how do you use hardwood ash lye?

[Dr_sudz]

I have been looking into the process of making my own lye using ashes from my wood burning stove. There are many great tutorials out there to show how to produce the lye, however it leaves me wondering how they make the jump from having liquid lye to using it in the soap process.
Now please correct me if I am off base here, from what I understand the hardwood ashes produce KOH lye? And the NaOH is salt based lye? how do you determine that you have 90%-100% KOH lye when you produce it? Do you boil lye down then add water back to get your correct volume right?

I would like to use it to make the recipe that Songwind posted here.

My other question is, what is the reasoning behind adding straight stearic acid? doesn't it naturally form in Tallow and Shea butter?

I feel very new at this and really want to make a first batch, just also really want it to go right.

 

[neeners]

the problem with homemade lye is there's no guarantee the purity, which is why modern soap makers stick to the chemicals. so unless you have a testing kit and you're really REALLY sure about your science skills, I would suggest purchasing lye (you can find it online).

OR find someone close to you who knows how to make the lye, and hang out with them for a while and learn from them....