Guest guest Posted January 9, 2001 Report Share Posted January 9, 2001 Is there anybody who is teaching soapmaking? I will have a class in spring and I don't feel very comfortable with the handling of lye while 20 people are standing around. If there is anybody, could you please contact me privately (I guess we should not clog the list with this topic)? Thank you. Franziska from Switzerland ________________________________________ JUST A PERFECT DAY - THE SOAP FACTORY Handmade soap and fine toiletries http://www.perfectday.ch *********************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2001 Report Share Posted January 10, 2001 Good question. I have been asked by the elementary school principle to do a soap making demonstration for the kids. I keep avoiding it because all I can think of is the danger the kids could be in. Any comments out there??? soapmaking classes > Is there anybody who is teaching soapmaking? I will have a class in spring > and I don't feel very comfortable with the handling of lye while 20 people > are standing around. > If there is anybody, could you please contact me privately (I guess we > should not clog the list with this topic)? Thank you. > > Franziska from Switzerland > ________________________________________ > > JUST A PERFECT DAY - THE SOAP FACTORY > Handmade soap and fine toiletries > http://www.perfectday.ch > *********************************************************** > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2001 Report Share Posted January 10, 2001 Just my HO here, but if it were me I'd teach grown ups or even teenagers, providing the proper safety equipment was provided but I would not teach elementary school kids. Too many things could go wrong. Just imagine one class clown bumping another kid and knocking into you with a beaker of lye water in your hands and take it from there. Hugs, Dee I have been asked by the elementary school principle to do a soap making demonstration for the kids. I keep avoiding it because all I can think of is the danger the kids could be in. Any comments out there??? ----- Original Message ----- From: " Franziska Pedersen " <franziska.pedersen@...> I will have a class in spring > and I don't feel very comfortable with the handling of lye while 20 people > are standing around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2001 Report Share Posted January 10, 2001 I did a class for the 4-H kids a couple years ago. I was putting the lye into the container explaining to the kids that the fumes could burn your throat and other things about lye. About that time a cloud of fume caught right in the face. I choked and sputtered for a few minutes before I could catch my breath. I had forgotten how many more fumes there are when mixing lye in water than milk. All I make is goatmilk soap. When I could once again get my breath, I said something like " well, that goes to show you just how dangerous the fumes can be " . Everybody laughed, but the kid's eyes were big. They got the message. If there are enough adults there, I don't find a problem with showing kids. If you have their attention, they usually sit quietly. Otherwise have an adult help control an active child. -- AJ's Udder Delight Saanen, Oberhasli, Toggenburg Dairy Goats Milk production in an UDDERly DELIGHTful package http://www.nwinfo.net/~milkmaid http://www.agdomain.com/web/ajudgoats/ UDDERly DELIGHTful Goatmilk Soap and Bath Products http://www.nwinfo.net/~milkmaid/udgsbp.html Green Kennewick, WA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2001 Report Share Posted January 11, 2001 I think it depends on the size of the class. With 20 or more kids I wouldn't do this, only if I would have a big classroom and the kids could be sitting on their chairs and I could be in front and demonstrate the soapmaking. But if the whole gang around me...Never... Franziska bAt 10:21 10.01.01 -0600, & Debora wrote: >Good question. I have been asked by the elementary school principle to do a >soap making demonstration for the kids. I keep avoiding it because all I >can think of is the danger the kids could be in. Any comments out there??? ________________________________________ JUST A PERFECT DAY - THE SOAP FACTORY Handmade soap and fine toiletries http://www.perfectday.ch *********************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2001 Report Share Posted January 11, 2001 Concerning soapmaking around kids.......one of the reasons I'm not interested in trying processed soap yet is because my kids are 3 and 21 months. Yeah, I have some bleach cleaners under the sink, but they are locked up, and I use them to clean you know? I don't have them out on the counter and stove doing " experiments " with them, which is what it would be for me and processed soap!!! When my kids are older and I've learned more about the whole soap-making process, then I will consider it. Christy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2001 Report Share Posted January 11, 2001 Good plan Christy. When I was on CIS one of the gals who was making soap had a glass with water and lye in it on the counter. Her two year came into the kitchen and before she could stop her the child had grabbed the glass and swallowed some of the lye solution, thinking it was water. She survived but it was said back then that she would have to spend the rest of her life going to doctor's to have the scar tissue in her throat stretched and torn to open her throat up so she could swallow and speak at all. It was very upsetting and tragic to us as well as to the mom. My 5 year old is very interested in my soap making but she is watched by either my husband or myself the entire time we're making soap and the dangers have been clearly explained to her. Even with the explanation I'm still very nervous about it and prefer to do it while she is in school. Dee Dreamspinner When my kids are older and I've learned more about the whole soap-making process, then I will consider it. Christy eGroups Sponsor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2001 Report Share Posted January 11, 2001 > From: Franziska Pedersen <franziska.pedersen@...