A whole new world...

[beth44601]

I had an erge to try something new a couple of weeks ago, I told hubby I would like to try and make soap.  well I did, with his help on the ratios(god knows I flunked math) I succeeded in making soap. I made oatmeal soap,cocoanut cream soap,and some good ole fashioned lye soap.  heres the basic recipe:

start with a good base oil like lard, vegie shortening, or extra virgin cocanut oil.
the ratio for the lye mixture is as follows 2:1
I put 10 teaspoons of lye to 1 cup cold water.
always add the lye to the water.
mix with a wooden spoon till crystals are melted , this mixture will get HOT be careful not to get any on you.
now add the melted lard or vegie s hortening, or cocoanut oil to this mixture
now stir this mixture till it gets to the tracking point witch means you can see a track in the mixture.
when it gets to that point add your herbs, fragrance,and wxfolients to the mix.
now for molds....

molds can be pvc pipe
can be cheese boxes
tupperware containers



now pour your mixture into the molds and leave it cure.

cure time is about 6 weeks.  the longer it cures the harder the bar and the milder the soap.

Now I don't know all the answers but you can google soap making 101 for some links.

[FrankG]

Where did you find the lye ?

[Da Backwoodsman]

Frank I'm not aware of a commercial source for lye but I'm sure there is plenty out there...

However, I know my uncles and grand parents made lye from pouring water trhough oak ashes  and letting it sit for a day or two

hope this was useful

[R.M.]

I think you can find it at any grocery store, in the cleaning supplies.

[Chaffa Hosa]

Where did you find the lye ?

Merrywar Lye drain opener?

[Da Backwoodsman]

now is that pure lye or does it have alot of other chemicals that would be harmful in the soap making/using process?

[Chaffa Hosa]

I dont know

[FrankG]

Been a hard find since the crack heads started usin it for their dope . I was using it and ammonium nitrate to make hot blueing salts and cant find either now .

[Da Backwoodsman]

what do you use the blueing salts for... barrel finishes?

[Chaffa Hosa]

I have no trouble finding Ammonia Nitrate
Affording it is another story

[RoaringBull]

ammonium nitrate, got about 1000 gal at work.....same stuff blew up that Oklahoma building

[Da Backwoodsman]

you cant say blew up and oklahoma in the same sentence ... aww you done did it now... i can see the satellite zooming in and big brother is about the raid the farm

[ffrooster]

Every trailor park in south louisiana has ammonium nitrate so they can use it their meth labs. you can't hardly buy it here without the local authorities coming to pay you a visit!

[Ranger]

You have to get the crystal drain cleaner with 100% sodium hydroxide (NaOH). I get it at tghe local Lowe's home improvement store. You must be very careful with the stuff. Here is an excerp from Wikipedia...

Hazardous reactions
Solid sodium hydroxide or solutions containing high concentrations of sodium hydroxide may cause chemical burns, permanent injury or scarring, and blindness. Lye (sodium hydroxide) may be harmful or fatal if swallowed.

Solvation of sodium hydroxide is highly exothermic, and the resulting heat may cause heat burns or ignite flammables.

Avoid all contact with organic tissue (including human skin, eyes, mouth, and animals or pets). Keep away from clothing. Avoid all contact with aluminium.

The combination of aluminium and sodium hydroxide results in a large production of hydrogen gas: 2Al(s) + 6NaOH(aq) ? 3H2(g) + 2Na3AlO3(aq). Hydrogen gas is explosive; mixing lye (sodium hydroxide) and aluminium in a closed container is therefore dangerous. In addition to aluminium, lye (sodium hydroxide) may also react with magnesium, zinc (galvanized), tin, chromium, brass, and bronze to produce hydrogen gas and is therefore dangerous. Do not allow lye to contact these metals.

Lye may react with various sugars to generate carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas; mixing sodium hydroxide and sugar in a closed container is therefore dangerous. Do not allow lye to contact sugar.[5]



And when they say lye will react with sugars, they aren't kiddin! Foams up like a big toxic volcano! lol.

Good luck and have fun guys. Soap makin really isn't difficult at all and all the folks campin with ya will think you're some kind of magic alchemist! lol