they could buy pure lye at a hardware store. I have not verified that.
The first thing you need to know is how much lye do you need to safely turn your oils into soap. (An online soap calculator would work). Once you know how much lye to use *by weight*, use 2x that amount *by weight* for the water. Measure the water first, then measure the lye and add it to the water. Do you know how much lye you need?
Hi, thinking of using coconut oil and olive Oil,also essential oils few drops, rice milk and sandalwood powder/orange peel powder too. I do have a electronic scale
I would start simple - maybe with a pound/500g of just olive oil to make soap for you/your family. I think those powders are ok to add as well as the essential oils, but I would avoid rice milk until you have the basics down. I’m not sure what rice milk does to soap batter. Do you want to use a cold process or hot process?
It depends how much lye you are using and how fussy your recipe (and fragrance oil) is. I like to use 2x the weight of the lye in water. Like 6 oz of water with 3 oz of lye. Hope that helps!
The “safest” amount for a beginner soap maker would be 2x the lye (1628g). The lowest amount would be the same weight as the lye (814g). I generally start with double the lye weight in water and then reduce it with each new batch until the soap misbehaves (thickens too fast). Does that help?
I’d hesitate to “bottle” it in glass. Lye will etch/weaken the glass over time. A friend of mine tried storing a lye solution in a plastic gallon milk jug and it leaked. I’ve stored lye in the containers shown in the video for at least a week without a problem. They also come with lids that can seal though I put them on lightly (no little kids at home).
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 swimmingly at first but when i realized i forgot the fragrance oil i rushed that in and it started hardening on the spot... lessons learned... the hard way...
The amount of lye is determined by the quantity and type of oils you use (based on the saponification values of the oils). I generally use twice as much water as lye by weight. So for 10oz of lye, I use at least 20oz of water.
The amount of water is based on the amount of lye. The amount of lye is based on the quantity and type of each oil in your recipe. It has to be precise. There are free soap calculators online that tell you how much lye and water to use for your oils. You’ll need a scale. Hope that helps point you in the right direction.
For bar soap, people use Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). Essential Depot is a popular online store that sells it. For liquid soap, you’d use Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). Thanks for watching!
I prepared soapbase with caustic soda and coconut oil and water then I stored for 3days now going to melt that soap base based doubles boiler method after 30min of high flame it not melted than I going to directly melt that but lots of smoke was produce vessel base going to black I am panic then I stop for melting What mistake I made pls help me
Hello, You need to add the caustic soda to the water. It will heat up as the caustic soda dissolves. Melt coconut oil. Add the lye mixture to the coconut oil and mix, mix, mix. When it is slightly thick like pudding, pour it into a mold. It sounds like you mixed the solid caustic soda directly into the oil and water. You need to dissolve the caustic soda first. I hope that helps.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 no that's not help I already made soap by mixing caustic soda and water then add coconut oil then mixing for 30min then pour into mould cool overnight in room temperature
You could grate it up, add a little water or sodium lactate and warm it in the microwave or in a crock pot. Add the fragrance once it’s smooth (melted) and before putting it into a mold.
Some more comments: most people do not prepare a “soap base” because it is difficult to melt, a process called “rebatching”. Coconut oil makes an extremely hard soap that cleans really well but can dry skin unless the super fat (extra oil) is around 20%. If you wanted a soap base like melt and pour glycerine soap bases that can be melted in the microwave or over a double boiler, the soap making process is more complicated and involves adding something like alcohol, sorbitol, propylene glycol (etc) at the right stage so the soap melts easily. It is easier to make soap and add fragrance to each batch than to rebatch it.
The amount of water is based on the amount of lye. The amount of lye is based on the quantity and type of each oil in your recipe. It has to be precise. There are free soap calculators online that tell you how much lye and water to use for your oils. You’ll need a scale. Hope that helps point you in the right direction.
I tried making soap through cold-process by stirring. I managed only about 10 minutes (not 1 hour as I am supposed to do) before I gave up and kept the pot aside while covering it with a plastic wrap. It's two weeks later and the mixture has solidified. Is this solid stuff considered soap and is it safe to use?
