Calling Soapmakers.. Anyone??

[emalia]

I am endevoring to make soap.. Not melt and pour, but from Tallow to soap method.

Does anyone have any advice for a first timer?? I am doing this at an event.. Over an open fire.

[Mairi the Herbwench]

This is hard to do at an event over a fire - key things to keep in mind -
1. Rope your area off from patrons - lye is extremely caustic and will burn, as will the fire, tallow, etc.
2. You need to be able to keep a constant temp for the soap to turn into soap.
3. do not use your soap making stuff (pans, spoons, etc) for anything other than soap. (seems obvious, I know, but you'd be surprised)
4. Wear gloves
5. Practice first - if you can in your backyard or someone's back yard before you go public
6. Have fun! and don't worry if it doesn't "soap" - sometimes you can remelt it and do it again

[emalia]

I have read articles and books and think that I have a pretty good grasp.

But, I have come across some conflicting information and need to know what to do with it...

I have read both adding water to the lye and adding lye to water. What is the way to do this? It seems that this would be the most dangerous part, and I would think that all would agree but that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Mairi the Herbwench]

I've heard to add the lye to the water, so the water doesn't splash. Are you making your own lye, too?

[emalia]

We thought about it, but we are going to purchase.

hmm.. I wonder what is the way to do the lye then..

As per the complete soapmaker by Norma Coney you add the water to the lye. As per Natural Soap Book, by Susan Miller Cavitch, you add the lye to the water.

[Mairi the Herbwench]

It's been a long time since I read about soap - I'd try both ways and see which you prefer - just be careful not to splash! And I think - again it's been a long time - to make lye you drip water thru ashes and that's lye, but there's got to be more to it than that. I think...

[emalia]

From what I read, it takes a bit of heart wood to make good lye. I will try it someday, just not this batch for sure.

The only reason I worrried about which to add to what is that I read one way is safe, the other causes a danger of explosion. hmm..

[Mairi the Herbwench]

Ah, com'on! Where's your sense of adventure? Have you googled Soap to see if ther's any lists out there? I bet there is...

[Holly]

methinks add lye to water..... find a chemist .. or break down the lye inot chem fomat and see waht happens...

<bangs head on desk to see if any O-chem repressed memories surface>

I am currently brain farting .. on that one