Thank you so much! You gave me the courage to try masterbatching my lye for the first time! :) I can't wait to make soap whenever I want and skip the lye mixing step! :)
That was why I started making videos, I'm here to help all my fellow peers and soap family I want you to succeed! Ask any question and I will give you my honest knowledgeable answer.
This answers the precise question I needed an answer for. I have not made my first batch yet however; I live in an apartment, in a building about the size of a large house. I have gigantic sliding picture windows, so ventilation is easy-peasy but I didn't want to make solution for one 4lb loaf at a time during the winter. Nor do I want my neighbors thinking I am cleaning my oven every other day. On to the master-batching oil video *before* I make anything. Once my small batch base recipes are satisfactory, I can master-batch everything and maximize space. Thank you, thank you
Wow , I can’t imagine the fumes from that master batch. I wear a breathing mask so I don’t inhale the fumes and it’s no where near that batch size. I hope you protect yourself too. I’m sorry to say that i have watched all your videos in one sitting , and now I have to wait for the next one 😂. I have truly enjoyed them all. Thank you for sharing. I eagerly await the next one. Thank you Joanna 😊❤️👍
@@TheSoapGal , I found your channel thru Royalty Soaps and Katie doesn't lie, you have amazing stuff going on! I did want to comment on the lye thing though...even though it doesn't seem like there are fumes, there really is...they are micro particles that are flying around (both when in dry form and when wet)...please wear a mask! You may not feel effects after one or a few batches, but that is something you do frequently, and all that exposure will add up. Lungs can only handle so much. Not criticizing, just looking out for your health! "If you have to ask...wear a mask!" :) Thank you for sharing all of your expertise with us! Have a great night and keep on soaping!
I noticed in other videos you lowered the lye tank. That's a very good decision!! Raising lye solution above your head was making me nervous! 😣 Love watching!!
First let me say I love this video! I just found your channel thru Royalty Soaps, Thanks Katie! My question is based on a question you answered below. The gentleman asked how he should heat up his master batched lye solution so he can use it with his oils. You said he didn't need to heat up the lye. If he soaps higher than room temp, which the lye has to be because it's been sitting around, if he is soaping at 100 degrees how can he use 74 degree lye? Everything I've read about mixing lye & oils says they need to be within 10 degrees of each other. Your thoughts? I tried master batching once and I found the lye lost some strength. I had it in a Mason jar with a tight fit lid and it still lost some of it's strength. Any suggestions on how to keep this from happening would be appreciated.
I don’t take temps I Soap at room temp. If lye is in a air tight container it will not lose its strength. A Rubbermaid pitcher I used for years. One thing about me I break all the rules I do my own R and D all time. To learn and see if I can save time!
Only the soap gal makes sense in this equation. When you master batch you are only using 50% of one material and 50% of another material. Obviously she is not soaping at 50% lye. What she did not say is probably when she does soap, she will add more liquid to the 50/50 solution. When she does the premade lye solution will heat back up automatically. She keeps it stored airtight so it doesn't attract any more moisture from the air so when she does use it it is still a 50/50 solution.
Thanks for your comment! When you do I'd recommend checking your water measurements as not enough water or too much with the lye solution will definitely effect the texture! You'll either end up with a lye heavy bar or a bar that's too soft.
@@TheSoapGal yeh. We don't control our temps indoors, so it could very well be the ambient temps as well. But I know one day I'll have to revert back to master batching at some point...😁
So glad I found your channel, you are very helpful. I'm a fellow soaper of 14 years, however I have never ever masterbatched a lye solution. I don't quite get it. If my tiny 4lb batch of soap calls for 9 oz of lye and 22 oz of liquid, how much of my 50/50 solution would I use and how much more liquid, milk or produce would i be able to add?
Hello and thank you so much for your videos. I am from Brazil and starting a business, I will follow your tips, already got the Soap Maker 3 ! May I keep the lye solution inside the container from the distilled water?
I would recommend referencing the MSDS here and confirming the plastic from the water is safe enough to use: drive.google.com/file/d/1lkx90kQj7hG7K0QuXyZzU-yD_If9hixt/view
Genius!!! Thanks!!!! I would love a video on soap maker 3 and help you get started with it. I have an installed But it’s very overwhelming to get started with.
Ingrid Kindred the lye is good forever as long as it is in a air sealed container, like a lye tank. But the longest time I had lye is 6 months and the last batch was like the first. The key is air tight!
Tara Rutledge it does not need to be a dream, it’s having the time to find new customers. That’s why I have started this channel to help my peers grow their business, so they can soap full time, and live their dream!
I just came across you channel and I’m blown away. I can’t imagine the investment in all of your equipment.. you are one serious soap maker. When it comes to master batching lye if I needed like 287 grams of lye and say 635 grams water do I just measure out 287 of the masterbatch then top up with water? I see someone asked this below in ounces. Also what if I want to masterbatch but I use a 33% lye to water ratio? I don’t know why is so mind boggling to me. Now I’m going to watch all of your videos..
no, at a 50/50 mixture, you would pour out the 287 times 2 (so 574) from your masterbatch. 287 is the lye necessary, in your recipe, and the other 287 is your water. you would need an additional 348 for your recipe (635 water minus 287 masterbatch equals 348. a lot of people use the 50/50 mixture because it is more versatile. you can still add more liquid in, ice, milks, purees, etc to change the water/ lye ratio without worrying that you'll need to handle lye again for the soaping project.
Hello, great video, first time i heard about the masterbatch solution, i makes soaps one at a time just for my personal use, i would love to make that solution, but how long it last? or how fast it should be used? i make soaps every 3 months, so i would like to know if i can have something like that and save time, thank you for your videos, you are very kind showing your knowledge.
