Guest guest Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 Hi Super Soaper People I've just been given this recipe for making saddle soap. I'm not good at making things. .....like soap.... <hangs head> So can anyone tell me what.... " Pure flake lye Castile soap shavings Pure gum turpentine " ......are? and if I can get them in the UK? And is it safe to make? (remember - this question is from a person who managed to turn a *fail safe* body butter recipe into pure tent reproofing gloop.....) Here's the recipe : To make inexpensive saddle soap at home, you'll need two pots, one of stainless steel or heat-resistant glass A stainless steel spoon Short, wide-mouthed jars or empty commercial saddle soap containers Beeswax Pure flake lye Castile soap shavings Water Pure gum turpentine In the steel or tempered-glass pot, combine 6 parts beeswax, 10 parts pure flake lye, and 10 parts water. Caution: Pure flake lye can burn and corrode skin, clothes, and furniture, so be careful! Boil this mixture for 5 minutes, stirring constantly with the stainless steel spoon. Next, in the second pot, melt 2 parts castile soap shavings with 10 parts water, mixing them with the well-rinsed spoon. When the soap liquefies, add it slowly to the lye-and-beeswax mixture, blending evenly until fully combined. Next, remove the pot from any heat and stir in 15 parts of turpentine. (Watch out: Turpentine is highly flammable.) Pour immediately into containers; cover and keep in a cool, dry place. The soap can be kept indefinitely. If you prepare the recipe with one part equaling one tablespoon, you'll have enough to fill four 8-ounce jars. When you use the saddle soap, have two soft flannel cloths on hand. Soak and wring out one until almost dry, dip it into the soap, and rub the leather with a firm circular motion. Rinse that cloth in warm water, wring out, and then use it to remove any excess lather. Use the second dry cloth to polish the leather to a soft luster. . . and say good-bye to ugly-looking leather goods! Do you soapers think this will work? Or do you have any better ideas for something similar and - perhaps - more fool proof! :-) Saddle soap normally has a nothingness smell, could I improve it by adding some EO's? If so, at what stage would I add them? Thanks :-) LLx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 So can anyone tell me what.... " Pure flake lye Castile soap shavings Pure gum turpentine " [Dave:] Well. Turpentine is distilled pine resin. I should think it would be called the same thing in the UK, but I could be wrong. Some solvents do have different names; for instance what you call methylated spirits we call denatured alcohol. Folks who use turpentine in their work often simply call it turps. Lye is sodium hydroxide. Used as a drain cleaner and in various chemical processes. If you use drain cleaner, be sure to read the label and ascertain that the product you are using is 100% pure sodium hydroxide. If it has additional ingredients it will be unsuitable. Castile is soap that is made from 100% olive oil without additional ingredients. Most soaps that are labeled castile, aren’t. Most have ingredients such as coconut oil to enhance lathering. However, any mild soap will do. You’ll probably have to grate it yourself. Hope this is helpful. -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release 7/18/2006 -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release 7/18/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 I’ve been looking over this recipe for saddle soap. One thing it does not warn you about, and THIS IS IMPORTANT – NEVER ADD WATER TO LYE. ALWAYS ADD LYE TO WATER. Sorry about shouting, but you don’t want to get burned! That being said, I don’t really understand this recipe. It’s not the way I’d make saddle soap. Specifically, I don’t see why it has so much lye in it. I’m going to run it by some fellow soapers and see what they think. Dave Ultimately, the earth is a single community. We are all of one blood and one flesh - we have only to become of one accord to begin to enter paradise. _____ On Behalf Of Liz Tuesday, July 18, 2006 3:14 PM Saddle soap... Hi Super Soaper People I've just been given this recipe for making saddle soap. -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release 7/18/2006 -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release 7/18/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 , " David Lambert " <dlmbrt wrote: > > So can anyone tell me what.... > " Pure flake lye > Castile soap shavings > Pure gum turpentine " > > [Dave:] Well. Turpentine is distilled pine resin. I should think it would > be called the same thing in the UK, but I could be wrong. Some solvents do > have different names; for instance what you call methylated spirits we call > denatured alcohol. Folks who use turpentine in their work often simply call > it turps. Thanks for the reply David, In the UK Turps (seems) to have been replaced by a substance called *White Spirit* used for thinning paint and cleaning paint brushes. I may be wrong but that's what you get in DIY shops when you ask for Turps now. Genuine Turps may still be available, but I don't know where I'd get it. Or if I want to even try, given the drain cleaner part as well! Saddle soap isn't particularly expensive, so I'm probably better just buying it! I have had one much easier recipe sent off list, so when I'm feeling adventurous I'll give that a go. Thanks again LLx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 And is it safe to make? (remember - this question is from a person who managed to turn a *fail safe* body butter recipe into pure tent reproofing gloop.....) Not for a novice! First of all the idea of a 1/1 ratio on lye water for a newbie to try makes me cringe for your safety. Also, the fact that you are saponfifiying (making soap), from already made soap (castile shavings) even if it has more ingredients added, does not make sense, especially if you have never made soap. I know that I'm putting a glitch in your plans or what you want, but I would search the web for another recipe, or someone else that makes a handmade saddle soap. I've already put my feelers out for ya, with some of my other soapin buds. Anita . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Genuine Turps may still be available, but I don't know where I'd get it. [Dave:] Try an artists supply. Windsor Newton makes the best, and that’s an English brand. -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release 7/18/2006 -- Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/391 - Release 7/18/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 , " Anita R " <anita-r wrote: > > And is it safe to make? (remember - this question is from a person who > managed to turn a *fail safe* body butter recipe into pure tent > reproofing gloop.....) > > Not for a novice! First of all the idea of a 1/1 ratio on lye water for a > newbie to try makes me cringe for your safety. Also, the fact that you are > saponfifiying (making soap), from already made soap (castile shavings) even > if it has more ingredients added, does not make sense, especially if you > have never made soap. Thanks Anita - and all who wrote me off list to warn against trying this recipe. Its back to the tack shop and buying saddle soap for me! Glad I have you guy's to turn to to ask about these things - before I set myself on fire - or burn the house down... LLx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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