Guest guest Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 My DH and I were having a discussion about curing soap and he was trying to think of possible ways to help the process along a little quicker. I know there is a discussion currently about oven process and curing time, and sometimes you just need to have patience. I told him that I had no idea if his suggestions would work, and if so someone would probably be doing it already...but I told him I would ask the group. These would be for CP soap already cut into bars. Please let me know what you think. These are his suggestions: 1. use a food dehydrator 2. use a hot box - this is something currently use for electro- something-or-other welding rods(??) to keep them dry and warm. It is a box with racks inside and a light bulb as a heat source. 3. use a dehumidifier in a small enclosed area. Since the purpose of a dehumidifier is to pull humidity out of the air, if you have a small enclosed area that has very dry air, would it then begin to pull moisture from the soap? Not sure about the heat factor, (dehumidifiers put off a lot of heat, so it would be rather hot, dry air) At this stage would heat be bad and just make your soap soft and melty? Would love to hear your thoughts...Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 My DH and I were having a discussion about curing soap and he was trying to think of possible ways to help the process along a little quicker. I know there is a discussion currently about oven process and curing time, and sometimes you just need to have patience. [Dave:] There are as many ways of making great soap as there are great soapmakers. I truly believe, based on my own experience, that processes that are intangible to me take place when natural substances are used, and that things happen over time that can’t be duplicated by using shortcuts. Most of us use or sell our soaps before we’ve actually let them age for months. But many of us know that a finer product is achieved when we wait. Think of wine or even of Tabasco sauce. These products are aged, sometimes for years, before they are presented to the consumer. Don’t you think there’s a reason, and that if the makers could take in their profits sooner they would? Sure they would. But they understand that the aging process is part of what makes their product great. They may sell a quick-to-market product for those who don’t appreciate the finer things, but they understand that time is part of the process of creating a great product. The same principle applies to making soap. There is no substitute for lye, and there is no substitute for time. -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/368 - Release 6/16/2006 -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/368 - Release 6/16/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 My DH and I were having a discussion … 1. use a food dehydrator 2. use a hot box 3. use a dehumidifier in a small enclosed area. [Dave:] I also wanted to add that this kind of creativity is what leads to notable achievement! Keep thinking outside the box. Keep trying new things. I could be all wrong in my approach, and you might find a way to achieve something that I never found because my approach didn’t allow me to look in that direction. Great discussion, great ideas! -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/368 - Release 6/16/2006 -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.0/368 - Release 6/16/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 , " dzmg2000 " <dzmg wrote: > > My DH and I were having a discussion about curing soap and he was > trying to think of possible ways to help the process along a little > quicker. I know there is a discussion currently about oven process > and curing time, and sometimes you just need to have patience. > 1. use a food dehydrator [Joanne] Most dehydrators get too hot and will melt the soap. > > 2. use a hot box - this is something currently use for electro- > something-or-other welding rods(??) to keep them dry and warm. It is > a box with racks inside and a light bulb as a heat source. [Joanne] This could work. As long as the temperature does not go much over 110. > > 3. use a dehumidifier in a small enclosed area. Since the purpose of > a dehumidifier is to pull humidity out of the air, if you have a > small enclosed area that has very dry air, would it then begin to > pull moisture from the soap? Not sure about the heat factor, > (dehumidifiers put off a lot of heat, so it would be rather hot, dry > air) At this stage would heat be bad and just make your soap soft and melty? [Joanne] I use a dehumidifier near my soap racks. As I am curing a couple hundred bars at once it is not in a small enclosed area, but just having it nearby keeps the humidity down. I often discount my water to speed cure time, you can also use sodium lactate in your formula to speed cure time. Both methods can be a bit tricky as it speeds trace, so you need to be confident that your fragrances and such do not add acceleration. Joanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2006 Report Share Posted June 18, 2006 I have heard of folks using a dehydrator.. Not sure how that would work for large batches.. Some one on the list sells a large wooden drying rack that I think can have a light bub and some plastic attaced to enclose it.. I have a van that is not used daily.. When I need to dry soap , I put it in flats or on small racks in the back of the van.. I cover it with muslin to kee[ bugs off and leave windows cracked just a bit.. so that would seem to be an oven of sorts.. works quite well... hth, nancyB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 I use a dehumidifier! Here is what I do. I have a small room (about 8X10) that I put the cut bars on a rack with air flow. Turn on the dehumidifier for about 8 or 10 hours, then turn if off. let them cure without if for another 24 hours, then turn it back on. Do this routine for a week. It seems to cut the curing time in half. However, it too depends on how much eo or fragrance oil you use. I haven't had a problem, but I have heard from others that it pulls the smell out of the soap. Maybe it is because of the way I use it, not using for more the 8 or 10 hours at a time. I have tried a hehydrator, and a light box, but they do pull out the scent, or leave a soft bar. Probably because of the small space with the heat. Regards, Anita My DH and I were having a discussion about curing soap and he was trying to think of possible ways to help the process along a little quicker. I know there is a discussion currently about oven process and curing time, and sometimes you just need to have patience. I told him that I had no idea if his suggestions would work, and if so someone would probably be doing it already...but I told him I would ask the group. These would be for CP soap already cut into bars. Please let me know what you think. These are his suggestions: 1. use a food dehydrator 2. use a hot box - this is something currently use for electro- something-or-other welding rods(??) to keep them dry and warm. It is a box with racks inside and a light bulb as a heat source. 3. use a dehumidifier in a small enclosed area. Since the purpose of a dehumidifier is to pull humidity out of the air, if you have a small enclosed area that has very dry air, would it then begin to pull moisture from the soap? Not sure about the heat factor, (dehumidifiers put off a lot of heat, so it would be rather hot, dry air) At this stage would heat be bad and just make your soap soft and melty? Would love to hear your thoughts...Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2006 Report Share Posted June 20, 2006 , " Anita R " <anita-r wrote: > > I use a dehumidifier! Thanks to everyone for their great information on this subject and all others...Donna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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