I always recommend referencing a Safety Data Sheet for the lye but typically I use mine up in 30 days. A good reference for storage info would be the safety data sheet you can find here! drive.google.com/file/d/1lkx90kQj7hG7K0QuXyZzU-yD_If9hixt/view
I would recommend asking your lye or 50/50 lye solution supplier. At first thought, I would think not because it's the same solution. We use our 50/50 so fast here it's never been a thought in our minds.
wow!!!! I love this! I have a question did you always use the lie tank or did you start using it when you got a studio. I am going to have a studio in my house and I wanted to know if that was feasible to have one of those.
Being a lab technician for over 30 years, I could never imagine using that amount of NaOH outside of a fume hood and with no airflow! Wondering how’s your health today?
Hi Denise! We wear face respirators when working with the NaOH and make sure to pour in a place with good ventilation, not allowing the mixture to be out in the open any longer than it needs to. Good health over here. Thanks for your concern!
If I understand your question correctly, yes you can batch out your citric acid and sodium lactate. However, I wouldn't recommend storing them mixed in with your premade 50/50 lye as that could be hazardous and you would want to contact the supplier of your lye of 50/50 solution for chemical details.
I know this is an older video but it still seems legitimate. I have a couple of questions if you have time to answer. (Or anyone that knows.) I'm only 3 months into my soap making journey and the best recipe that I have come up with, I use 1:1 water:lye solution. And usually make it with ice like you did here. Can I, as a very small scale soap maker, store my solution in maybe mason jars? Also, no matter what is best to store it in, I noticed each time, that my solution at a 1:1 ration, tends to get like a film on top. Will that matter when storing over long periods of time? Should I also maybe add just a bit more water to compensate for any fluid loss over the storage time?
I'll tell you what I do and then I'll tell you the best solution for small timers like me and you. I bought my lye from essential depot (dunno where you bought yours)? There bottles are actually pretty good. I actually mix my water and lye using a funnel in the bottles. There is no fumes and I don't use ice. I just make sure it is shaken and that it doesn't sit on the bottom for long or it can get crusty hard. The bottle will get hot. Upwards of 200 deg use mittens to shake and then adjust cap as necessary to vent pressure. Not all bottles of lye will do this but essential depot bottles do. For better storage of your solution you could get a polypropylene bottle. They do sell air tight ones. I think they are worth it because essential depot bottled solutions will get weak at about 4-6 months(not the bottle itself). Somewhere around there???? I actually would not trust the mason jars. Ive seen rust on the lids of those, which Eans they are susceptible to corrosion, and I wouldn't trust the glass repeatedly in handling the heat. It might break on you. Polypropylene is the best way to go.
DO NOT STORE LYE SOLUTION IN ANY TYPE OF GLASS CONTAINER! Lye is caustic ("basic" in scientific terms) and will eventually etch the glass until it weakens and shatters. There are some who insist that borosilicate glass (like the old Pyrex) can handle the lye. That is true -- but only for a time. Those who work in labs will tell you that they frequently replace their borosilicate glass containers that are used for caustic solutions because eventually, they do get weakened and are subject to breaking. Besides, even if the solution didn't etch the glass, you have the potential problem of the glass breaking from being dropped or knocked over. Now you have a spill of a caustic solution mixed with shards of glass - a cleanup nightmare even for a hazmat team! If you cannot afford an airtight, stainless steel container for your masterbatched lye solution (most of us can't), then recycle a laundry soap jug. They are perfect for controlled pouring, with a no-drip, tight-fitting lid. Just be sure to clean it out thoroughly before use.
You could use some hydraulics where the lye tank is to lower it down. Save your back. After awhile the back starts to hurt I'm guessing. Seems like something your Dad could set up raise it back up.
It would be cool if you had a pump attached to the wall with a hose attached. That way, you could just put the hose into the lye solution and pump it up into your container.
Thank you so much for doing this video! I have a question. I have tried masterbatching lye (although not in this large a quantity yet) and I find that sometimes (but not always) the next day the lye has a lot of flakes (of something) floating on the top and a bit through the solution. I use the same lye beads as you (in that 5o lb bag). I worry that somehow that is undissolved lye floating around, even though all the lye beads were well dissolved in the water the night before. What could it be? And is the lye solution more diluted (less lye) as a result?
The floaties in your lye is common - I experience the same. As long as the lye is stirred each soap run, you should be fine. In my experience, this does not dilute the lye as long as it is stirred and all beads are dissolved. **Important - we use a strainer when pouring lye to capture any contaminates from the lye solution.
Thank you! I too strain it if there are any floaties. And I would say most of the time there are not. Mostly I was concerned about the lye amount reducing. But thanks for sharing your experience!
Hi there, I know this is an old video, but where did you get your tank? I've looked everywhere and the only ones I can find are metal. Yours looks like plastic. By the way I love your videos, I have learned so much from watching. Thank you for being so generous with your information.
Renee thank you for enjoy my videos, I live by a community over competition philosophy. I got my tanks from Soap equipment.com many years ago I just purchased a metal tank, I love it so much more then the plastic. You can purchase them from Soap Equipment or Soapers marketplace.
Hi! I looked through the comments to see if this was asked. Hopefully I'm not repeating a question. May I ask the size of your immersion blender? I'm shopping for one for my lye tank (it's not a heated one) and was wondering how long of a shaft is on yours. Thank you!
Hi, if a masterbatching on a small scale, say in Rubbermaid container and the Lye Solution got cold, how can I heat it up, so that I can be able to use it at thesame temperature with my oils. Thanks!
It is a myth that the lye solution needs to be the same temp as the oils. Some teachers recommend it to newbies so they can avoid a potential false trace due to temperature differences. But once you know enough to avoid or work through false trace, you can forget about making the oils and lye solution the same temp. It just isn't necessary.
