Teach Soap

I am thinking about trying to make a shaving soap before the holidays. I've been reading a lot about making them and am considering trying to use a KOH and NaOH mix. Has anyone had experience doing this? It's a bit confusing but I think I want to use a 60/40 mix of KOH/NaOH. Hoping I can double check my math here when I get ready to make it, I have to order the KOH.

Also, does anyone know if a (good) shaving soap can be made using only NaOH?

Also, what suggestions do you have for a container for this soap? I'm hoping to make gift sets. Is a regular mug too tall to fit the boar brush in?

I don't mean to discourage you, but it took me almost a year before I came up with a recipe that my wet shavers love and they are very picky. I use wide mouth containers as I feel regular mugs are not wide enough.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks. I know these soaps are hard to perfect. I plan to make very small batches initially and have some wet shavers test them out. I may not have it ready by the holidays, and if I don't, then I'll just shoot for Father's Day 2015.

Do you use a mix of KOH and NaOH? Also, can the wide mouth containers be the plastic type? I'm thinking that metal ones would rust with use.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Do you know of a soap calculator that will give numbers for a ratio of KOH and NaOH? I haven't been able to find one that does both at once, only where you can choose one or the other.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I figured a calculator to do my work for me would be too good to be true!

A few things for you. First, if you're planning to use a combination of NaOH and KOH, figuring out the amounts for each is fairly easy. Just use the lye calculator twice, once using NaOH and a second time using KOH. Then, if you're recipe calls for 40% NaOH and 60% KOH, multiply the NaOH amount by 0.40, and the KOH amount by 0.60 to get the right weight for each.

Second, here's a source for . There's also a 4 ounce container lower on the page. Or, you could purchase a set of cappuccino cups to put your soap in from the Dollar Store, Walmart, or similar store (they're even fairly inexpensive at kitchen stores like Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table). Get ones with a wide mouth and shallow bottom, about 3.5" to 4" in diameter would be good.

Third, there's a thread on SoapMakingForum titled "My first shaving soap is a success" for a shaving soap recipe. It's basically Stearic Acid 50%-55%, Coconut Oil 45%-50%, and only KOH for the lye. Additionally, you can add glycerine up to 15% of the combined coconut oil and stearic acid weight, and/or add bentonite clay up to 2 teaspoons per pound of combined oil and stearic acid. Also, you can add 5%-10% shea butter and reduce the stearic acid and coconut oil by that amount. But the first recipe of just stearic acid, coconut oil, and KOH is simple and excellent.

Here are a few tips from the thread off the top of my head:
It requires using a hot process because the mixture will seize as soon as you add the stearic acid to the KOH;
Use a double saponification method—add the KOH to the coconut oil first and mix to a light trace, then add the melted stearic acid and mix with a spatula, it will get too thick to mix with a blender;
Add any glycerin and/or bentonite clay to the coconut oil and mix thoroughly before adding the KOH;
Instead of making this in a crockpot, you can make the batch directly in the container you're going to store it in by floating the container in a pot of boiling water (actually, 180ºF);
Cover and cook for 20 minutes, mix and give it a zap test. Repeat and continue cook until the zap test is passed. Let cool for 15 minutes, then add essential oils if any at this time and mix well. Let cure for 4 to 6 six weeks for best results.

This should get you started.

No problem. Just remember that most KOH that you buy is 90% pure. So, if your lye calculator does not specifically account for that, then you need to divide the KOH amount by 0.90.

Thanks for that tip, will it say on the container the percentage of KOH? I ordered my KOH from BB because I also want to try the MP shaving soap. I read in a forum somewhere that it was pretty good, but still waiting for it to ship. I have a customer that wants to try it but wants to come get it at a show I have on 10/10, I'm hopeful but won't hold my breath that I'll have it by then. Love BB's products but the wait time to receive them is a big frustration.

Like any other soap, it benefits from a cure time. If you made it today, IMO it would not be ready to sell on 10/10.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.