Warning - choose your equipment carefully

The Efficacious Gentleman · Dec 2, 2014

Made a batch of coffee soap today and had an interesting experience -

ImageUploadedBySoap Making1417541490.745678.jpg

The light line pointing to 3 O'clock is a crack, from the heat of the lye water.

This bucket is the right type of plastic but with the wrong kind of build. The quality is good, but the seam along the bottom was enough to split.

Take care out there, folks.

shunt2011 · Dec 2, 2014

Crikes....that could have been a mess.....but I recall you soap in your sink like I do with the lye mixture. It's a reminder than anything can fail at some point.

The Efficacious Gentleman · Dec 2, 2014

This time I had it out on the balcony - coffee lye solution really stinks! So I had a tiny bit on the balcony, maybe 1/4 cup, so used vinegar.........my balcony has had worse heat than that

DWinMadison · Dec 2, 2014

Yes. Thanks for the reminder. It's temping to use equipment that might not be in perfect shape or right for the job, but it's not worth it. I was splitting my lye into smaller portions last night for storage and sharing with some friends. Of course I had on gloves, eye protection and even a mask but I decided not to bother changing in to a long-sleeved shirt...

The Efficacious Gentleman · Dec 2, 2014

Ouch!

My marigolds are at the end of their life, so I broke out the small medical style gloves - did not feel the same at all handling it all with gloves just to the wrist :???:

Susie · Dec 2, 2014

Thanks for sharing that, guys! You may save someone a nasty situation by posting those.

cmzaha · Dec 2, 2014

Have to admit I only wear medical nitrile gloves that go to the wrist. The only time I ever dropped my lye pitcher I was wearing heavier longer nitrile gloves. The length did not make the difference, it was the glove thickness that made the difference. I even dump 50# bags of lye with short gloves on. Yep been bit a few times but that is all. At least I have never dropped another lye pitcher

IrishLass · Dec 2, 2014

This is a good reminder to check our equipment!

As for gloves, I wear wrist-length nitriles. I have longer, thicker gloves, but I feel so clumsy and out-of-control with them, like something is going to slip out of my hands. My nitriles may be shorter, but they give me more control/better grip. It's rare that I ever get lye on me. It's happened a few times, but since I'm never far away from a source of running water, it's never gone farther than a slight itch to let me know it was there and needed to be rinsed. In any case- it's never gone as far as leaving a mark on me.

The Efficacious Gentleman said:
This time I had it out on the balcony - coffee lye solution really stinks!

And how! I liken it to the smell of bad doggie breath X 10.

IrishLass

shunt2011 · Dec 2, 2014

DWinMadison said:
Yes. Thanks for the reminder. It's temping to use equipment that might not be in perfect shape or right for the job, but it's not worth it. I was splitting my lye into smaller portions last night for storage and sharing with some friends. Of course I had on gloves, eye protection and even a mask but I decided not to bother changing in to a long-sleeved shirt...[/QUOTE
This is the reason I quit buying my lye in 55 lb bags. Even with long sleeves I still ended up with lye burns while transferring into smaller containers just like you. I think the only way I would do it is if I had well sealed buckets that I could dump it into and then scoop out with something else. I went through 2 of those 55 lb bags before just ordering from Essential Depot, it was worth the bit extra it cost. I ordered 64 lbs when I did it.

DWinMadison · Dec 2, 2014

shunt2011 said:
DWinMadison said:

Yes. Thanks for the reminder. It's temping to use equipment that might not be in perfect shape or right for the job, but it's not worth it. I was splitting my lye into smaller portions last night for storage and sharing with some friends. Of course I had on gloves, eye protection and even a mask but I decided not to bother changing in to a long-sleeved shirt...[/QUOTE
This is the reason I quit buying my lye in 55 lb bags. Even with long sleeves I still ended up with lye burns while transferring into smaller containers just like you. I think the only way I would do it is if I had well sealed buckets that I could dump it into and then scoop out with something else. I went through 2 of those 55 lb bags before just ordering from Essential Depot, it was worth the bit extra it cost. I ordered 64 lbs when I did it.

Click to expand...

Have a feeling I going to agree with you. I was breaking it down into smaller buckets, but was also having to break up harder clumps. It's not too bad. Doesn't actually burn. I learned from the process, and shouldn't need lye for the rest of my life basically, so long as it doesn't crystalize!!!! I can't wait to try the 50% solution. That could be the real answer.

Warning - choose your equipment carefully

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