Do you use the heating element on the lye tank? I guess to be more specific what are you oil and lye temps when you mix them? Oh just one more question how do you keep from getting soda ash( which is my arch nemesis)?
Manda Dawn I keep everything and room temp when I make soap so I soap at 77 - 80, in winter, ha ha want winter in Arizona. I would use a heat belt on my drum. I mostly use coconut, olive, castor, Shea butter Shea butter is in it own melter tank always at 85. For ash I spray 99 % alcohol on top or steam / wash the bars.
Joanna, for small scale/beginner Soapers, what type of containers should we use. Purchasing a lye solution tank is not in the budget. I saw a comment where you stated the master batch will last indefinitely so long as it is air tight. Can it be refrigerated (a spare fridge in the garage only I would use)?
Dr. W. Octavia MalVeaux Dent I started with a Rubbermaid pitcher from Walmart. The key is to use the right type of plastic. Cathey from Soaping 101 did a TH-cam video about master batching your lye and goes in detail about smaller batch master batching containers.
Don't refrigerate it! At 50-50 strength, the NaOH begins to precipitate (settle) out of the water when it is 65 degrees or below. So if you refrigerate a 50-50 masterbatched lye solution, you will end up with a big chunk of "lye ice" at the bottom of your container. This has to be reheated to be dissolved - and reheating a large container of caustic solution not only defeats the purpose of saving time by masterbatching; it is also potentially very dangerous since spills can and do happen. A used laundry soap jug makes the perfect MB container. They have no-drip spouts and tight-fitting lids, and hold up well to the caustic solution. Just be sure to wash it out very, very well before using it to store your solution.
Thank you for this video. My question, can we use ice 🧊 from the store or will it have to be distilled ice? I freeze my ice for my lye solution. It would be nice if store brought works just as well. Thanks again❣️ ( recap: okay, you purchase purify ice 🧊 from Cisco. You answered my question. 😂)
Apologies for commenting on an "old" video, but I have a question. Is it possible to masterbatch using FRESH goat milk? I know you could batch this way with water and add your powdered milk later, but I use fresh milk from our own goats. I do freeze it first so I am pouring the lye over frozen the way you do here and also in an ice bath, so the milk never actually heats above room temp. Would I be able to masterbatch this way if my email I stored it in the refrigerator or freezer or some other way? Or does this really just need to be mixed per batch as needed?
Steading My Home I make this 50/50 ice and water Solution then add my farm fresh goat milk as my extra liquid when I make the soap. Watch my goat milk video that is want I did.
@@michellerushing4311 You cannot masterbatch with milk. The fats in the milk begin saponifying when they come in contact with the lye, so you end up with little clumps of soap in your masterbatched solution. Also, the milk quickly goes bad because you cannot refrigerate master-batched lye solution. The lower temperatures cause the NaOH to precipitate out of solution.
So if I needed 15 oz of lye and 30 oz of water, would I measure out 15 oz of masterbatched solution, then add 15 oz of additional liquid? That part always confuses me lol sorry
Sofiayah. If your recipe calls for 10 oz of water and 4oz of lye. You measure out your 50/50 solution for 8 oz. That 8 oz has 4 oz of lye and 4 oz of water.. Then you add 6 more oz of plain water. That would give you 4 oz of lye and 10 oz of water. Your weighing out your solution for your lye weight. Then adding the additional water that your recipe calls for.
So I was taught that my lye water should be in the 110 degrees. So we can soap at a lower temperature? You also mentioned your tank has a heating element does this keep the lye water at an even temperature then. Sorry for sounding like I don’t understand. Old school soaper here.
Diana, I was taught the same thing, but one day after learning about 50/50 lye solution I used it at room temp. small test batch. It worked just fine, The last 4 years and 1000's of bars later it is still fine. The ice was my game changer no fumes ever!
So I am totally confused- (doesn't take much)- this is not a finished amount of lye correct? so my recipe calls for 209 gms of lye and with water discount 418 gms of water. If I master batched the solution would be really be equal parts of each and I would need to add water to my soap still?? I am I understanding correctly??
Robin, after you make your 50/50 solution, pour out the amount equal to your lye solution. So if your lye amount in your recipe calls for 3 oz. You pour out 6 oz. Now you have 3 oz of lye and 3 oz of water. Add the addition amount water your recipe calls for. For example if your recipe calls for 8 oz of water, you add 5 oz of water to this 6 oz. oz of lye solution you separated out.
@@thesoapmakerar6234 It doesn't matter what % your recipe is. Ex. I make 20 oz water and 20 oz lye. That's 50/50. My recipe calls for 13 oz of water and 5 oz of lye. In order to get my 5 oz of lye. I pour out 10 oz. Now that means I only have 5 oz of water. In order to get the 13 oz of water my recipe calls for, I need to add 8 oz of water to that 10 oz I prepared. That gives me 13 oz of water and 5 oz of lye. Therefore the percentage on your recipe is not important only the amount of water and lye your recipe calls for.
@@NYtalk60 the percentage of your lye solution will determine the quantity of oil to be used based on SAP Value of oil component...actually it will vary. I used 30% lye solution as a stock solution. Then I only adjusted the weight of different oils. The advantage of masterbatching, we don't prepare lye solution every time we prepare soap. If you have a 27% or 33 % solution, it does not matter, you are right, because the quantity of the oil will be adjusted. But always be careful with lye solution, it is very corrosive and produce fumes. ..Happy Soaping . regards.
I think that it's just really concentrated, I usually do a lower concentration than 50/50 but the few times I've tried a higher concentration it was a white solution
Paused... So you measured the ice yourself, but how do you know the bag of lye is, actually 50 pounds? it's like when I purchase oil and it say's 7.5 oz, but in fact there's only 7.3 oz in it. i'm not saying you're not accurate, It's just a question? ho do you know it's 50 and not 49.8 pounds ? because the bag is so large.
