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Post by halay on Jan 3, 2014 16:56:01 GMT
During felting we use quite a lot of soap, olive oil soap is the one which is recommended. So far I have been buying soap which was not 100% olive and contained some chemicals, but then decided to make my own. I made my first batch a month ago and had to wait because the curing time takes four weeks. I started using it recently and I am quite pleased with the result. For example, today I was felting for more than five hours and the skin on my hands feels soft, I didn't even need to put any hand cream. In my recipe I used 70% olive oil, 25% coconut butter and 5% castor oil. These ingredients are cheap so I believe the whole batch (1 kg) cost me about 5 -6 EUR. If anyone is interested I'll be glad to give you more details.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jan 3, 2014 18:51:31 GMT
Halay making soap is great. It is how I came to felting. I used to make sheep's milk soap. Than someone posted on a soap forum about a tutorial for felting around soap and bought a needle felting kit. and now I do not make soap anymore. Although I probably have enough soap in my basement to last me the rest of my life. The longer it cures the longer each soap bar will last. You can really play with the oils to get some really nice soap. Shea butter is a nice one. I used to make solid moisturiser and lip balm with it.
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Post by MTRuth on Jan 3, 2014 20:47:40 GMT
I haven't made soap before but that sounds like a good recipe. I'm sure it would be cheaper but I don't have enough time to make soap as well as everything else I do.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jan 3, 2014 22:18:41 GMT
It'd be interested in the recipe. Not that I don't have anything else to do. :-). Does the olive oil soap go rancid at any point? I bought some commercial stuff and grated it and added water. It sat for several months and had a terrible odor when I went to use it again.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jan 3, 2014 23:52:43 GMT
Marilyn when you make soap most of the oil and all of the lye is transformed into soap. you put excess oil to have some left over in the soap. Once it's cured it won't go rancid. When you diluted it into water it made the problem. "stagnant" water goes off. The soap probably prevented it from happening sooner.
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Post by halay on Jan 4, 2014 4:33:48 GMT
Pandagirl, I think Shepherdess answered you already. I use soap as I go, and have never left it stand longer. Here is the recipe for one kilogram of soap: 700 gr olive oil (does not to be highest quality) 250 gr coconut butter 50 gr castor oil water to prepare lye (NaOH): 380 gr (I use cold tap water) NaOH (sodium hydroxide): 129 gr. I used no fragrances or dyes and it turned out pale olive green colour As for the procedure of making soap there is a series of wonderful videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR6ttCSrLJI&list=PLAADF6209996265D2 If you would like to make soap with your own recipe and composition of oils there is online calculator which will help you. www.soapcalc.net/calc/SoapCalcWP.asp
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Post by koffipot on Jan 4, 2014 8:32:08 GMT
The only time I've made soap was in the Chemistry lab at school - more years ago than I care to remember! It was an Olive oil soap, but was extremely harsh - I think the NaOH content must have been too great. My hands are quite sensitive (I have eczema) so I only use Olive soap which doesn't cause me any problems. I've often thought of making my own, but my school soap really put me off! Your recipe sounds good Halay, I may give it a try. Thank you.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jan 4, 2014 15:10:04 GMT
Judith, making your own when you eczema is great. You can make soap that works just right with your skin. I have friend with eczema that uses my soap and it is the only one she likes . It bothers my daughters skin and she has no problems with her skin. With some experimentation you can make your life much better. The onnes you don't like you can let the rest of the family use of give as gifts.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jan 4, 2014 15:22:52 GMT
Thanks Ann! Halay and Judith. I may give it a try and NOT dilute it this time! My aunt had a friend many years ago that made soap and you're right the longer it sits the longer it lasts. I just have to figure out where to get the lye. I'm sure the hardware or even craft stores where they sell other soap making supplies would have it.
Halay I will definitely check out the links. I've learned more from you tube than I care to admit. Haha.
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Post by halay on Jan 5, 2014 5:39:20 GMT
Pandagirl, I agree, YouTube rules! has been my teacher in singing, cooking, soap making, felting and much more.
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Post by koffipot on Jan 5, 2014 7:43:59 GMT
How did we manage before Youtube? Halay, do you use the hot or cold process? Marilyn, lye is Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), a strong alkali and degreaser, often used to unblock household drains. You should be able to get it in your hardware store where it will cost very little - a craft store will no doubt charge a silly price!
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Post by zed on Jan 5, 2014 10:42:02 GMT
I was all excited thinking I'd try it too, but I am terribly clumsy and forgetful and probably shouldn't use chemicals on my own I do love olive oil soap though, I love the way it makes hands soft and looks almost coated after felting.
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Post by halay on Jan 5, 2014 12:08:13 GMT
Judith, I use cold process. You need to take precautions (wearing gloves and safety glasses) when preparing lye solution (I always prepare it outside) since it smells awfully. After that the process is quite safe and easy. Zed, olive oil is wonderful. I have a friend who always complains about skin problems and was extremely satisfied with this soap. Even though I made it for felting only, she uses it on her body and face and she even washed her hair with it. She wanted to learn how to make soap but is rather apprehensive for the same reasons as Zed.
I cannot imagine people using washing liquid for felt making. When I didn't have my olive oil soap I was wearing gloves to protect my skin.
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Post by jufergu on Jan 5, 2014 15:33:06 GMT
Is there any commercial brand of this soap? It sounds like something I should use for dry skin. I think I saw it once at a specialty store.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jan 5, 2014 17:33:55 GMT
After watching the you tube video, I think it will have to wait until summer. I don't have a ventilated work space and won't use that strong a chemical in my kitchen. I did go on the bramleberry website and they have what they call rebatch soap which you can grate, cook and come up with the same product without making the lye water. I may try that.
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