wrong lye?

[theBrewMeister]

I picked up some drain cleaner from lowes today- liquid. Only thing it claims to contain is sodium hydroxide. I added it to distilled water while preparing to make soap and noticed no heating whatsoever. Im guessing this means i can not use this stuff? plz help!

 

[IanT]

I picked up some drain cleaner from lowes today- liquid. Only thing it claims to contain is sodium hydroxide. I added it to distilled water while preparing to make soap and noticed no heating whatsoever. Im guessing this means i can not use this stuff? plz help!

DO NOT USE LIQUID DRAIN CLEANER. What brand did you get??

NEVER purchase any chemical for soapmaking unless you read the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) First...

It likely contains aluminum oxide, and a host of other things...

 

[theBrewMeister]

its called Liquid Heat. I read that lowes carries lye but all i found was this and another drain cleaner that was solids. I didnt get the solid form b/c it had blue balls in it as well.

If lowes does carry lye would it be anywhere other than in the plumbing deptartment?

 

[carebear]

Most, if not all, Lowes stopped carrying it - but the brand they HAD was Roebic Heavy Duty Crystal Drain Opener - http://www.castlewholesalers.com/ROEBIC ... -Lbs-.html

 

[kysoapnstuff]

New member here but had to chime in on this one since I almost made the same mistake. It's hard to find lye locally anymore but I've been getting mine from this place.

http://stores.ebay.com/Essential-Depot

Seems to be good quality and it arrives within just a few days.

 

[Chay]

Joe you might be able to find it from a local chemical company but you'd most likely have to buy it in bulk. Not something I would recommend for someone just starting out. Your best bet would be to order it online. There are a number of companies that sell it. I personally get mine from AAA and I'm sure some of the other soapers wouldn't mind throwing out some other company names that have tested true.

 

[Maria]

Ace Hardware carries 100% lye and gives a discount if ordered by the case.

 

[theBrewMeister]

Thanks you for the help! I was able to go to the other local lowes and pick up roebics 100% lye.

Only problem I am having now is Soapcalc isnt showing me any lye amounts. It says "0.134 NaOH SAP" No matter what I change in the recipe. Am I using it wrong???

 

[Sunny]

New member here but had to chime in on this one since I almost made the same mistake. It's hard to find lye locally anymore but I've been getting mine from this place.

http://stores.ebay.com/Essential-Depot

Seems to be good quality and it arrives within just a few days.

I got mine from Essential Depot too - http://www.essentialdepot.com/

It arrived quickly and mine is "food grade." I think I bought 4 lbs at one time, the shipping charge was decent as far as I remember. It comes in plastic bottles which I liked because it was easy to pour and to store.

A lot of people say they get theirs from AAA so I guess that would be a good one to try as well.

 

[theBrewMeister]

Ok, I am posting this just in case someone else has the same problem. Soapcalc wasnt adjusting my lye amounts earlier. In order to fix the problem I had to close the program and reopen it - this worked - this time.

So, after checking and rechecking my lye amounts 5 times I have just completed my first batch of soap! This is exciting stuff! So, we'll see in 24 hours or so if everything went as planned. Heres the recipe I used...

I wanted to start fairly simple and make a castile type soap. Only problem I have with castile soaps is the lather. So, and I hope I am right on this, I added 5% castor oil to hopefully provide a nice creamy lather. We'll see!

 

[IanT]

Ok, I am posting this just in case someone else has the same problem. Soapcalc wasnt adjusting my lye amounts earlier. In order to fix the problem I had to close the program and reopen it - this worked - this time.

So, after checking and rechecking my lye amounts 5 times I have just completed my first batch of soap! This is exciting stuff! So, we'll see in 24 hours or so if everything went as planned. Heres the recipe I used...