I dont know how she can breathe. i use a mask when i make a small batch.It just looks like an accident waiting to happen. Sorry be safe . Hope you have many uneventful safe soapping days😊
I feel you only told half the story with this video and may be putting some beginners at risk. You talk about how to make your 50/50 ratio but nothing at all about how to use it in your batches once finished. Many newbies will think you're using the lye-water at that same 50/50 ratio, and while you could, I'm fairly confident you aren't You should've added a simple explanation that you double the amount of lye / water called for in your recipe, and then subtract / add more water as necessary to get it to the lye-water ratio the recipe calls for. In other words, you're diluting the 50/50 mix as you use it. Just a viewer suggestion... :-)
Your math only works for those who are soaping at a 33% lye concentration. Many of us soap at 35% to 45% lye concentration, especially those who are soaping in bulk, or don't need the extra water for making fancy designs.
The reaction is exothermic..it will produce too much heat and release fume...it is really advisable to do it on a well ventilated area...safety first..
I agree 100% safety first !! When you use ice as your liquid there is no toxic fumes!! That is why I wanted to share this method with my fellow soap makers!! Because safety is always #1 !
Jody Robinson goats milk soap is the reason I learned this technique. My first soap company with my brother was all goats milk products . We had a heard of 50 does! Love goats milk. But to answer your question the added liquid that you need to add to the 50/50 Solution can be goats milk or any other liquid of your choice. So for example you add your oil blend, fragrance, pigments, goat milk, mix add lye Solution, blend to trace pour in mold. No more slushy goat milk lye. I know that this is not all goats milk it’s water and goats milk, but it’s a HUGE time saver. And I tested a lot my bars felt and cleaned the same, I will do a video and if you need me to help in any way just ask.
I would not recommend it. The goats milk can curdle and burn very easily. It is a lot safer and easier if you put the goats milk in your oil solution, and add water or ice to your lye.
Thank you so much! You gave me the courage to try masterbatching my lye for the first time! :) I can't wait to make soap whenever I want and skip the lye mixing step! :)
OMG...you're awesome!!!!!!!!! Thanks for being here! I also found your channel through Katie at Royalty Soaps.
I feel like you've opened entire new world to me.....Thanks so very much!!!!
That was why I started making videos, I'm here to help all my fellow peers and soap family I want you to succeed! Ask any question and I will give you my honest knowledgeable answer.
yes, for me too!!! unbelievable.
@@TheSoapGal Its very generous of you to be so transparent and to help fellow soapers. God bless you
Katie led me here and I am so impressed by far.
You answered my question about why don’t you utilize the lye tank only. Safety first! Makes total sense!❤️
I can't imagine ever needing this information but it is soooo interesting to watch!
This answers the precise question I needed an answer for. I have not made my first batch yet however; I live in an apartment, in a building about the size of a large house. I have gigantic sliding picture windows, so ventilation is easy-peasy but I didn't want to make solution for one 4lb loaf at a time during the winter. Nor do I want my neighbors thinking I am cleaning my oven every other day. On to the master-batching oil video *before* I make anything. Once my small batch base recipes are satisfactory, I can master-batch everything and maximize space. Thank you, thank you
Wow , I can’t imagine the fumes from that master batch. I wear a breathing mask so I don’t inhale the fumes and it’s no where near that batch size. I hope you protect yourself too.
I’m sorry to say that i have watched all your videos in one sitting , and now I have to wait for the next one 😂. I have truly enjoyed them all. Thank you for sharing.
I eagerly await the next one. Thank you Joanna 😊❤️👍
With ice there is no fumes, It was a HUGE game changer!! I respect the lye and safety is very important. More videos to come soon. Thanks for watching
@@TheSoapGal , I found your channel thru Royalty Soaps and Katie doesn't lie, you have amazing stuff going on! I did want to comment on the lye thing though...even though it doesn't seem like there are fumes, there really is...they are micro particles that are flying around (both when in dry form and when wet)...please wear a mask! You may not feel effects after one or a few batches, but that is something you do frequently, and all that exposure will add up. Lungs can only handle so much. Not criticizing, just looking out for your health! "If you have to ask...wear a mask!" :) Thank you for sharing all of your expertise with us! Have a great night and keep on soaping!
You are so awesome, the information you give is superb thank you for sharing for those of us who are new
I noticed in other videos you lowered the lye tank. That's a very good decision!! Raising lye solution above your head was making me nervous! 😣 Love watching!!
Me too
Very cool set up you’ve got there!
Thank you, Tiffany. It took some time, but we have been blessed.
Thank you so much for your videos they definitely helped me a lot on my soap journey
I'm so glad!
Hi Joanna. Thank you for explaining master batching lye. It gave me confidence to try it. Love your channel, keep going
Amazing!!! How has it been going for you? I took a little break on the channel but will be back on the channel consistantly!
You are incredible to watch. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us. I'm new but learning so much. ♡♡♡
watching you in new zealand 😍🌵🌵🌵 thankyou
Amazing!! Thanks for being a part of this amazing community!
Greetings, I am so glad to have discovered your channel. Thank you for your kindness to share your knowledge with us.
So glad you found me and thank you for being a part of this community!!
Great job and always Safety first!!!👍🏻💜😀
Thank you aunt Theresa
First let me say I love this video! I just found your channel thru Royalty Soaps, Thanks Katie! My question is based on a question you answered below. The gentleman asked how he should heat up his master batched lye solution so he can use it with his oils. You said he didn't need to heat up the lye. If he soaps higher than room temp, which the lye has to be because it's been sitting around, if he is soaping at 100 degrees how can he use 74 degree lye? Everything I've read about mixing lye & oils says they need to be within 10 degrees of each other. Your thoughts? I tried master batching once and I found the lye lost some strength. I had it in a Mason jar with a tight fit lid and it still lost some of it's strength. Any suggestions on how to keep this from happening would be appreciated.