Is it completely solid with no liquid on top? Are you reasonably confident that you measured correctly? Assuming those answers are yes, I'd cut it. If there are no pockets of liquid (lye), I'd test it by washing my hands. If they don't sting or get dried out, it should ok. Then I'd cut the rest into bars and let them garden and mellow for a few weeks. You really only need to stir until the soap batter is emulsified (lye water and oil parts combine). I'd recommend a cheap, thrift store stick blender for soap making -- but that is not an option for everyone and hand stirrings can work. Thanks for commenting!
Nancy's Garden Soap LLC Yes, there is no liquid on top. I am quite sure that I measured correctly but if I am to err, I should err on the side of the oil (as in a bit more oil), right?
I add room temperature water. The lye plus water mixture will then heat up. Let the lye cool before soaping. Is that what you wanted to know? Thanks for watching!
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 what temps can I expect the lye/water solution to get up to? Also does tap water comprimise things? I just realized trace elements like metals can interrupt... But seriously Ive never done this I just got my first supplies.. Im just now experimenting with beeswax and oils.. learning what this and that does ... but id like to know what temps to anticipate also I heard the term volcanoing and wondering if thats what happens when you combine them too early or is it from just too much lye? sorry for all the q's
I’d avoid using beewax while you’re learning. (It May solidify the batter too fast at lower temps when doing cold process soap making). The lye water could reach 200 degrees or more. Use distilled water whenever possible because the trace minerals can change your results. Volcano-ing usually occurs when soaping too hot and/or the fragrance oil or other ingredients like sugars react with the lye. I have a video of it happening somewhere, lol.
I tried my first batch and my lye had white crystals in it after it cooled--does anyone know why that may have happened? I kept it in a rubber container. After I mixed it, it was clear.
I sometimes get white flakes, too. I think mine are soap particles from residual fat on the spatula or inside the bucket. It might just be impurities in the lye. I often strain my lye before adding it to the oils. Just be sure the lye is dissolved.
You recommend spraying the finished soap with alcohol, right? I think the original question was about crystals on the liquid lye solution. I wouldn’t spray that with anything, just strain it if it’s a problem.
The minimum amount of water I’d recommend is 1.5 - 2 times the lye’s weight. The amount of lye you need varies depending on the recipe - which oils and how much of each oil you are using.
Did you figure out how much lye to use with the coconut oil? Also, if you are making soap for your body (vs clothing or dish washing), use a super fat around 20%. Coconut soaps are very cleansing and can dry your skin. If you need help figuring out how much lye, a free online soap calculator is what I use.
I usually delete links by other people (especially the Woodprix ones, lol), but this one is useful. I believe KOH (potassium hydroxide) is much more reactive/violent when mixed with water. Thanks for commenting!
Run your recipe through a free online lye calculator and use 2 times the lye’s weigh for the amount of water. Always work in weigh measurements vs volume. Hope that helps!
Honestly, I’m asked this a lot. People can’t tell you how much lye and water to use because it’s different for each combination of oils/fats. You need a scale to measure the ingredients. And once you know the weight of each oil/fat… you have to do the math or use an online calculator to figure out the lye (and water) amount. I’m really happy to help, but no one wants to use a free online lye calculator. That is the key you need to make soap.
You should use room temperature distilled water. The amount of lye you use depends on your recipe. The amount of water varies, but if you use 4oz of lye, you could add it to 8oz of water (double). I use a free online soap calculator like soapcalc.net to figure out how much lye and water to use with the oils in my recipe. Hope that helps!
The amount of lye and water you use depends on the kinds of oils and quantity of each one (like 5 oz coconut oil, 3 oz olive oil, etc). I generally use 2 times the lye weight for the water. So I’d add 5 oz of lye to 10 oz of water. How much lye you need for your recipe is the most important thing to calculate.
The amount of water is based on how much lye you need (by weight). The amount of lye is based on how much of each specific oil you are using (by weight) in your recipe. You’ll need a scale to weigh oils, lye and water. A beginner/standard soap recipe is 1/3 palm oil, 1/3 coconut oil, 1/3 olive oil.
