Correct way to weight lye?

[tariqa]

What is the best way to weight lye?
Using a food scale, should it be digital or does it matter if its a cheap standard scale? For some reason it is always hard for me to measure the lye exactly. I was thinking about investing in a digital scale but im not sure it would make a difference.

It should not be weighted in fl ozs only in grams. That is something I just learned which was ruining my batches.

 

[shunt2011]

I use a digital scale and weigh mine in grams. I weigh everything in grams. Grams are much more accurate but ounces will work.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Shunt is spot on - everything should be done by weight, even water.

I measure in grams (being a Euro Chap!) and use a digital scale. I don't know if one could be really accurate enough with a machinical, unless it was a really good one and you were so spot on using it

 

[dixiedragon]

Digital, definitely! Get a food scale, not a postal scale. When making soap, you need the scale to accurately weigh as you are pouring oils, etc. Some postal scales will not do that, b/c they are built to weigh a package being placed on the scale, not an increasing weight. Food scales are better for that.

 

[robnbill]

I have two digital scales. I use a micro scale (AWS 250) for weights up to 250 gr. that I use for weighing lye, EO, FO, or other smaller ingredients, and a normal kitchen scale for the oils. I place cling wrap over both scales when using them with soap making since it keeps them a bit cleaner.

Bill

 

[seven]

I've changed scales 3 bloody times. It is quite hard to get a good scale here, but i finally found it in a baking shop.
Yes to digital, forget analog, you wanna be as precise as possible. My current scale is def for small production, 2000 gr max, but it can measure till 0,1 so i'm pretty happy.

 

[Tienne]

I make teensy batches, so I also use two digital scales. I use a digital jewelry scale for the smaller amounts that can measure grams to the second decimal (that's overkill, but it can do that) and a kitchen scale for the larger amounts that can measure to tenths of a gram. I got the jewelry scale for cheap on eBay.

 

[QueenBeeSoap]

I use a digital kitchen scale as well and measure in grams. It really is a necessity, especially for small batches where accuracy is even more critical. My scale measures to the nearest gram, so if my recipe ends up in fractions of a gram, I round up for oils and down for lye just to be safe.

 

[Ruthie]

I do measure in ounces. With my scale, the tenths of ounces are more accurate than the multiple of 2 grams. That is just the way it is made. But you do need a digital scale and the more accurate the better.

 

[judymoody]

Get a reliable digital scale that measures in grams as well as ounces. It is cheap when you consider the cost of failed batches.

 

[Lin]

It should not be weighted in fl ozs only in grams. That is something I just learned which was ruining my batches.

fl ozs isn't weight, its volume. That's why the problem. As mentioned, weighing in ounces is fine though using grams is more precise.

 

[savonierre]

Get the best digital scale you can afford, one with a power adapter is good to have.