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How to Get Ready to Make Soap
Soap Making Supplies & Equipment
Soap Making Ingredients for Making Homemade Lye Soap
Combining Water & Lye to Make Homemade Soap
How to Prepare Soap Molds
How to Prepare Oils to Make Homemade Lye Soap
Equalizing the Temperatures of Lye & Oils for Soap Making
How to Stir Soap Mixture to a Trace for Homemade Soap Making
How to Mix Soap Making Additives to Make Homemade Lye Soap
How to Pour Soap into Molds for Homemade Soap Making
Wrapping & Curing Soap Molds for Homemade Lye Soap Making
How to Remove Soap from the Molds & Cut the Soap into Bars
Hand Milling or French Milling Soap for Homemade Lye Soap Making
Hand Mill Additives for Homemade Lye Soap Making
How to Decorate Finished Homemade Lye Soap
Summary: Learn what supplies and equipment you will need for making soap in this free video on homemade soap making.
Sheryl Andrews is an enthusiastic advocate of the home arts. This award-winning quilter and crafter has spent a lifetime exploring the depths of traditional home skills. Sheryl, who...read more
"Now that you’ve assembled your ingredients and picked a recipe, it’s time to get all of your equipment. The first thing you’re going to need is an electronic scale, this is convenient because it measures both grams and ounces and recipes come both ways. I use a pitcher, you’re going to want a couple of long handled spoons, they can be plastic, they can be wood, they can be stainless steel. It’s nice to have a spatula, in fact it’s nicer if you have one with a longer handle. We have two thermometers here, they’re common kitchen thermometers. The first thing I recommend you do is you put them in boiling water, let them sit for a while and see if they measure the same, if they don’t measure the same, you don’t have to throw one out or replace it, just murk it and you’ll be able to add a couple of degrees, subtract a couple of degrees. I have a couple of paper plates to pick up spills, I have a container that’s plenty large enough for the lye and water combination, once again this has to withstand high temperatures, so high temperature plastic, a glass or even the stainless will work. This pot is big enough to accommodate the whole recipe and it can be stainless or it can also have a ceramic finish. It’s real important that you don’t use aluminum or iron or tin because each of those will be corroded by the chemicals that you’re using here and some of that will get deposited in your soap. I have some little bowls for putting my prepared additives in, my oatmeal, I’m going to put some buttermilk in one, I have a grater for the beeswax, I have some safety products, I have a pair of goggles, a good pair of rubber gloves, I have some newspaper for the tabletop and some vinegar. Then I have some towels here, you can also use old blankets to wrap this in to insulate it during the curing process. I’m going to be using pvc for molds today. I’m going to use saran wrap or plastic wrap and rubber bands on the bottom to secure the soap and I’m going to use petroleum jelly on the inside. I have a funnel here so that it’s easier to get the soap in and I have a stainless ladle for pouring the soap in. And it’s always handy to have some paper towels. Okay now we’re ready to begin. "
eHow Article: Soap Making Supplies & Equipment
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Comments
chemist said
on 2/15/2009 First, lye will react with tin zinc bronze brass aluminum and any alloy containing those metals to produce highly explosive hydrogen gas. Many things sold as stainless steel are not actually pure. Don't risk it just use ceramic or glass. Second, lye is highly caustic and will react violently with vinegar as pointed out above to cause even more damage. Lye will cause sever chemical burns without causing pain, when I work with it in the lab I wear thicker gloves and an apron as well as goggles that completely cover my eyes and sometimes I wear a vapor shield. Also you want to work in a well ventilated area as lye can produce caustic vapors that are toxic and can burn the lining of your lungs.I highly recommend you wear the same protective gear. Third that is not how you calibrate a thermometer. Fourth, the newspaper is not going to do alot. the lye will go right through it. Use plastic sheeting. Please educate yourself on lye also known as sodium hydroxide. Do some research on the Internet, even wikipedia has better safety info than this video.
soapgoddess said
on 8/2/2008 I would not recommend this video for the first time soap maker or anyone else. It has lots of misinformation. It should be taken off your site.
chemist said
on 2/15/2009 Also never use a plastic bowl to mix the lye and water in. It can melt or react with the mixture spilling/splashing lye on you. Use tempered glass (pyrex). These videos are an example of what NEVER to do when working with lye. They should be removed before someone is seriously hurt.
tamiko1 said
on 8/2/2008 Hello, there I'm a first time soap maker and was wondering what kind of misinformation you're referring to in this video? Thanks!
studinski said
on 8/2/2008 Thank you soapgoddess, you beat me to the comment!! I just sat and watched the entire series and don't even know where to begin! And the worst (in my opinion) is the vinegar for neutralizing lye! WATER WATER WATER, and if the burn isn't bad, after using WATER WATER WATER then, if you are so inclined, use vinegar. NEVER use vinegar to neutralize lye in or near the eyes!!! If you use vinegar to neutralize lye on the skin you will cause a heat reaction as it neutralizes which equals an even greater burn!