Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
allow it to cool to 98 to 100°F (36.7 to 37.8°C). Use a candy thermometer,
suspended from the side of the pan and not touching the bottom of the
pan, to check the temperature.
3.
When the lye is at the proper temperature, pour it into a half-gallon (that
is, a magnum) liquor bottle by using an agate funnel. Now put the opening
of this bottle on the rim of the pot of tallow and pour the lye mixture very
slowly in a thin stream. At the same time, slowly and gently stir the fat
and the lye together. It's easier if you have a helper to pour in the lye. The
tallow should be at the right temperature (100 to 110°F [37.8 to 43.3°C]),
and stirring must be done slowly, gently, and steadily. If the lye is poured
in too fast or the stirring is not slow and gentle, the soap will separate or
curdle and you will ruin the whole batch. Stir slowly for 20 minutes, and
then pour into containers prepared in the manner discussed in the next
section.
Soap Containers
Agate photo-development pans are ideal soap containers. Or use wooden
boxes lined with brown paper or with clean cotton cloth, wet down with
water and wrung out. Have the paper or cloth folded out over the outside
edge, to make the soap easy to remove when you are ready. You also can use
cardboard boxes, lined with plastic wrap, which is turned back over the out-
side edges and stapled to hold it in place while you are pouring the soap.
Pour the soap into these prepared containers and cover the soap with a
board or heavy cardboard and then with a blanket. The covering keeps the
soap from cooling too fast. Allow it to cool and harden for a day or two in a
warm place, away from drafts. The soap will begin to lose its sheen as it hard-
ens. After 2 or 3 days, and before it gets too hard, you can remove it from the
boxes. Cut it into separate bars to age for several weeks, or months, before
use. It can be cut neatly with a fi ne, taut wire wrapped around it and pulled
tight. Age these bars unwrapped, with air circulating around them, for several
weeks. Any liquid that appears on or in the soap is free lye, and you should
discard the soap or reprocess it.
Soap Variations
Mutton tallow soap is often called saddle soap because it cleans and preserves
leather so well. It can be used equally well as a bath, laundry, or dishwashing
soap, but with a few variations of your own, it can be even more suited to
different uses.