I wanted to start fairly simple and make a castile type soap. Only problem I have with castile soaps is the lather. So, and I hope I am right on this, I added 5% castor oil to hopefully provide a nice creamy lather. We'll see!

glad you got it worked out!... I couldnt find any of the Roebics crystal lye anywhere at any local lowes, hell...even Ace doesnt carry it anywhere around me.. I found a local that makes bio diesel and I will be purchasing 50lbs of it tomorrow (first time buying bulk...)...

congrats on your first batch!!!!!

Im not seeing the recipe you posted, but awesome!!

and ps... we love pics- show us your soaps!!

 

[theBrewMeister]

I think it's silly that big brother has to babysit us. Just b/c ppl use lye in the manufacture of some drugs doesnt give them the right to take it away. I can still buy straight naptha, they use that to precipitate meth. Anyways, I didnt post the recipe, figured it was self explanitory. I thought castille soaps were 100% OO? So heres what I used:

95% Olive Oil (pomace was avail in bulk locally so thats what I used)
5% Castor (found at local pharmacy in tiny 4oz bottle for $2.25)
Superfatted @ 8%
1.925 oz/PPO NaOH
.33 lbs/PPO H2O

 

[IanT]

I think it's silly that big brother has to babysit us. Just b/c ppl use lye in the manufacture of some drugs doesnt give them the right to take it away. I can still buy straight naptha, they use that to precipitate meth. Anyways, I didnt post the recipe, figured it was self explanitory. I thought castille soaps were 100% OO? So heres what I used:

95% Olive Oil (pomace was avail in bulk locally so thats what I used)
5% Castor (found at local pharmacy in tiny 4oz bottle for $2.25)
Superfatted @ 8%
1.925 oz/PPO NaOH
.33 lbs/PPO H2O

Yup ... castile are 100% OO.. I was just wondering about superfat etc...

yeahh...I dont understand why the govt regulates it so hard... I mean I dont want meth labs popping up, but I dont think meth is big where I live... I just bought 50# of it from a guy that makes biodiesel... $1.16/lb...sweeeeet.

So how did your first batch turn out!?!?!?!??!

 

[theBrewMeister]

Just made it last night. now that im preparing for next batch I'm worried I didnt use enough lye. I calculated my recipe based on 1lb but made a 2lbs batch. I calculated 1.92oz of lye but I think I forgot to double it for the extra LB of oil?!?! Guess Ill find out. it traced and is looking pretty solid right now.

So if I didnt add enough lye by 1/2 would it still Sap? i'd just end up with really oily soap eh?

I guess if i screwed this one up its to be expected - first batch and all. That'll give me a reason to learn how to rebatch I suppose!

 

[IanT]

Just made it last night. now that im preparing for next batch I'm worried I didnt use enough lye. I calculated my recipe based on 1lb but made a 2lbs batch. I calculated 1.92oz of lye but I think I forgot to double it for the extra LB of oil?!?! Guess Ill find out. it traced and is looking pretty solid right now.

So if I didnt add enough lye by 1/2 would it still Sap? i'd just end up with really oily soap eh?

I guess if i screwed this one up its to be expected - first batch and all. That'll give me a reason to learn how to rebatch I suppose!

exactly, it would still sap, but there would only be enough lye solution to sap half +/- the oils... oily soap indeed... but soap nonetheless....like you said, learning op for rebatching!!

dont throw it out though, def rebatch.. it can be salvaged!!

gearing up for batch two!! sweeet!!

another castile???

 

[theBrewMeister]

exactly, it would still sap, but there would only be enough lye solution to sap half +/- the oils... oily soap indeed... but soap nonetheless....like you said, learning op for rebatching!!

dont throw it out though, def rebatch.. it can be salvaged!!

gearing up for batch two!! sweeet!!

another castile???[/quote]

Yes, quadrupile checking my lye right now for a different kind of soap. No clue what kind it would be lol.

45% Canola
30% Olive Oil
20% Coconut oil
5% Castor oil

Lye is:
.264 lbs = 4.22 oz (I hope)
According to MMS, which I seem to like better than soapcalc.net.

