Vicki, thanks for the info. I'm soooo new to soap making !! All I know is
what others tell me and the few books I've read. I've even been told that
some of the writers don't always know what they are talking about. So please
, could you please, send out some tutorials ?? I really do need them.
Thanks again , Eileene
On Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 1:16 PM, Vicki Fotheringham <mistletoelady@???>
wrote:
> Hi,
> THere are lots of places who sell "lye" that is not pure. We have been
> given mixed information that you do not need pure lye for soapmaking and
> that you do. In my own opinion, we do need pure lye, which, by the way,
> is
> Sodium Hydroxide. Soap requires
> the cleanest ingredients you can find to make really good soap. Do you
> ever
> get that ash on top of your soap while it is still in
> the mold? That shows that something was not as pure as it should be. Did
> you use tap water? That can make soap come out
> really funny at the very best.
>
> We used to live in Oregon, where we had a pure, artesian well we were able
> to get water free from. Our tap water came from a
> pure artesian well also. Then we moved to American Falls, Idaho, and
> without thinking, when I was giving a class at my home,
> I turned on the tap water and used it. The soap did not even turn out! I
> had caves with beautiful stalagmites, crevices and
> even a few rivers of un-processed lye! What an experience to be doing
> this
> in front of a class! It is really funny
> to me now, especially because I did not realize for several weeks why it
> happened. Then it was a real "DUH"
> moment!
>
> You do not ned to get "Food Grade" lye, Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH, which is
> the
> lye used for making bars of soap.
> You do need to get a pure lye, though. Food grade will cost you much
> more.
> Yes, if you are not familiar with
> the fact, lye is often included in some food processing proceedures. I do
> not agree with it, but what can I say.
>
> The other kind of lye out there for soapmaking is Potassium Hydroxide, or
> KOH, it is potash and used for making
> liquid soap. It also needs to be pure.
>
> The reason Red Devil was removed from the grocery shelves is it is one of
> the main ingredients druggies use in
> making Meth. What a price we have to pay for such stupidity as these
> people
> inflict upon themselves and others
> who use the stuff! Enough of that, I could really go on a rampage here,
> but
> we are on a soapmaking list, lol!
>
> There are not alot of places who will ship lye in large quanities. This
> is
> due to the hazzard licensing required. Lye
> is one of those things that is very combustable, and if temps are too high
> will burst into flames. Also, if the
> container bursts, you have something that will eat through metal, skin,
> plastic, most anything it touches, so the
> terriffs are very high in shipping this item.
>
> The best bet, is if you happen to live near one of the places you know you
> can trust for pure lye, go there, get
> a 50 lb bag and carefully pack it into a 5 gallon bucket with a good tight
> fitting lid. Wear a mask over your face
> when you pour it in, and wear rubber gloves, long sleeves and long pants
> with shoes. This may sound a bit over
> done to someone just starting out, but it isn't. Lye eats through your
> skin
> in no time at all! It eats through many
> metals. Stainless Steel is about the only metal it is safe to use for
> soapmaking. Some plastics will hold up to lye
> as well, but be very careful! It can eat right through it in no time at
> all.
>
> Also, if you are using lye, do not have your pets or children around you
> while re-packaging it. It is just as harmful
> to them. Lye is a very caustic substance and can damage you lungs with
> one
> inhale of the dust, or the smell as
> you are mixing it with water. It is best to wear a mask, and use over
> head
> fans that suck the vapors out of the house. Many people go outside for
> this
> proceedure, and it is not a bad idea to do this proceedure outside. I
> often
> tiimes just pull my blouse over my nose while working with lye. My family
> laughs and calls me the "Soap Bandit",
> but it works!
>
> Hope this helps a little. Soapmaking is fun, rewarding and a great
> experience. I hope no one out there is too
> afraid to use lye to make soap. A few cautions and careful planning is
> all
> that is needed. If you have small
> children, either have someone there to make sure they do not get in the
> way,
> or make your soap while they
> are asleep. I let the phone ring and place a note on the front door, in
> case anyone comes to the door, while
> I am in the middle of a proceedure I cannot be interrupted with, unless
> someone is there who will handle the
> door or phone.
>
> Have a good day and a great soapmaking experience!
> Vicki
>
> --
> Wow! Look at this!
> https://www.securepaynet.net/gdshop/rhp/default.asp?prog%5Fid=419032
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