I don’t take temps I Soap at room temp. If lye is in a air tight container it will not lose its strength. A Rubbermaid pitcher I used for years. One thing about me I break all the rules I do my own R and D all time. To learn and see if I can save time!
gwen525600 the lye tank should be able to warm up the lye for you. I just brought a tank for that reason I soap at 200 degrees
Only the soap gal makes sense in this equation.
When you master batch you are only using 50% of one material and 50% of another material.
Obviously she is not soaping at 50% lye.
What she did not say is probably when she does soap, she will add more liquid to the 50/50 solution.
When she does the premade lye solution will heat back up automatically.
She keeps it stored airtight so it doesn't attract any more moisture from the air so when she does use it it is still a 50/50 solution.
I've never liked to master batch my lye. I swear I can feel/see the difference in the texture of the batter 😝🤷♀️ Maybe one day I'll try again...
Thanks for your comment! When you do I'd recommend checking your water measurements as not enough water or too much with the lye solution will definitely effect the texture! You'll either end up with a lye heavy bar or a bar that's too soft.
@@TheSoapGal yeh. We don't control our temps indoors, so it could very well be the ambient temps as well. But I know one day I'll have to revert back to master batching at some point...😁
Sooo glad o found you and your channel... I dream of being on this level one day.. Thank you for sharing 💜💜
Wonderful, I am looking forward in watching all your videos and learning some helps tips. Thank you!😍
Loved the video - very interesting! What a time saving technique!
Thank you, Jill. It revolutionized our business, happy to share.
So glad I found your channel, you are very helpful. I'm a fellow soaper of 14 years, however I have never ever masterbatched a lye solution. I don't quite get it. If my tiny 4lb batch of soap calls for 9 oz of lye and 22 oz of liquid, how much of my 50/50 solution would I use and how much more liquid, milk or produce would i be able to add?
If you master batched that, then that would be 9 oz lye and 9 ozone water which equals 18.
When it is time to soap, you just add 4 oz of xtra liquid.
Hello and thank you so much for your videos. I am from Brazil and starting a business, I will follow your tips, already got the Soap Maker 3 ! May I keep the lye solution inside the container from the distilled water?
I would recommend referencing the MSDS here and confirming the plastic from the water is safe enough to use: drive.google.com/file/d/1lkx90kQj7hG7K0QuXyZzU-yD_If9hixt/view
you are my idol! wow!
Genius!!! Thanks!!!! I would love a video on soap maker 3 and help you get started with it. I have an installed But it’s very overwhelming to get started with.
How long can you keep the lye that you have masterbatched in the container?
Ingrid Kindred the lye is good forever as long as it is in a air sealed container, like a lye tank. But the longest time I had lye is 6 months and the last batch was like the first. The key is air tight!
OMG!! Where have you been all this time??? you are answering all of my questions!!! I owe you a hug xoxo
Could you please tell me where you purchase your lye from? Thanks for a great video.
Great video my friend!!! Got the soaps! Love it!
HowToMakeSoap I’m so happy!
I think this is amazing! I think you are amazing! I can only dream to be this big :)
Tara Rutledge it does not need to be a dream, it’s having the time to find new customers. That’s why I have started this channel to help my peers grow their business, so they can soap full time, and live their dream!
So awesome!!! Thank you for sharing.
I just came across you channel and I’m blown away. I can’t imagine the investment in all of your equipment.. you are one serious soap maker. When it comes to master batching lye if I needed like 287 grams of lye and say 635 grams water do I just measure out 287 of the masterbatch then top up with water? I see someone asked this below in ounces. Also what if I want to masterbatch but I use a 33% lye to water ratio? I don’t know why is so mind boggling to me.
Now I’m going to watch all of your videos..
no, at a 50/50 mixture, you would pour out the 287 times 2 (so 574) from your masterbatch. 287 is the lye necessary, in your recipe, and the other 287 is your water. you would need an additional 348 for your recipe (635 water minus 287 masterbatch equals 348.
a lot of people use the 50/50 mixture because it is more versatile. you can still add more liquid in, ice, milks, purees, etc to change the water/ lye ratio without worrying that you'll need to handle lye again for the soaping project.
Hello, great video, first time i heard about the masterbatch solution, i makes soaps one at a time just for my personal use, i would love to make that solution, but how long it last? or how fast it should be used? i make soaps every 3 months, so i would like to know if i can have something like that and save time, thank you for your videos, you are very kind showing your knowledge.
I always recommend referencing a Safety Data Sheet for the lye but typically I use mine up in 30 days. A good reference for storage info would be the safety data sheet you can find here! drive.google.com/file/d/1lkx90kQj7hG7K0QuXyZzU-yD_If9hixt/view
@@TheSoapGal thank you.
OMG ... you make me soooo nervous with that pouring pot! Can you lock it in place while using the blender so it doesn't tip ???
I was going to comment about that too. Makes me very nervous, needs a locking mechanism!
Is the ice just regular store-bought ice or is it distilled water ice? If not distilled, have you had issues using the regular water ice?
I asked the question before you saying the type of ice used.
I use to get my ice from Costco or the water and ice shop R/O water ice works fine.
Thank you so much for doing this.
Love this video is mam caustic soda and. Lye is same?
Yes, caustic soda is another term for lye, aka sodium hydroxide, aka NaOH.
Do you have to empty the lye tank before adding a new batch?
I would recommend asking your lye or 50/50 lye solution supplier. At first thought, I would think not because it's the same solution. We use our 50/50 so fast here it's never been a thought in our minds.
First, great job! you’re a total bad ass! WOW! So many questions! You have a heating coil in the lye tank?!
Yes, but I don't use it.