Hi, I feel like I answer this question a lot. How much lye does your recipe need? (Each recipe needs a different, precise amount of lye.) You can use 1.5 to 2 times the amount of water as lye. If you’re a beginner, start with more water. 2oz of lye? Use 4 oz of water.
The amount of water is based on the amount of lye. The amount of lye is based on the quantity and type of each oil in your recipe. It has to be precise. There are free soap calculators online that tell you how much lye and water to use for your oils. You’ll need a scale. Hope that helps point you in the right direction.
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For a newbies this is a must have video. It gives the way it looked and the final product. I know it will be of help to many. Glad you are posting again. I hope all is well.
Thanks! I'm glad to be posting again, too.
Struggling single mom here Thank you for the information
Great video what I found that works great for me so you don’t get that steam from the lye in your face is to measure half of my water that is distilled I keep the distilled water in the refrigerator for soap so no one in my family touches it and the other half of my weighted water is in ice cubes by doing so I don’t get that steam in my face I found that has helped me tremendously when making my lye solution I hope this might help someone else out too.
That’s a good idea. I put a lid over the bucket after stirring. I don’t snap it down tightly, but just enough to keep the steam from rising as you said.
Thank you so much. Lye scares me but it’s something that I need to overcome my fear of. Thank you for sharing this video x
I have gotten lye water or fresh soap batter on me hundreds of times. If you have an open cut, it stings like crazy and you *have* to wash and rinse it immediately. Lye on unbroken skin feels itchy initially. You might not realize it at first, so use proper protection (especially splash resistant goggles and of course gloves) and I’d recommend showering after making soap. Keep a good water source nearby and have some vinegar handy. (I use vinegar to neutralize a lye spill on the floor mostly.) I hope that helps.
Nancy!! Iam so glad you posted! I totally just made soap for the first time in ages. Been missing you lady ❤️
Hi Liza!! I keep making soap, but didn't have time for recording until recently. It's still crazy-busy around here, but I have a new laptop that makes editing faster. What kind of soap did you make?
Three butters kokum cocoa shea, a vegan one and lard coconut castor Olive with a custom blended floral. Outdoor scent. Added goats milk. It was so fun.
Oooh, that sounds nice! I think I like outdoorsy floral scents.
Hey! Question! You said in a comment I read that when you add lye to room temperature water, the mixture heats up because of the chemical reaction. So when making recipes, am I just adding room temperature distilled water with the measured amount of Lye for the specific recipe letting it heat up, then allowing it to cool down before I mix the lye with oils?
The lye heats up the water, yes. Some experienced soap makers use that heat to melt the oils in their recipes, BUT for the rest of us… you’ll get more consistent results by letting the lye water cool. In your comment, you imply that you “add room temperature water” to the lye, but we ALWAYS add the lye to the water. Just wanted to make sure that was clear. This might be a carry-over from using KOH potassium hydroxide lye which spurts and sizzles when added to water, but I’m not sure. So to keep people safe, I’ll emphasize the lye is added to the water, not vice versa.
@@fixthishouse3303 I’m so glad you responded. Thank you for the clarification!
Any time!
Lol, I didn’t realize I replied from my other channel!
What's the best container to use to make your soap when using your immersion blender?
I use big stainless steel (not aluminum) cooking pots.
Thanks for the video
The water u have used is cold?..from the fridge?.. before pouring the lye?
I use room temperature distilled water. The chemical reaction between the water and lye make it heat up and get very hot (175-200 degrees is my estimate).
If I'm gonna soap the same day I use frozen Distilled water. That keeps the fumes way down and it cuts the cool down time
Good idea. Do you freeze the distilled water as cubes? How/where do you store your lye solution if you are not soaping the same day? (Thanks in advance!)
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 Yes I do freeze the water into cubes. It's easier to stir cubes rather than a big chunk of ice. As far as the lye is concerned I do use plastic but I use the numbers safe to reuse (#2,#4, and #5) I have been toying with the idea of master batching my lye. I think that would be better since the solution is only 50% lye. I used to think master batching lye was dangerous until I understood how to properly do it! lol I don't have a problem with storage because I do not have any children or pets. BUT I do label my containers on the off chance I might have a "senior" moment lol Happy soaping!
