Getting the Gear - soapmaking equipment.
Author: Tammie Thomson Published on: May 13, 2000

Equipment

Most of the gear you need to make soap will be found in your kitchen already. If not, it can usually be easily found at a supermarket or convenience store, or better still, a secondhand shop!

Non-corrodible container in which to mix the oils and the lye.
Caustic soda is extremely corrosive, so if you go mixing it in your best iron or aluminium pots, you’ll end up with a) a very clean pot b) possibly a very thin pot and c) dissolved metal in your soap. Last time I checked, people weren’t all that fussed on metal-contaminated soap, so…

Instead, use heat-resistant plastic, glass or stainless steel containers. If you are unsure whether your container is stainless steel, check on the bottom. If you can’t find anything declaring it stainless steel, use a different container. I’ve heard people saying that they’ve tested their pot and it must be stainless steel because a magnet sticks to it. WRONG!

Stainless steel, despite its name, has little or no iron in it. It is an alloy, and magnets won’t stick to real stainless steel. Some stainless steel pots may have heavy bases with an iron core, in which case the magnet will stick to the base, but not the sides.

Plastic or wooden spoon
You’ll need this to mix the soap. Plastic is my preferred option as the lye does eat away the wooden spoons over a period of time. Your spoon may become discoloured, but it will still be okay.

Optional: Stick blender
These can be used instead of, or as well as, a wooden spoon. Using a stick blender speeds up the process of combining the oils and lye to the point of ‘trace’, which is when the mixture is thick enough to cover the spoon or blender without sliding off. For info on the true value of a stick blender go to http://www.inspirit.com.au/soapweb/newbi...

Moulds
This is the fun bit! Moulds frequently disguise themselves as other objects, such as lunchboxes, yoghurt/butter containers and dixie cups. Anything that is not corrodible and reasonably heat resistant will do. Purpose-made moulds are available from North Country Mercantile ( http://www.northcountrymecantile.com ) or from Milky Way Molds ( http://www.milkywaymolds.com ).
My favourite is a lunch box that is just the right size for a slab that can be cut into 4 bars (or eight if I do a double batch and make it deeper).

Thermometers
You can get by with one, but two makes it easier…one for the oils, one for the lye mixture. Candy thermometers are good for this, as they have the necessary range of temperatures.

SAFETY GEAR

Eye goggles or safety glasses
Caustic (lye) in the eye does not make for good vision. Even a tiny speck can affect your eyesight permanently. Better safe than sorry - put the safety goggles on!

Long clothing
Cover your arms and legs to minimise splash burns. Even without spilling the mixture, tiny splashes get everywhere. You know what it’s like after you’ve been mixing chocolate cake and you’re still finding brown splashes all over the place three days later? Well, soapmaking is the same, only the splashes burn.

Shoes
There’s nothing quite like burning, slippery soap mix on the feet to complicate life. Wear covered shoes.