lye

[lionprincess00]

I originally started out with bb lye flakes, which I loved and never experienced problems with. I ran out and ran to Lowe's and got Roebic lye pellets. Towards the end of the bottle, my soaps were overly soft and zapped for a long time before hardening up. Too much moisture leaking in? Packaging not great? Not sure, but I got another bottle because I was in a pinch. I just don't like it. Half way through and my soap I made Wednesday is zappy in the middle still and moist when I cut. I used 33% water as oil wt, and 3.5% SF. Point is I hate Roebic. I want the lye flakes, but bb is expensive and I want my lye this month lol, so I need a good supplier with fast shipping.

People mention essential depot, but they say surepost can add 2-3 days shipping.

~Any good lye flake distributors?
~Does ED have good reliable lye, and do you receive it fast? (their price is really good it seems)
~anyone else you recommend for good, reliable and fast shipping on lye?

Tia!

 

[TVivian]

I order from ED now, but I have ordered from https://www.thelyeguy.com/store.php and got my lye reasonably quick and was happy with the product and packaging.

 

[lsg]

Camden Grey has 2 lbs listed for $3.98. You may have to pay a hazmat fee for shipping. I had to put some of my Essential Depot lye down the drain as it was a bad batch, so I can't recommend their lye anymore. Make sure you get at leats 98

 

[Lion Of Judah]

i use the brand you mentioned from Lowes and have not had problems with it . i must say that i do not check for zap until they are dried and cured.i use higher water % than you , i stick to the default setting on soapcalc at 38% ,i find that my soap middle are firm when i cut and harden up in close to two weeks . so far all my soaps turns out great . i may have to send you one to check and see
it just may be what you are comfortable with .

 

[snappyllama]

WSP sells flakes. I like flakes better too. I had a bad experience with the pellets long before I started soaping when I was actually trying to use them for clearing a drain. Static is a cruel mistress. Combined with the rolly-polly-ness of pellets... it's a problem waiting to happen for a clutz like me.

 

[lionprincess00]

I cut after 24 hrs, but the cuts were moist and zapped even though it cut beautifully. This was yesterday. Well I decided to trim the ends and make the swirl stand out for both sides of the end pieces. When I trimmed I saw glistening and licked my fingers, big zap! It had been over 30 hrs. Tried gelling with insulation, but room got too cold.

That isn't too big a deal, but the fact I had near separation twice when I was down to the bottom of the barrel leads me to venture for better quality. Like I said, it could be the packaging isn't sealed as well as others.

1) lionofjudah, May have to take you up on that offer lol!
2) Thx to all for the recommendations. After you mentioned, lsg, your bad ed lye, I faintly recall others had that problem, what did I read, last Feb or March? So I got lye from the lye guy (Thx tvivian). If you get 2 instead just 1, it really makes it affordable.
Thx all!

 

[navigator9]

I always use The Lye Guy in upstate N.Y., but he sells the beads, not flakes. He's good though, fast shipping, so depending on where you are, you might want to check him out. Never had a problem with his product.

 

[xraygrl]

I have ordered from The Lye guy as well and always good service and quick shipping. I don't mind the pellets, I had problems with the flake lye not dissolving for me one time when I was doing a 100% Coconut milk soap....I had chunks of undissolved lye in my finished soap. After that I was always afraid to use the flake lye. Too bad because I loved the no static issue. Now I just wipe the container I am using with a used dryer sheet before measuring my lye and have no problems.

The lye I am currently using is from Essential Depot. Works great, but there again it's the pellets. They do have good service though.

 

[Dannyboi1228]

Soapgoods.com

Buy a 25 lb pail very reasonable.

The quality was on point from my knowledge.

My first experience was with bulk apothecary and i had a few lye heavy and irritating soaps .

Possibly due to amateur calculations.

I recommend soapgoods lye

 

[cmzaha]

Not sure why you would be having problems. I buy my lye in 50# bags and transfer to a 5 gallon pail. I have never run into problems even with opening up the bucket periodically. I do master batch so I do not open the bucket up everytime I make soap, but it is still opened up quite often and we actually had a lot of humidy this past summer. When I first started soaping I used Roebic and never had a problem