Do you think lye water could be stored in empty 2lb lye bottles with childproof lid -- the kind the sodium hydroxide beads come in? A friend told me she mixed lye and put it in a milk container and it ate through the plastic... makes me a bit hesitant to master batch it. Thanks for the reply!
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 Absolutely! It was scary for me initially. I'm still a relatively new soaper but I am OCD about learning everything to do with soap making. I have been a recycler for eons and that is how I know about the good vs bad plastics. I've never tried using my empty lye bottles but I'm pretty sure they can be used. My lye bottles are HDPE #2 so it's definitely the strong plastic. I wouldn't use plastic if I were going to master batch. I'd only use stainless steel or glass. The trick to storing it for a long time is keeping it air tight. I'd use mason jars because of the canning lids. I must say it made me feel good to see a question from you! No one has ever asked me about tips so THANK YOU ! :0)
Lol, you're welcome! I like to learn :) I don't pre-mix my lye often because I still have kids and pets here and it's too risky (for me). I prefer to use hot lye and cool fat these days and do a heat transfer. It's not my favorite, but works.
good video though I don't know how much water are you using.
To make soap successfully, you need to calculate the amount of lye and water your specific recipe needs. Each oil needs a different amount of lye based on it’s saponification number (how much lye does it take to change one gram of this oil into soap). That is why videos like this are vague. A free online soap calculator allows you to enter your recipe with weights of each oil/fat and then recommends how much lye and water to use. I tend to use 2x the weight of the lye for the water portion. Hope that helps!
What was the amount for the water the measurement
That's why I'm in comments lol I'm almost done with video and yikes I don't think she said how much water 😳yikes...and I'm totally ready to make soap as soon as I get measurements 🙏I was like please let someone have asked about the water then see your comment lol
@sharinnature If you know how much lye to use (like 125g), use 2x that amount for the water (250g). Once you see how the soap batch performs, you can reduce the lye:water ratio.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 Thank you ,I'm so excited and watched every video I could and yours is the most helpful for beginners ❣️🙏👍
It seemed like you already knew how much lye to use, so I answered you. Making soap means you need a specific amount of lye for the fats/oils in the formula. The water is a variable, but 2x the lye weight is a good start.
Do you use cold water ? When mixing the lye
I use room temperature distilled water.
So how much water to you 840g caustic 🤔 might help
Twice that weight is 1680g.
Does this work for hot process soap making or would it be done differently in that case?
I think it’s the same.
Good morning Nancy ❤🌹❤ nice explained video for Beginners. ❤🌹❤🌹
Thanks, Sunsole!
Could i use this to make a liquid soap? I have pto make eppermint extracts and coconut oil liquid soap.
Liquid soap almost always uses potassium hydroxide lye instead of sodium hydroxide lye as shown in this video. The potassium hydroxide spurts and bubbles/boils faster/hotter, but otherwise the procedure is similar.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 could you recommend me what i should make with my sodium hydroxide?
Make some nice solid bars of soap.
did you use warm water or room temperature water that was added to the pot for the lye .
I measure room temperature water into the pot and then add the lye to the water.
is the water cold or hot ?
The distilled water is room temperature (or can be chilled in the fridge ahead of time. Adding lye to it causes a chemical reaction that heats the water up to 180-200 degrees, I’d say.
Greetings
Do you use cold water?
I use room temperature distilled water.
How much water did you use?
I use at least 2x the weight of lye in water - like 1oz lye in 2 to 2.3oz of water. You can multiple the lye weight by 2.3 to find how much water to use. It can vary as some people useless water to make a harder bar. Here is a Brambleberry / Soap Queen article on water in soap: www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/water-discounting-cold-process-soap-how-why/
Was the water hot or cold when you mixed in the lye?
The water was room temperature distilled water. When you add the lye, the water heats up and gets very hot due to a chemical reaction.
So simple
Can I use this as soap base and make melt and pour soaps?
