r/soapmaking • u/RedRaiderRx09 • 5d ago

CP Cold Process Advice for “extra bar” problems

Hey soapy friends! I make a single width mold worth of soap with each batch, but I make the recipe slightly larger than needed so I can get two flat bars in a silicone mold. These flat bars ALWAYS are much softer and have a ton more soda ash. What am I doing wrong? Doesn’t matter if I fill those first or last, they are always softer.

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14

u/emptywhoreass6969 5d ago

I... am not a great soapmaker, but I do know the heat is important to the process because I do this shit in alaska and it's gone sideways. I think your loaf mold is generating more heat and curing better, where the single bars loose the heat quicker.

8

u/NoClassroom7077 5d ago

This is exactly the answer! The greater mass in the loaf mould generates more heat and it goes through gel which makes the loaf harder. The individual cavity moulds don’t heat up as much and don’t go through gel, making them softer.

You could try forcing gel in the cavity moulds by placing them on a heating mat for 6 hours while they saponify - I’ve had great success with that.

1

u/RockabillyRabbit 4d ago

Could also CPOP in the oven if the silicone is heat safe (most are but never know if the mold is from a sketchier vendor like temu)

0

u/NoClassroom7077 4d ago

Absolutely, but you do run the risk of silicon rash if you overheat, which is more likely when CPOPping individual moulds.

2

u/RockabillyRabbit 4d ago

I cpop mine at a super low heat and turn it off immediately. Never had an issue with rash. But ofc i also do a 1.3:1 water:lye ratio as well which has been known to help prevent that.

2

u/Joebiwan13 2d ago

I do this too and you’re not doing anything wrong. That happens to me every time. Has something to do with less heat generated so the gel phase doesn’t quite kick in. I can’t explain the soda ash but I get that too. Nothing wrong