Hot Process Disaster :(

Up until now I have been using the cold process (CP) method to make soap (see in the post about my first soap to see how I normally make it). However, there is another way which many soapers seem to use which has the big advantage of being able to be used the next day. This is called Hot Process (or HP). Basically you start off the same as with CP but when you get to the stage when you would put it in the mould you put the pan back on the hob and gently heat it for about 30mins. During this time the saponification reaction that normally happens when it is wrapped in towels takes place, and most of the water evaporates (which would normally happen during the month of curing).

So, all this sounded a great idea. The only real downfall is that it is a lot thicker when it goes into the mould so top will be a bit more uneven but I can live with this. Got to the stage when it goes back on the heat. All looking good. Have my huge pan on the smallest ring as low as it would go but got a bit worried that it was getting too hot and that it was going to stick. Kept going. Really wasn't sure about how it was looking:

Scrambled eggs floating in oil. Ergh :S

Kept going basically constantly stirring as it kept slightly sticking. Then decided to give it a really good stir and it started to look much more consistent:

Slightly better... Maybe...

Then who knows that happened - was stirring it and it suddenly went from the picture above to this which was quickly pummelled into the mould:

This was supposed to be another batch of the module 4 soap. What you can see on the top is the layer with the red clay and there was a layer underneath with the strawberry seeds. The result was dry, crumbly yellow stuff with black specks with a layer of mottled pink, dry, crumbly stuff on top, neither stuck to the other. Left it to sit in the mould but it just all crumbled to bits when I got it out.

Probably could have used it (did try a little bit and it was soap and didn't burn the skin off my hands) but so depressed by it that it was one for the bin. Going to have to have a bit of a think and some advice from people that know if I'm going to try this again.... :S