No you cannot, but this is a good question. Melt and pour soaps are actually detergent based and not true/natural soap. Well, at least most are not. You may find a few videos on making transparent glycerine soap by adding chemicals (propylene glycol? Glycerin? Alcohol? Or maybe sugar water) to hot process soap while it’s in gel phase. That soap may behave a bit like melt and pour. I played around with it years ago. As far as cold process soap goes, you can rebatch soap to make scraps or shreds turn into bars, but that’s different from the easier Melt and Pour style soaps. I hope that helps a little.
I check your responce to those people who are asking you about the measurement of water you used on this specific video. You did gave an advice that it depends on the soap calc and the oil. You also said that if your using 10 oz of lye then the water should be 20. For this video that you used 814 grams of lye, what is the measurement? Should I guess that you used 1628 grams of water?
Yes, that is a good guess. I would probably use more water with floral fragrances or ones known to accelerate the soap batter. If I were new to soap making, I’d be making a much smaller batch and adding more water (2.5:1 ratio) just because of less experience. There are many factors involved.
Can I use water from sink?
Rainwater would be better. If your sink/tap water has minerals in it, it can make the soap misbehave. I once used regular water to make a dish detergent in South America. I added lye to the water. It got a layer of orange scum on top from impurities in the water. Distilled water is best. Rainwater collected in a clean container is a good option. If neither of those are available, use sink water and see how it goes.
Water quantity?distilled water or tap water?
Distilled is preferred. I think ultra purified or reverse osmosis water may work. Water qty is 1.5 to 2 times the weight of the lye, but depends on your recipe.
Hi, how much water did you use ??
Water should be at least 2x the weight of the lye. To make soap properly, all oils, fats, lye and fragrances need to be weighed.
how much water did you use .
The amount of water is based on the amount of lye. The amount of lye is based on the quantity and type of each oil in your recipe. It has to be precise. There are free soap calculators online that tell you how much lye and water to use for your oils. You’ll need a scale. Hope that helps point you in the right direction.
Can u use the lye thats in liquid form to make soap still or nah
Is it lye like Drano? Or Liquid Plumber? I don’t think you can use that. Around here those products are not pure lye and could have metal shards in them.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 yeah it to clean toilet and sinks yeah
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 thank you for answering back and for your advice i appreciate it 💕
If you are in the states (USA), many people buy pure lye (sodium hydroxide) from Essential Depot.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 im in the Caribbean
Can I get the exact measurements of the water thanks
How much lye are you using?
Where do you purchase your lye....I have the flakes
Essential Depot dot com is where I buy 2lb bottles of sodium hydroxide lye. Thanks for watching!
lye also called caustic soda? someone plz clear my doubt ....also plz explain the soap base ..both are the same?
Yes, it can be called caustic soda. Both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are called “Lye” though. I’m not sure which lye you’d get if you ordered “caustic soda.” Sodium hydroxide is used to make bar soap. Potassium hydroxide is used for liquid soaps. A “soap base” sounds like soap that is already made - like glycerin melt and pour soap base that you melt in a double boiler and pour into molds. In that case the manufacturer already mixed the lye with the fats. Hope that helps
Is the water room temperature or boiled ?
Room temperature, but it becomes very hot from the chemical reaction between the lye and the water.
How much would you use with that lye measurement?
Every recipe needs a different amount of lye. Find a recipe that includes the oils you have on hand and then use a lye calculator to determine how much water and lye to mix.
Great video do you use a gas mask when mixing lye and water?
When I first started making soap, I didn’t use a mask. I mixed lye outside or in a well ventilated area. I mix 10 larger batches at a time now and use a respirator- I think it’s an N95, but you need one for chemical fumes.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750Thanks I'm new to making soap I wanted to make sure if I'm doing everything safely before I make my first bach
Hi...how much water u used to dissolve sodium hydroxide..?.reply me plz..
I recommend 2 times the weight of the lye. One basic principle is that you have to weigh all of the ingredients.
How much water exactly for that much of grams of lye?
I’d use at least 2x the amount of water by weight. 300g lye, 600g water.
I always try to notice the condition of the spatulas in soap videos. Unless they have just been replaced, they look like they have been gnawed on by rats! Or in my case a puppy. Love the well used look ☺️
I thought you were gonna yell at me, lol. Thanks for being kind :) I love puppies!