Thank you Joanna! You and your soap honey are awesome! What’s the shelf life of the lye solution?
wow!!!! I love this! I have a question did you always use the lie tank or did you start using it when you got a studio. I am going to have a studio in my house and I wanted to know if that was feasible to have one of those.
I started with a Rubbermaid pitcher when I needed to produce more soap I upgraded to the lye tank they come in many sizes.
Being a lab technician for over 30 years, I could never imagine using that amount of NaOH outside of a fume hood and with no airflow! Wondering how’s your health today?
Hi Denise! We wear face respirators when working with the NaOH and make sure to pour in a place with good ventilation, not allowing the mixture to be out in the open any longer than it needs to. Good health over here. Thanks for your concern!
el resultado es sosa caustica liquida al 50%?
al uilizarla se mide en gramos o ml?
saludos desde venezuela!
Hi 😊, I use citric acid and sodium lactate in my lye solution, can it be done at the same time I make my master batch ? Thks 🙏🥰
If I understand your question correctly, yes you can batch out your citric acid and sodium lactate. However, I wouldn't recommend storing them mixed in with your premade 50/50 lye as that could be hazardous and you would want to contact the supplier of your lye of 50/50 solution for chemical details.
@@TheSoapGal omg thank you sooo very much for your answer! God bless you, you are an angel 👼 😻🥰😘😘
I know this is an older video but it still seems legitimate. I have a couple of questions if you have time to answer. (Or anyone that knows.) I'm only 3 months into my soap making journey and the best recipe that I have come up with, I use 1:1 water:lye solution. And usually make it with ice like you did here. Can I, as a very small scale soap maker, store my solution in maybe mason jars? Also, no matter what is best to store it in, I noticed each time, that my solution at a 1:1 ration, tends to get like a film on top. Will that matter when storing over long periods of time? Should I also maybe add just a bit more water to compensate for any fluid loss over the storage time?
I'll tell you what I do and then I'll tell you the best solution for small timers like me and you. I bought my lye from essential depot (dunno where you bought yours)? There bottles are actually pretty good.
I actually mix my water and lye using a funnel in the bottles. There is no fumes and I don't use ice. I just make sure it is shaken and that it doesn't sit on the bottom for long or it can get crusty hard. The bottle will get hot. Upwards of 200 deg use mittens to shake and then adjust cap as necessary to vent pressure. Not all bottles of lye will do this but essential depot bottles do.
For better storage of your solution you could get a polypropylene bottle. They do sell air tight ones. I think they are worth it because essential depot bottled solutions will get weak at about 4-6 months(not the bottle itself). Somewhere around there????
I actually would not trust the mason jars. Ive seen rust on the lids of those, which Eans they are susceptible to corrosion, and I wouldn't trust the glass repeatedly in handling the heat. It might break on you.
Polypropylene is the best way to go.
DO NOT STORE LYE SOLUTION IN ANY TYPE OF GLASS CONTAINER! Lye is caustic ("basic" in scientific terms) and will eventually etch the glass until it weakens and shatters. There are some who insist that borosilicate glass (like the old Pyrex) can handle the lye. That is true -- but only for a time. Those who work in labs will tell you that they frequently replace their borosilicate glass containers that are used for caustic solutions because eventually, they do get weakened and are subject to breaking. Besides, even if the solution didn't etch the glass, you have the potential problem of the glass breaking from being dropped or knocked over. Now you have a spill of a caustic solution mixed with shards of glass - a cleanup nightmare even for a hazmat team!
If you cannot afford an airtight, stainless steel container for your masterbatched lye solution (most of us can't), then recycle a laundry soap jug. They are perfect for controlled pouring, with a no-drip, tight-fitting lid. Just be sure to clean it out thoroughly before use.
You could use some hydraulics where the lye tank is to lower it down. Save your back. After awhile the back starts to hurt I'm guessing.
Seems like something your Dad could set up raise it back up.
It would be cool if you had a pump attached to the wall with a hose attached. That way, you could just put the hose into the lye solution and pump it up into your container.
Thank you so much for doing this video! I have a question. I have tried masterbatching lye (although not in this large a quantity yet) and I find that sometimes (but not always) the next day the lye has a lot of flakes (of something) floating on the top and a bit through the solution. I use the same lye beads as you (in that 5o lb bag). I worry that somehow that is undissolved lye floating around, even though all the lye beads were well dissolved in the water the night before. What could it be? And is the lye solution more diluted (less lye) as a result?
The floaties in your lye is common - I experience the same. As long as the lye is stirred each soap run, you should be fine. In my experience, this does not dilute the lye as long as it is stirred and all beads are dissolved.
**Important - we use a strainer when pouring lye to capture any contaminates from the lye solution.
Thank you! I too strain it if there are any floaties. And I would say most of the time there are not. Mostly I was concerned about the lye amount reducing. But thanks for sharing your experience!
Do you have video how to master batch soap
I have one for masterbatching oils! And most of my tutorials include scale for slabs or block molds: th-cam.com/video/BwXUAem7GxQ/w-d-xo.html
You mentioned something about a heating element within your lye tank? At what temperature does it keep your 50/50 lye solution?
Getting different views on the type of water to use and it's effectiveness on soap,distilled, pure ,tapwater or purified water turned to ice
I recommend distilled! But you can use aloe, floral water, or any other liquid you choose instead.
Hi there, I know this is an old video, but where did you get your tank? I've looked everywhere and the only ones I can find are metal. Yours looks like plastic.
By the way I love your videos, I have learned so much from watching. Thank you for being so generous with your information.
Renee thank you for enjoy my videos, I live by a community over competition philosophy. I got my tanks from Soap equipment.com many years ago I just purchased a metal tank, I love it so much more then the plastic. You can purchase them from Soap Equipment or Soapers marketplace.
@@TheSoapGal Thank you :)
Awesome video! How long can you store the lye solution in the tank?
