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Where to find high sheer mixers for 10 gal batches?
Newbie to emulsifying here. I’ve been able to do many successful 5 - 10 gallon batches of various emulsions, but there’s an emulsified body butter formula that is not always emulsifying for me. It uses Olivem 1000 (6%), Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Almond Oil, cetyl alcohol (2%), and water (56%).
I’ve tried adding the water to the oil and oil to the water, but the emulsions break both ways. I’ve done it successfully by pouring all the oil into the water (not slowly), and then mixing. The oil is at about 185 degrees and the water after poured cools to about 170 degrees. Is the problem the temps?
I’m using a power drill, a paint mixer attachment, and a 12-gallon bucket. I own an immersion blender but it doesn’t move the material as much as a mud mixer in the 10-gallon batches, so I don’t use that.
Should I be looking for a high sheer mixer that handles 10-gallon batches? If so, are there any recommendations on where to purchase them? Do I even need a high sheer mixer, or is an agitator going to suffice?
Thanks!
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5 Replies
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You may try your luck with these.
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Thanks for replying @MDBeauty ! Thanks for the recommendations! I think I phrased my title wrong. I’m mostly asking folks if they think I even need a high shear mixer.<div>
I have a Wagner (the vevor blender only lasted a few months, but they did refund me when it broke) immersion blender and it works great. But now I’m trying to mix larger 10 gallon batches. I’m also having a problem emulsifing the above formula with an immersion blender or a power drill with attachment. It’s not emulsifying in 10 gallon batches. When I mix 5 gallons it works.
So I’m seeking advice on what’s a good mixer for body butters or if they think it’s my formula, or my temps, or how I’m pouring them. I’ve been mixing at 180 -170 F. Will mixing too hot break emulsions?
Do people on here use immersion blenders for 10 gallon batches?
Does anyone use a paint mixer and power drill?
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You didn’t put the amount of oils so i’m guessing around 30% -36% or so. You also missed your preservative and antioxidant. I am not much of a butter formulator but i think its your formula that needs adjusting and that could be a bunch of different things. I would keep the oils under 15% and you may also need a gum/polymer as well. I’d say start with making a 1 gallon batch again, go over your numbers and ensure everything adds up correctly before scaling. You can also check out knowde for a base formula and work your way from there.
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The formula is:
Water - 56%
Glycerin - 4%
OliveM 1000 - 6%
Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Almond Oil - 31%
Cetyl Alcohol- 2%
Euxyl 9010 - 1%
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You’re right. I’m using too much oil. Going to try 21% oil and 7% olivem 1000 with a little xanthan gum and 1% Glyceryl Stearate.
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