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 my favorite spatula has doggie teeth prints in it 😃
Do I have to put it on fire ?
No, when you add lye to room temperature water, the mixture heats up because of the chemical reaction.
Thank you for your response. How much oil mixture I have to add with this much procedure?
i prefer using an ice water for lye solution so that it wont release to much steam
Do you freeze the distilled water in ice cube trays?
Is it safe to use plumbing lye for making soap
I would not... but it may be possible if it is pure. I believe plumbing lye manufacturers started adding other ingredients (like metal?) to lye so illegal drug manufacturers can’t use it for making drugs. One of my friends said they could buy pure lye at a hardware store. I have not verified that.
You can buy it on amazon. 5gallon buckets for like $80
How much water? Infom plz
The water amount depends on how much lye you are using. The amount of lye depends on the weight and type of each oil in your soap recipe.
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Hi, can you please help me with the ratio of lye and water, for soap making thanks
The first thing you need to know is how much lye do you need to safely turn your oils into soap. (An online soap calculator would work). Once you know how much lye to use *by weight*, use 2x that amount *by weight* for the water. Measure the water first, then measure the lye and add it to the water. Do you know how much lye you need?
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 thanks Hun, that's the main problem, I don't know how much lye I need as it's my first time
What oils are you using? Do you have a scale?
Hi, thinking of using coconut oil and olive Oil,also essential oils few drops, rice milk and sandalwood powder/orange peel powder too. I do have a electronic scale
I would start simple - maybe with a pound/500g of just olive oil to make soap for you/your family. I think those powders are ok to add as well as the essential oils, but I would avoid rice milk until you have the basics down. I’m not sure what rice milk does to soap batter. Do you want to use a cold process or hot process?
How much water for the amount of lye?
For water, I like to use double the lye’s weight. 100g of lye goes in 200g of water.
How much water is that exactly
It depends how much lye you are using and how fussy your recipe (and fragrance oil) is. I like to use 2x the weight of the lye in water. Like 6 oz of water with 3 oz of lye. Hope that helps!
how litter water for 814g caustic?
The “safest” amount for a beginner soap maker would be 2x the lye (1628g). The lowest amount would be the same weight as the lye (814g). I generally start with double the lye weight in water and then reduce it with each new batch until the soap misbehaves (thickens too fast).
Does that help?
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 Thanks
anybody know if it is safe for me to do this process and bottle the lye mix for a later date?
I’d hesitate to “bottle” it in glass. Lye will etch/weaken the glass over time. A friend of mine tried storing a lye solution in a plastic gallon milk jug and it leaked. I’ve stored lye in the containers shown in the video for at least a week without a problem. They also come with lids that can seal though I put them on lightly (no little kids at home).
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 i actually am a little hesitant now that i have done the first batch of soap... thanks...
How did it go?
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 swimmingly at first but when i realized i forgot the fragrance oil i rushed that in and it started hardening on the spot... lessons learned... the hard way...
There is a lot to remember and timing is important. Sometimes I add the fragrance oil to the oils before adding the lye.
How much of lye to water ?
The amount of lye is determined by the quantity and type of oils you use (based on the saponification values of the oils). I generally use twice as much water as lye by weight. So for 10oz of lye, I use at least 20oz of water.
Water measurement?
The amount of water is based on the amount of lye. The amount of lye is based on the quantity and type of each oil in your recipe. It has to be precise. There are free soap calculators online that tell you how much lye and water to use for your oils. You’ll need a scale. Hope that helps point you in the right direction.
Is there a specific lye to use?
For bar soap, people use Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). Essential Depot is a popular online store that sells it. For liquid soap, you’d use Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). Thanks for watching!
I prepared soapbase with caustic soda and coconut oil and water then I stored for 3days now going to melt that soap base based doubles boiler method after 30min of high flame it not melted than I going to directly melt that but lots of smoke was produce vessel base going to black I am panic then I stop for melting
What mistake I made pls help me
Hello, You need to add the caustic soda to the water. It will heat up as the caustic soda dissolves. Melt coconut oil. Add the lye mixture to the coconut oil and mix, mix, mix. When it is slightly thick like pudding, pour it into a mold. It sounds like you mixed the solid caustic soda directly into the oil and water. You need to dissolve the caustic soda first. I hope that helps.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 no that's not help
I already made soap by mixing caustic soda and water then add coconut oil then mixing for 30min then pour into mould cool overnight in room temperature
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 but my qn was how to melt that soap for adding flavour
You could grate it up, add a little water or sodium lactate and warm it in the microwave or in a crock pot. Add the fragrance once it’s smooth (melted) and before putting it into a mold.