(sorry, I just saw that you've already answered this one! oops!)
As long as it is in an air tight container, indefinitely. The lye begins to weaken when exposed to air.
Hi! I looked through the comments to see if this was asked. Hopefully I'm not repeating a question. May I ask the size of your immersion blender? I'm shopping for one for my lye tank (it's not a heated one) and was wondering how long of a shaft is on yours. Thank you!
Thank you! We use the Waring WSB60 100qt Heavy Duty Immersion Blender, we have the 18" shaft.
Hi, if a masterbatching on a small scale, say in Rubbermaid container and the Lye Solution got cold, how can I heat it up, so that I can be able to use it at thesame temperature with my oils.
Thanks!
You don’t need to heat it up, it will heat up with the Soaping process
It is a myth that the lye solution needs to be the same temp as the oils. Some teachers recommend it to newbies so they can avoid a potential false trace due to temperature differences. But once you know enough to avoid or work through false trace, you can forget about making the oils and lye solution the same temp. It just isn't necessary.
Can you do a video(If you have mentioned in a video) on how much lye solution we put in the soap and how much more liquid we add
Do you use the heating element on the lye tank? I guess to be more specific what are you oil and lye temps when you mix them? Oh just one more question how do you keep from getting soda ash( which is my arch nemesis)?
Manda Dawn I keep everything and room temp when I make soap so I soap at 77 - 80, in winter, ha ha want winter in Arizona. I would use a heat belt on my drum. I mostly use coconut, olive, castor, Shea butter Shea butter is in it own melter tank always at 85. For ash I spray 99 % alcohol on top or steam / wash the bars.
I was wondering about a recipe containing high Shea butter. But yup a very clever solution to give it its own tank :)! Genius! @@TheSoapGal
Is that a stick blender or weed eater?! Awesome video. :)
Joanna, for small scale/beginner Soapers, what type of containers should we use. Purchasing a lye solution tank is not in the budget. I saw a comment where you stated the master batch will last indefinitely so long as it is air tight. Can it be refrigerated (a spare fridge in the garage only I would use)?
Dr. W. Octavia MalVeaux Dent I started with a Rubbermaid pitcher from Walmart. The key is to use the right type of plastic. Cathey from Soaping 101 did a TH-cam video about master batching your lye and goes in detail about smaller batch master batching containers.
Don't refrigerate it! At 50-50 strength, the NaOH begins to precipitate (settle) out of the water when it is 65 degrees or below. So if you refrigerate a 50-50 masterbatched lye solution, you will end up with a big chunk of "lye ice" at the bottom of your container. This has to be reheated to be dissolved - and reheating a large container of caustic solution not only defeats the purpose of saving time by masterbatching; it is also potentially very dangerous since spills can and do happen.
A used laundry soap jug makes the perfect MB container. They have no-drip spouts and tight-fitting lids, and hold up well to the caustic solution. Just be sure to wash it out very, very well before using it to store your solution.
Thank you for this video. My question, can we use ice 🧊 from the store or will it have to be distilled ice? I freeze my ice for my lye solution. It would be nice if store brought works just as well. Thanks again❣️ ( recap: okay, you purchase purify ice 🧊 from Cisco. You answered my question. 😂)
Apologies for commenting on an "old" video, but I have a question. Is it possible to masterbatch using FRESH goat milk? I know you could batch this way with water and add your powdered milk later, but I use fresh milk from our own goats. I do freeze it first so I am pouring the lye over frozen the way you do here and also in an ice bath, so the milk never actually heats above room temp. Would I be able to masterbatch this way if my email I stored it in the refrigerator or freezer or some other way? Or does this really just need to be mixed per batch as needed?
Steading My Home I make this 50/50 ice and water Solution then add my farm fresh goat milk as my extra liquid when I make the soap. Watch my goat milk video that is want I did.
So then it would still need to be made with water ice? I soap with all milk, no water at all... That's why I was unsure.
@@michellerushing4311 You cannot masterbatch with milk. The fats in the milk begin saponifying when they come in contact with the lye, so you end up with little clumps of soap in your masterbatched solution. Also, the milk quickly goes bad because you cannot refrigerate master-batched lye solution. The lower temperatures cause the NaOH to precipitate out of solution.
So if I needed 15 oz of lye and 30 oz of water, would I measure out 15 oz of masterbatched solution, then add 15 oz of additional liquid? That part always confuses me lol sorry
Sofiayah. If your recipe calls for 10 oz of water and 4oz of lye. You measure out your 50/50 solution for 8 oz. That 8 oz has 4 oz of lye and 4 oz of water.. Then you add 6 more oz of plain water. That would give you 4 oz of lye and 10 oz of water.
Your weighing out your solution for your lye weight. Then adding the additional water that your recipe calls for.
NYtalk60 Thank you so much.
Is the ice distilled ice?
No it is reverse osmosis water RO water
@@TheSoapGal Thank you 🙏🏾
So I was taught that my lye water should be in the 110 degrees. So we can soap at a lower temperature? You also mentioned your tank has a heating element does this keep the lye water at an even temperature then. Sorry for sounding like I don’t understand. Old school soaper here.
Diana, I was taught the same thing, but one day after learning about 50/50 lye solution I used it at room temp. small test batch. It worked just fine, The last 4 years and 1000's of bars later it is still fine. The ice was my game changer no fumes ever!
I was wondering about your tank. Is there a heating element on it and if so does this keep the lye water at room temperature for the following day.?
How do you work with such large quantities without hurting throughout your shoulders and neck the next day(s)?
I don’t lift over 50 lbs and have been making like this a few years now.
So, if you're not at the point to where you need a lye tank to store your lye solution, what are some other safe containers to use?
Just the Right Size I use a Rubbermaid pitcher with a lid plastic number 5
Where do you buy your ingredients in bulk?
