How To Make All Natural Cold Process Soap On A Wood Stove

Read full instructions here: http://www.thediyworld.com/articles/3419/how-to-make-soap-at-home-using-all-natural-ingredients/

I first cleaned up the cast iron pot that I had purchased the other day for only $3. This is the pot I will be using for soap making from now on. I plan to make soap over an open fire as well soon so I needed a rugged cast iron pot for the job. I will be teaching people how to make soap the old fashioned way using wood ash lye and animal fat.

After cleaning up the pot I then coated it with olive oil and put it on the wood stove for a few hours to season it.

Next I got out my soap making supplies.

Please refer to the article above for details on soap making and the measurements you need for a good batch of soap.

First get out your protective gear. You should wear long sleeves, rubber gloves and eye protection.

You need a scale to measure the lye by weight. You will need a pyrex glass measuring container, vinyl or wood stirring spoon and a one cup measure for the oil.

The items you use for soap making should be dedicated to soap only and never be used for anything else again.

I measured 2 ounces of lye, by weight, into a scale. I poured this slowly and carefully into 7.5 ounces of water by volume. Stir it slowly into the water. Be careful not to spill any of the lye or lye water onto anything because it is caustic and will dissolve most things it comes into contact with.

NEVER put water into lye. Always put lye into water.

When the lye and water were mixed I measured out two cups of oil into the pot which was heating up on the wood stove. I decided to make a double batch and put in two more cups for a total of 4 cups of oil.

Then I doubled the lye and water mixture as well.

Next you carefully pour the lye water mixture into the oil while stirring slowly. Be careful not to spill or drip the lye onto anything as you work.

Now its all about stirring the mixture. And stirring. And stirring. And stirring.

Immediately when the lye and water mixture was poured into the oil, you could see the color of the oil changing to a milky color. This is the lye doing its job and converting the oil into soap.

After stirring for a while there were tiny bits of soap sinking to the bottom of the pot with clear oil on top.

Later it started to look like cream of wheat.

While the soap mixture was cooking I prepared my soap forms. These were some aluminum bread forms I got at the dollar store. I cant find my good soap forms right now because I am in the middle of two homes. Everything is in boxes right now.

So I put parchment paper in the forms to protect it from the soap mixture while it cures.

Later I will make a wooden soap form and then also a plastic soap form on video to show you how it is done.

In order to keep the video time shorter I broke this up into two parts. The next part is on the way....

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