Some more comments: most people do not prepare a “soap base” because it is difficult to melt, a process called “rebatching”. Coconut oil makes an extremely hard soap that cleans really well but can dry skin unless the super fat (extra oil) is around 20%. If you wanted a soap base like melt and pour glycerine soap bases that can be melted in the microwave or over a double boiler, the soap making process is more complicated and involves adding something like alcohol, sorbitol, propylene glycol (etc) at the right stage so the soap melts easily. It is easier to make soap and add fragrance to each batch than to rebatch it.
Why accuracy of calculation needed?
If you have too much lye, the soap will irritate or burn your skin. Too much oil and the soap will be mushy or will not solidify.
How much water
The amount of water is based on the amount of lye. The amount of lye is based on the quantity and type of each oil in your recipe. It has to be precise. There are free soap calculators online that tell you how much lye and water to use for your oils. You’ll need a scale. Hope that helps point you in the right direction.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 thank you
How much water u added
It depends how much lye you are using. Generally the water is 2x the lye by weight.
I tried making soap through cold-process by stirring. I managed only about 10 minutes (not 1 hour as I am supposed to do) before I gave up and kept the pot aside while covering it with a plastic wrap. It's two weeks later and the mixture has solidified. Is this solid stuff considered soap and is it safe to use?
Is it completely solid with no liquid on top? Are you reasonably confident that you measured correctly? Assuming those answers are yes, I'd cut it. If there are no pockets of liquid (lye), I'd test it by washing my hands. If they don't sting or get dried out, it should ok. Then I'd cut the rest into bars and let them garden and mellow for a few weeks. You really only need to stir until the soap batter is emulsified (lye water and oil parts combine). I'd recommend a cheap, thrift store stick blender for soap making -- but that is not an option for everyone and hand stirrings can work. Thanks for commenting!
Nancy's Garden Soap LLC Yes, there is no liquid on top. I am quite sure that I measured correctly but if I am to err, I should err on the side of the oil (as in a bit more oil), right?
is this warm water? What is the water temperature? Thanks!
I add room temperature water. The lye plus water mixture will then heat up. Let the lye cool before soaping. Is that what you wanted to know? Thanks for watching!
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 what temps can I expect the lye/water solution to get up to? Also does tap water comprimise things? I just realized trace elements like metals can interrupt... But seriously Ive never done this I just got my first supplies.. Im just now experimenting with beeswax and oils.. learning what this and that does ... but id like to know what temps to anticipate also I heard the term volcanoing and wondering if thats what happens when you combine them too early or is it from just too much lye? sorry for all the q's
I’d avoid using beewax while you’re learning. (It May solidify the batter too fast at lower temps when doing cold process soap making). The lye water could reach 200 degrees or more. Use distilled water whenever possible because the trace minerals can change your results. Volcano-ing usually occurs when soaping too hot and/or the fragrance oil or other ingredients like sugars react with the lye. I have a video of it happening somewhere, lol.
I tried my first batch and my lye had white crystals in it after it cooled--does anyone know why that may have happened? I kept it in a rubber container. After I mixed it, it was clear.
I sometimes get white flakes, too. I think mine are soap particles from residual fat on the spatula or inside the bucket. It might just be impurities in the lye. I often strain my lye before adding it to the oils. Just be sure the lye is dissolved.
You can spray with 99% alcohol to avoid this problem, before the soap sets
@@Clevelandosaurus would witch hazel work too or just alcohol?
@@cecilia7079 just alcohol
You recommend spraying the finished soap with alcohol, right? I think the original question was about crystals on the liquid lye solution. I wouldn’t spray that with anything, just strain it if it’s a problem.
Hi Mam, how much ml of water you took for 815gram of sodium hydroxide.
