Preparing Soap for Rebatching

Intro: Preparing Soap for Rebatching

This is how you process a "Soap Base" for "Rebatching." You can see how I made this base by watching my other tutorials: "Simple Shortening Soap." I use this process to make my other two soaps "Sexy Cinnamon Soap" and "Orange Zest Soap." You can find both tutorials in my Channel.

Essentially... all you need to do is grate the soap, then grind it down into particles with a blender. If you prefer not to hand grate it, feel free to use a food processor or a hand grinder. You want to get the soap as small as you can, particles of soap dissolve far easier than grated, or chunks of soap.

This is a time consuming process but there are many benefits to rebatching your soap.

A: Any scent you add will last longer, and have greater strength.

B: Rebatched soap has a silkier texture (though... sometimes less suds) on the skin. Many customers prefer rebatched soap but can't tell you why... it's cause you were sneaky, and rebatched it.

C: If you have a batch of soap that "Seized" shortly after "Trace" you can easily fix it with a rebatch. 99% of the time if you think your soap is a bad batch... it is NOT. You can almost always rebatch it.

D: Not only scents, but colours last longer and are more vibrant in a rebatched bar.

If you opt for using a grater, try very hard not to grate your fingertips, as this gets blood in the soap; and that's not so hip.

Comments

[Carrie_Nation]

I so enjoyed watching your clip on making the base and then the re-batch what a joy to read your words. Just have to say this looks like a fun way to spend time in the kitchen without ending up having to eat up a batch of wonderful flavor.

[IconicIdea]

Oh... don't worry; I'm making instructables on "Eatable" things too! I'm glad you liked the instructables, I appreciate your appreciation.

[dchall8]

I use a microplaner to make soap dust in one pass. The dust is much finer than your particles, and the planer doesn't seem to grab your fingers.

[dchall8]

Okay I just saw your other I'bles on rebatching. If the purpose of the heating, stirring, and reheating/restirring several times is to create a silky smooth batch, I think you'll be happy with a microplaner like this one at Amazon.  It simplifies the process to 3 steps:  1) make soap dust, 2) add water, 3) pour into mold.  By starting out with soap dust, as soon as you add water it becomes mush and smooths out at room temp.  My first batch was not heated at all and worked fine for me.  I might want to go to slightly more trouble if I was giving it away, but for me it was good.

Micro planers are available at some grocery stores and at Target. 

[IconicIdea]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check out the microplaner. I will point out though, this is the traditional method, this is the method that "Soapers" have used for many, many years, and it works in it's own right. Grating soap is no more dangerous than grating cheese, it's a hazard I don't mind, but anything that makes things quicker is always welcome. :)

[IconicIdea]

OOooookay... I've tried the Microplaner. More trouble than it's worth. For one thing they're all "tiny," it's like trying to use a tool designed for an elf. For another thing, yes, it makes dust out of your soap, but it takes forever. The method depicted here is faster in the long run.

[dchall8]

I'm glad you tried it because you have the experience with the regular grater. My regular cheese grater disappeared in a fire, so all we have is the micro planer. Well, since you have the planer, you can make the best citrus zest ever. The micro planer will not dig into the bitter pith. It only takes the oily outer skin.