Making Handmade Soap: Batch Size

So, I have been debating (in my head) on how to approach the size of the batches of soap I intend to produce. Initailly, I was thinking 10-12 lb batches - more because that's the batch size used in the book I purchased than for any other reason.

With that in mind, I purchased 2 bar molds designed to hold a 5 -6 lb loaves of soap.

But now I'm thinking ... maybe I should make 5 lb batches instead. Assuming 20-24 bars per batch I could ...

• make more different kinds of soap more quickly
• waste less material in the event of a bad batch
• possibly use a countertop stand mixer

The first issue is the most important. If I intend to make soap baskets for xmas gifts I am going to need those molds working continuosly - and 20 some odd bars of each should be more than enough. I don't really have all that many friends.

Secondly, I would be really bummed if I made a 12lb batch of 48 bars that dind't work out - effectively scrapping a good amount of material.

Thirdly - I hadn't considered the use of a stand mixer until I came across it on one of the other homemade soap websites (link coming as soon as I remember who it was). I had considered using an immersion blender to reach trace quickly (some say 5 minites or so), but ruled it out for two reasons.

Handheld mixers...

1. Can burn out mixing soap if you are not careful and
2. If not used properly have a tendancy to not completely mix the soap properly resulting in lye filled bubble in your soap.

So, in the iterest of not wasting money on burned up equipment or failed batches and unusable soap I had all but given in to mixing by hand.

The stand mixer would't be capable of very large batches, but appears to reach trace in about 10 minutes or so and I have to assume they do a pretty good job of evenly incorporating the ingredients - seeing as most bakers I know are quite picky.

... but then again, if I use the stand mixer, is it really handmade soap.