newbie question

[aprilconnett]

I haven't started making soap yet. Just researching and gathering tools as inexpensively as possible. I know I am supposed to ask a local butcher for suet, but how can I be sure that I am receiving "organically" raised suet?

Also, I have a friend who is a hunter. Could I use fat from deer or even squirrels for soapmaking? Just curious.

april

[beaglady]

You can use deer fat for sure. I don't see why you couldn't use squirrel fat, but it sure would take a lot of squirrels. www.soapcalc.com lists all kinds of animal fats, including deer fat.

If the beef isn't 'certified organic' then the suet won't be either. If you live in a rural area, it may be fairly easy to find local pastured beef fat though, simply by putting the word out that you want some.

[theresehirko]

According to the Army survival manual, you are supposed to save all of the fat that you can from any small game that you snare, such as squirrel, raccoon, etc. You cook the fat down to render it and you can make soap out of it using water and your campfire ashes. Now granted, I'm not sure how nice the soap would be, but when your main goal is to evade capture and not get sick or injured, I don't guess you care how nice the soap would be.

[silverphnx2579]

Where'd you get that manual? I missed out on that stuff when I was in the Army! I wasn't allowed to make campfires (might as well make a bullseye on your forehead and kiss your backside goodbye), and I missed out on soap making class. I'd love to get my hands on a copy of that, since I collect old manuals.

Melissa

[kldickinson1]

Re deer fat: I have just rendered two batches of deer fat to make soap and candles. The rendering went fine and yielded a white, waxy lard. As soon as I make some soap or candles, I will let you know how it went!

[LABeekeeper]

Glorybee Foods in Eugene, Oregon as well as a number of bee equipment companies sell melt and pour soap bases.

http://www.glorybeefoods.com/gbf/Shop_List.cfm?PC=5&PSC=49&ProductCat_Name=Melt and Pour Soap Bases&Token=68.108.231.85:{ts_2009-07-12_04:29:38}-614735

I've used Glorybee's castile and goats milk bases in my soap making. Only problem I have found is that in really humid portions of the country, the finished soaps tend to sweat unless immediately wrapped or shrink wrapped.

Glorybee occasionally puts their soap bases on sale. They also have a large selection of other soap making products. Some of the bee equipment supply companies sell lye if you find a hard time obtaining lye.

You can add your own ingredients such as sweet almond oil, dried herbs, fragrence oils, honey, wheat germ (exfoliant), etc. once you have melted the base. You can also use pureed fruits to your soaps such as cucumber, strawberries, carrots, avocado, etc.

PM /email me from my website at http://www.goldendelighthoney.com/ and I can send various receipes and book titles on soap making that I have used.

Milkyway molds makes and sells many of the soap molds that bee equipment companies sell.
http://www.milkywaymolds.com/

[NCLee]

Just adding 2-cents.....

For an economical approach to making soap use any fat that's readily available. Recently read about using leftover oil from a turkey fryer. I like that idea, because it's such a shame to waste all that oil for just a turkey or 2 and then have it go bad before the next time that much oil is needed for something. I like fried turkey, but have never done it myself because of the amount of oil needed. Now it looks like I can get dual duty from the oil.

Lee

Edit: Here's the link on using turkey fryer oil. Scroll down to the last post.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/forums/forum.aspx?boardid=1202&g=posts&t=130126

Edit 2: Decided to research a little further. Google: Keywords - soap making colonial
I usually like zero in on things like this as to how they were done before electricity and availability of all the "stuff" at local craft shops. Anyway, here's 2 great links, IMHO.
http://www.alcasoft.com/soapfact/history.html
http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/colonial-soap-making.html

Hope these will add to your soap making library.

[roolu]

Great links, thank you for sharing.

[rAcErRicK]

Army Field Manuals

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/