Thread: Homemade Soap Misadventure

I noticed you mentioned making your own scuttle, did you post pics of it or give any instructions to make one. I have been wanting to make one myself but I guess i'd hsave to take a pottery class

Originally Posted by paco

I noticed you mentioned making your own scuttle, did you post pics of it or give any instructions to make one. I have been wanting to make one myself but I guess i'd hsave to take a pottery class

guess again
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...k-scuttle.html

6 bucks at a hardware store or plant nursery will get you an awesome scuttle

Thanks Jockeys for all the info

Originally Posted by jockeys

no, i'd be happy to open source my recipe

Jockeys' Redneck Soap:
(for 1 serving)
melt 2-2.5 oz of shea-butter and glycerine soap into a container
add 25-30 drops of pure glycerine
add 10-20 drops of EO (depends on the fragrance, some are stronger, some are more irritating, etc.)
add 5-10 drops of food coloring, to taste
stir vigorously
put soap in freezer

the freezing is important. if you let it cool naturally, the glycerine will settle to the bottom. freeze it for 30 minutes, then move it to the refridgerator overnight. then allow to sit for at least 48 hours at room temp. before using.

No benzonate clay? Did i spell that right?

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

No benzonate clay? Did i spell that right?

bentonite. i have tried it, it definitely makes the soap slicker, but i wasn't able to produce quite the same high level of "cushion" if that makes any sense.

so, based on feedback from teh DFW shavers who have been graciously beta testing the soaps for me, the high cushion and lather actually leads to a more comfortable shave than the slickness. it might be personal preference.

Originally Posted by jockeys

bentonite. i have tried it, it definitely makes the soap slicker, but i wasn't able to produce quite the same high level of "cushion" if that makes any sense.

so, based on feedback from teh DFW shavers who have been graciously beta testing the soaps for me, the high cushion and lather actually leads to a more comfortable shave than the slickness. it might be personal preference.

the soap i made seemed to dry out my skin.. i'm wondering if it is the benzonate i added. i think i may try to add more soap to it.

That might depend on the formula of the soap.
M&P is very practical but with a lye soap you'd have more choices formulating yourself until you like it.

So I have been collecting materials to try this out. I did it last night, finally, and I'm pretty impressed with the results. I haven't shaved with them yet, but they smell nice, and they seem to have set well.

I uppped the ante a little, 3 oz (I got some molds--one that looks like a shaving puck mold) of Shea Butter M&P soap from Michael's (similar to JoAnn's) and some EO scents. One called Lavender Breeze and one that is Vanilla and Pomegranate. Pomegranate is pretty hot right now, but I haven't found much in the way of shaving soaps. I put in 30 drops of glycerine, and because I wanted some smelly soap pucks (so far I've used Col. Conk Amber or Almond, and it doesn't smell much, and Bigelow (Proraso) Creme.) so I added probably 20-30 drops of EO as well. My wife smelled it across the room (and said it smelled good) so I'm hoping to have good results. I'll report back what I find.

I'm going to look for Bentonite clay today as well. Thanks for the inspiration mates!

Looks like fun! Thanks for the info.

Mac

My hubby took over the restoration of the razors we bought so now I want to make soap. I have looked around the web and here to get an idea of what I want to use M&P or Lye. I have M&P my mother in law said I could use, but I want to do lye. I think to get the idea and see if I even like it I will use what I have.

I met a lady over the weekend that gave me the # to a friend that has been making lye soap for 70+ years. I told her I would work for the knoledge she has. Keep your fingers crossed for me on that one.

Thanks for the info and recipe!!!