Lye to me...

[Prickly Legs]

So, I was going to try my first batch of CP soap yesterday, but ran into a little problem. After I mixed the lye solution, it turned...black.

I'm thinking I didn't get "pure" lye. I picked up a bottle at the local Home Depot but I'm thinking it must have contained aluminum shavings or something.

Where can one get lye without having to order it online? I just want to try this out and see if I can do it before investing heavily into supplies.

 

[AshleyR]

What brand was it?

I've only heard of people being able to get "pure" lye at Home Hardware in Canada (store brand, I use it), and Ace Hardware in the US. Otherwise you can get it from many online vendors...

 

[Cortney]

I finally found 100% lye at True Value
edit: It is the Rootos brand

 

[wookie130]

It sure does sound like you weren't using 100% sodium hydroxide, which is what you actually need...another name for it is "caustic soda."

I find the Roebic Crystal Drain opener, which is 100% lye, in my local Tractor and Supply Co. store. Home Depot and Lowes were carrying it, but have stopped recently. Some people find it in their local Ace Hardware stores too. We also have it in a local Blains Farm & Fleet store.

 

[reallyrita]

Lye to me

If you are in the US do check and see if you have one of those independent ACE hardware stores any where near you. They do carry it or they can order it for you. Turns out lye is used to make crystal meth (or something equally bad) and that is why we can't find it so readily any more. A lot of the soapers here order on line too. Hard to wait....I know!

 

[oldragbagger]

go online and check the brand name for an MSDE sheet. It will list all ingredients.

 

[MikeInPdx]

Ummmmm no.....it doesn't sound like you got pure lye. Lye, when mixed into water, will initially get cloudy, and let off nasty fumes, and then get clear and be very hot.

 

[IrishLass]

What kind of container did you mix your lye water in?


IrishLass

 

[xyxoxy]

I'm pretty sure Home Depot doesn't carry pure lye.
Ace Hardware does.

 

[Prickly Legs]

What kind of container did you mix your lye water in?


IrishLass

I mixed it in a clear pyrex bowl.

Thanks for all the responses! I'm going to check out Ace and see what they carry around here.

Yay!

 

[IrishLass]

What kind of container did you mix your lye water in?


IrishLass

I mixed it in a clear pyrex bowl.

!

Well, that rules out the possibility that it was the bowl. Someone else had a similar problem as yours fairly recently and it turned out that her lye was fine, but her container was not- it was aluminum. :shock:

IrishLass