Soap Making 101

Where did everyone find their equipment at? I have been looking for a stainless steel pot and I have having a heck of a time finding one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Can you use a regular glass candy therometer or does it need to be one that is all metal?
 
I got my pot...a real cheap one....at WalMart or K-Mart or some such store. I've seen them at discount stores, too. Since you don't heat it much, it doesn't need to be a good one....I'd never cook in my soap pot, it is really thin and junky, but perfect for soap.

I use glass candy thermometers. They work just fine, the cheaper, the better. Whenever I am starting something new, I don't like to spend a lot of money in case I don't continue. I have made many batches of soap with the original inexpensive supplies, so worry not!
 
Thanks for the info. Guess I will have to leave the house and go to the local Wally World and look. (I hate leaving the house :somad). Have you ever made the crock pot soap?
 
Nope. My soapmaking has been more basic, in my quest to do things close to the way my grandparents might have. I render beef and pig fat, add lye (and now goat's milk, even though they didn't keep goats) and no coloring or scent. My grandmother made it in a huge cast iron pot on a tripod over an open fire outside, but I won't be doing that anytime soon! :P
 
freemotion said:
My grandmother made it in a huge cast iron pot on a tripod over an open fire outside, but I won't be doing that anytime soon! :P
Click to expand...
LOL And just why not? :lau I won't be doing the cauldron over the fire pit any time soon either but I do want to try to make HP soap. Have you made any liquid soaps?
 
Nope, but I sure do want to! Imagine the possibilities! Liquid hand soap, dishwashing soap, shampoo.....
 
I know, they are endless. If I could do it that would just be one more thing that I would know just what was really in it and one more thing that I would not have to buy.
 
I use the laundry soap recipe commonly seen on SS as dishwasher detergent too, seems to work fine. Either that or I mix equal parts borax and baking soda for the dishwasher. That is even better but I already have a big batch of the laundry soap all the time so the laundry soap is handier.

I want to make my own shampoo! I like very gentle shampoos however. Anyone here know how?
 
I think you use a olive oil castile soap for the base and then just basically make a liquid soap for shampoo.
 
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