The minimum amount of water I’d recommend is 1.5 - 2 times the lye’s weight. The amount of lye you need varies depending on the recipe - which oils and how much of each oil you are using.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 Thanks mam.. am planning to use Coconut oil.
Did you figure out how much lye to use with the coconut oil? Also, if you are making soap for your body (vs clothing or dish washing), use a super fat around 20%. Coconut soaps are very cleansing and can dry your skin. If you need help figuring out how much lye, a free online soap calculator is what I use.
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750mam if you could share me the soap calculator..will be help ful.
I like www.soapcalc.net but there are others. Let me find direct links.
Hey how much water did you use for 815gms of lye
I used between 58 and 64oz of water (more for floral fragrances, less for well-behaved ones).
I tried it in a plastic container and it melted bottom of the container
That is exactly what's worring me, I guess I go with all stainless steel containers through out
😳
@pulyani how did you clean up the spilled Lye can you share this with others
@pulyani can you share your clean up methods in detail with others please including me thank you
Sorry for late reply
I just tried just one time and I knew it is not for me,it was inside another container and I threw everything in a safe place
We put together a video to show what happens when you mix water into lye
ruclips.net/video/KpP_EtWsJfw/видео.html
I usually delete links by other people (especially the Woodprix ones, lol), but this one is useful. I believe KOH (potassium hydroxide) is much more reactive/violent when mixed with water. Thanks for commenting!
ML of water please
Run your recipe through a free online lye calculator and use 2 times the lye’s weigh for the amount of water. Always work in weigh measurements vs volume. Hope that helps!
Uhhhhggg. You measured out water but what was the measurement of water. Been search for weeks how to do this n can't find a good video. 😕
Honestly, I’m asked this a lot. People can’t tell you how much lye and water to use because it’s different for each combination of oils/fats. You need a scale to measure the ingredients. And once you know the weight of each oil/fat… you have to do the math or use an online calculator to figure out the lye (and water) amount. I’m really happy to help, but no one wants to use a free online lye calculator. That is the key you need to make soap.
You never said how much water you used or if the water is warm or cold???
You should use room temperature distilled water. The amount of lye you use depends on your recipe. The amount of water varies, but if you use 4oz of lye, you could add it to 8oz of water (double). I use a free online soap calculator like soapcalc.net to figure out how much lye and water to use with the oils in my recipe. Hope that helps!
@@nancysgardensoapllc1750 thank you so much
never said how much water
The amount of lye and water you use depends on the kinds of oils and quantity of each one (like 5 oz coconut oil, 3 oz olive oil, etc). I generally use 2 times the lye weight for the water. So I’d add 5 oz of lye to 10 oz of water. How much lye you need for your recipe is the most important thing to calculate.
Wear googles? Too much screen time!LOL.
And that’s it?
Yup
No information on quantity of water
The amount of water is based on how much lye you need (by weight). The amount of lye is based on how much of each specific oil you are using (by weight) in your recipe. You’ll need a scale to weigh oils, lye and water. A beginner/standard soap recipe is 1/3 palm oil, 1/3 coconut oil, 1/3 olive oil.
You burnt you rubber spoon
The duck?! This is not for making soap when you need to know how to make soap.
Nice scientific fail though.
I don’t know what you mean. I run a soap business; I make soap. Hardest part is getting over the fear of mixing lye.
Brock Larsen. Crime does not pay
Who is Brock Larsen?
How much water did you use
Hi, I feel like I answer this question a lot. How much lye does your recipe need? (Each recipe needs a different, precise amount of lye.) You can use 1.5 to 2 times the amount of water as lye. If you’re a beginner, start with more water. 2oz of lye? Use 4 oz of water.
How much water you added ?
The amount of water is based on the amount of lye. The amount of lye is based on the quantity and type of each oil in your recipe. It has to be precise. There are free soap calculators online that tell you how much lye and water to use for your oils. You’ll need a scale. Hope that helps point you in the right direction.
How much water did u take ?
I use 2 times the *weight* of the lye... but the amount of lye depends on the type and weights of each oil. Every recipe is different.
How much water to lye?
Use a recipe...