> > Is there anybody who is teaching soapmaking? I will have a class in spring > and I don't feel very comfortable with the handling of lye while 20 people > are standing around. Franziska, if you are nervous about it, why not premix your lye solution before the class. You could also bring a small amount of lye and water for demonstration purposes if you wanted them to see the reaction when mixed together. Pat. Peace, Joy, Serenity. www.houseofscents.com Cosmeticinfo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2001 Report Share Posted January 12, 2001 Normally I'm not a anxious person at all, but I made a lot of research during the last weeks since I helped some students with a soapmaking project and I found out, how dangerous lye can be. It is not only that the lye will burn your skin, if you don't wear gloves, but it also that the fumes are *very* toxic. And I'm really wondering if the premixed lye, when I will reheat it, won't make such toxic fumes?! Of course, I know that when I gonna make the demonstration in a big room with open windows, the amount of lye fumes which will go into your lungs is very small. And it's (probably) only once for the viewers. But as longer as I'm working with this stuff and as more as I know about it, I feel that we should take much more care. I really would like to know how others, who are making big and many batches per week, handle this fume problem. Do you really wear masks (like I do)? Do you have a special ventilation system? I can't believe that everybody who runs a soapmaking business is making 2 or 3 gallons of lye outside without any other precautions. At 18:14 11.01.01 -0600, Pat McDonnell wrote: >Franziska, if you are nervous about it, why not premix your lye solution >before the class. You could also bring a small amount of lye and water for >demonstration purposes if you wanted them to see the reaction when mixed >together. > >Pat. >Peace, Joy, Serenity. >www.houseofscents.com ><Cosmeticinfo>Cosmeti\ cinfo ________________________________________ JUST A PERFECT DAY - THE SOAP FACTORY Handmade soap and fine toiletries http://www.perfectday.ch *********************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2001 Report Share Posted January 12, 2001 > I really would like to know how others, who are making big and many batches > per week, handle this fume problem. Do you really wear masks (like I do)? > Do you have a special ventilation system? I can't believe that everybody > who runs a soapmaking business is making 2 or 3 gallons of lye outside > without any other precautions. >Franziska Hi Franziska Now, whilst I certainly don't make huge or frequent batches, the precautions I take are to wear a mask and well ventilate where I mix the lye (I have to do this inside as I have dogs). I have the bucket in the kitchen sink which is right beside an open window, I also open the front door and have the ceiling fan on. When I actually put the sodium hydroxide into the water I stand back & turn my face as the initial plume of gas is released and then I go and mix it. Regards WB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2001 Report Share Posted January 12, 2001 Hi Franziska. >Normally I'm not a anxious person at all, but I made a lot of research during the last weeks since I helped some students with a soapmaking project and I found out, how dangerous lye can be. It is not only that the lye will burn your skin, if you don't wear gloves, but it also that the fumes are *very* toxic. And I'm really wondering if the premixed lye, when I will reheat it, won't make such toxic fumes?!< You are a wise person to worry about the toxic fumes of lye. Too many people don't worry and will regret it at some time in the future. I don't believe you will have a problem when reheating the lye as you will only be heating it from room temperature to about 95 F. This is probably no more than about 25 degrees F. I think most of the fumes are from the reaction when you add the lye to the water and would not repeat itself by heating the solution. >I really would like to know how others, who are making big and many batches per week, handle this fume problem. Do you really wear masks (like I do)? Do you have a special ventilation system? I can't believe that everybody who runs a soapmaking business is making 2 or 3 gallons of lye outside without any other precautions.< I am not a large soap maker, but I am careful. When the weather permits I mix lye outside. I always make sure that the wind will blow the fumes away from me. I turn my head away when I am mixing it and I also wear a paper mask. In the Winter, I make it in the garage with the door open using the same precautions. I know some of the larger companies premix their lye solutions so they don't have to mix it every day. Depending on their formulas, they may need to add additional water. There are many people who claim that the temperature of the lye solution doesn't matter, so you may want to experiment using a solution at room temperature to see how it works for you. Pat. Peace, Joy, Serenity. www.houseofscents.com Cosmeticinfo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2001 Report Share Posted January 13, 2001 Great minds think alike !I take a deepbreath and step back as I stir with my very , very long wooden spoon. Ricky in Texas Re: Re: soapmaking classes >> I really would like to know how others, who are making big and many >batches >> per week, handle this fume problem. Do you really wear masks (like I do)? >> Do you have a special ventilation system? I can't believe that everybody >> who runs a soapmaking business is making 2 or 3 gallons of lye outside >> without any other precautions. >>Franziska > >Hi Franziska > >Now, whilst I certainly don't make huge or frequent batches, the precautions >I take are to wear a mask and well ventilate where I mix the lye (I have to >do this inside as I have dogs). I have the bucket in the kitchen sink which >is right beside an open window, I also open the front door and have the >ceiling fan on. When I actually put the sodium hydroxide into the water I >stand back & turn my face as the initial plume of gas is released and then I >go and mix it. > >Regards > > WB > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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