How long do you keep the lye
The lye is stored in sealed lye tanks. Make sure to keep out of direct heat and sunlight!
How long does that batch stay good if it’s securely sealed?
Lynn Keiter forever as long as it is sealed
As long as it is in an air tight container, indefinitely. The lye begins to weaken when exposed to air.
Does this mixture settle? Would it need to be stirred?
Soaps of Hues Yes, I stir my oils and lye master batches before making soap. Great question!
Yes, it does settle. We stir each day we make soap.
HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH LYE 50:50 TO USE PER BATCH OF SOAP.....
Soapmaker 3 software has an option about lye strength I use 1 to 1 also soapmaking 101 has a video.
So I am totally confused- (doesn't take much)- this is not a finished amount of lye correct? so my recipe calls for 209 gms of lye and with water discount 418 gms of water. If I master batched the solution would be really be equal parts of each and I would need to add water to my soap still?? I am I understanding correctly??
Robin Gillespie yes you would add more liquid it could be water or goats milk, aloe, coconut milk ect.
Robin, after you make your 50/50 solution, pour out the amount equal to your lye solution. So if your lye amount in your recipe calls for 3 oz. You pour out 6 oz. Now you have 3 oz of lye and 3 oz of water. Add the addition amount water your recipe calls for. For example if your recipe calls for 8 oz of water, you add 5 oz of water to this 6 oz. oz of lye solution you separated out.
In the video...she producing approximately 50% lye solution,,, while your recipe is only 33.3 % lye
@@thesoapmakerar6234 It doesn't matter what % your recipe is. Ex. I make 20 oz water and 20 oz lye. That's 50/50. My recipe calls for 13 oz of water and 5 oz of lye. In order to get my 5 oz of lye. I pour out 10 oz. Now that means I only have 5 oz of water. In order to get the 13 oz of water my recipe calls for, I need to add 8 oz of water to that 10 oz I prepared. That gives me 13 oz of water and 5 oz of lye. Therefore the percentage on your recipe is not important only the amount of water and lye your recipe calls for.
@@NYtalk60 the percentage of your lye solution will determine the quantity of oil to be used based on SAP Value of oil component...actually it will vary. I used 30% lye solution as a stock solution. Then I only adjusted the weight of different oils. The advantage of masterbatching, we don't prepare lye solution every time we prepare soap. If you have a 27% or 33 % solution, it does not matter, you are right, because the quantity of the oil will be adjusted. But always be careful with lye solution, it is very corrosive and produce fumes. ..Happy Soaping . regards.
I know a lot depends on demand, but roughly how long would that batch of lye you made in the video last you?
kimt2au forever if it is in a air tight container. I started with a Rubbermaid pitcher.
It's an IMMERSION BLENDER, not an emulsion blender.
That you
my pleasure!
Why is the lye solution white? When i mix my lye in water it becomes clear
I think that it's just really concentrated, I usually do a lower concentration than 50/50 but the few times I've tried a higher concentration it was a white solution
April thank you for thst reply
Paused... So you measured the ice yourself, but how do you know the bag of lye is, actually 50 pounds? it's like when I purchase oil and it say's 7.5 oz, but in fact there's only 7.3 oz in it. i'm not saying you're not accurate, It's just a question? ho do you know it's 50 and not 49.8 pounds ? because the bag is so large.
I have measure 100s and all was 50 lbs
Soapmaker 3 doesn’t work on Macs. So there’s that Hahahaha oh well
I have a Mac and use Parallels to be able to run Windows programs. It's awesome!
I dont know how she can breathe. i use a mask when i make a small batch.It just looks like an accident waiting to happen. Sorry be safe . Hope you have many uneventful safe soapping days😊
If u didn't listen she says multiple times that because she uses ice it neutralizes the fumes because it never got hotter then 110°f
Yeah, there's still pouring the lye and breathing it in.
Costco ice? Does that mean you're not using distilled ice? Please explain. Thank you!
NYtalk60 Yes, I use purified water ice from Costco.
@@TheSoapGal Thank you!
I feel you only told half the story with this video and may be putting some beginners at risk. You talk about how to make your 50/50 ratio but nothing at all about how to use it in your batches once finished. Many newbies will think you're using the lye-water at that same 50/50 ratio, and while you could, I'm fairly confident you aren't You should've added a simple explanation that you double the amount of lye / water called for in your recipe, and then subtract / add more water as necessary to get it to the lye-water ratio the recipe calls for. In other words, you're diluting the 50/50 mix as you use it. Just a viewer suggestion... :-)
Your math only works for those who are soaping at a 33% lye concentration. Many of us soap at 35% to 45% lye concentration, especially those who are soaping in bulk, or don't need the extra water for making fancy designs.
The reaction is exothermic..it will produce too much heat and release fume...it is really advisable to do it on a well ventilated area...safety first..
I agree 100% safety first !! When you use ice as your liquid there is no toxic fumes!! That is why I wanted to share this method with my fellow soap makers!! Because safety is always #1 !
Can you master batch lye with goats milk instead of the water?
Jody Robinson goats milk soap is the reason I learned this technique. My first soap company with my brother was all goats milk products . We had a heard of 50 does! Love goats milk. But to answer your question the added liquid that you need to add to the 50/50 Solution can be goats milk or any other liquid of your choice. So for example you add your oil blend, fragrance, pigments, goat milk, mix add lye Solution, blend to trace pour in mold. No more slushy goat milk lye. I know that this is not all goats milk it’s water and goats milk, but it’s a HUGE time saver. And I tested a lot my bars felt and cleaned the same, I will do a video and if you need me to help in any way just ask.
Thank you so much 😊
I would not recommend it. The goats milk can curdle and burn very easily. It is a lot safer and easier if you put the goats milk in your oil solution, and add water or ice to your lye.