Sound about right? Seems like a lot of NaOH /H20 to me. ??

 

[IanT]

exactly, it would still sap, but there would only be enough lye solution to sap half +/- the oils... oily soap indeed... but soap nonetheless....like you said, learning op for rebatching!!

dont throw it out though, def rebatch.. it can be salvaged!!

gearing up for batch two!! sweeet!!

another castile???

Yes, quadrupile checking my lye right now for a different kind of soap. No clue what kind it would be lol.

45% Canola
30% Olive Oil
20% Coconut oil
5% Castor oil

Lye is:
.264 lbs = 4.22 oz (I hope)
According to MMS, which I seem to like better than soapcalc.net.

Sound about right? Seems like a lot of NaOH /H20 to me. ??[/quote]




You may not want to add as much canola, its reallllly prone to DOS, I would do something like
55% OO
30% CO
9% Canola
7% Castor...


Or nix the Canola all together...

and do:

60% OO
30% CO
10% Castor... looooove this recipe...


I dont use soapcalc or MMS, been using soapmaker3... looooove it...

its worth the cash

 

[theBrewMeister]

OK, thanks. I read that canola was a decent filler oil. You'll have to forgive the noobie, not sure what DOS means.

Im considering these all test batches, so Im experimenting around with smaller batches.

As far as the lye amount I listed does that seem about right for 2lb batch?

Thanks for all your help thus far! I really apreciate it!

 

[IanT]

OK, thanks. I read that canola was a decent filler oil. You'll have to forgive the noobie, not sure what DOS means.

Im considering these all test batches, so Im experimenting around with smaller batches.

As far as the lye amount I listed does that seem about right for 2lb batch?

Thanks for all your help thus far! I really apreciate it!

DOS = Dreaded Orange Spots

Definitely something to research to know which oils to use in smaller quantities...Its basically oils that are prone to rancidity...

The amount of lye you listed seems fine... my calculator is showing to add .27 lbs or 4.29 oz, so its showing a little more, that isnt necc. bad though, every calc will show you slightly different numbers depending on the sap value they are using, this is because each oil will generally have a range or sap values from x-x, the programmers of the calcs will pick their number, but there are no set in stone numbers... due to differences in oil properties derived from where and how they are grown as well as the varietals they are extracted from, it all depends on each given oil... so for a 2lb batch of the given recipe that you gave me (the one with the canola etc..) thats how much lye its showing me to use on my calc...

that being said, that doesnt mean that is the correct amount of lye to add for ALL 2lb batches, again...because of the properties of the diff oils you use..

Yeahhh it is great to start out with smaller batches, I usually make 1lb test batches, heck Ive even seen people make 1 BAR test batches!! lol.. but stuff moves a little to hastily for my liking when you work with with that small... you also need a super accurate scale as you could make a lye heavy batch reaaally easily if you mess the measurements up on that small of a recipe, so 1lb is my absolute minimum

I also would advise you (not sure if your adding scents and such)... make unscented soap at first, til you get a recipe you like, then you can add eos/fos and figure out how the recipe changes and how much faster/slower the batch is to trace!

Its fun and exciting!!


Hope that helps!!!

Also here are some good links to check out:
SMF abbreviations thread

Soap Making Tutorials

Check out the tutorials at the link above and the FAQ section...

Hope that helps!!

 

[theBrewMeister]

Thanks for the pointers! I adjusted my second batch to lower the canola and following youre suggested recipe I went ahead and made a third test batch; so far all unscented.

I cut my first batch, the one without enough lye, and we gave it a test run under the faucet. It feels incredibly silky while washing, and initially leaves hands feeling super moisturized, almost like lotion. BUT! But, after about 5 mins my hands are really dry! Like I've just had them in clean dirt all day. Is this normal for a 50% sap castile type soap?!?!