I’ve not had a problem finding lye in my area (Boston), I believe
I’ve found it at the True Value chain, and probably Ace as well. I’m
a sometimes soap maker here, so I’ve often bought it. I think Red
Devil is the brand generally available. Usually found with the other
drain cleaners. In addition to possible scurrilous uses, I suspect
that straight lye isn’t as popular as stuff like Drano-and might be
going to way of old favorite household chemicals such as bluing and
naptha soap-still around, but harder and harder to find due to a lack
of popularity.
Ever since it was removed from the grocery store I’ve been getting it
from http://www.summerbeemeadow.com. They get you to fill out a form
saying you’re not using it illegally and then they ship it straight
to you. They sell it in various sizes. I bought the four pack for
34.99. (8.75 lbs) Seems like a better deal than Red Devil lye used to
be.
-Stanley Bright
Another interesting use for lye: hair processing, used to be called a
’do’.
first, in most plumbing sections of hardwares, home supplies,
groceries, adnauto parts stores it is sold as drain openers, metal
cleaners for engines (that would be the auto parts store–and its
next to the oxalic acid radiator flush crystals/granules which remove
iron deposits and inclusions from quartz and other minerals with a
similar crystalline structure…basically if you dig quartz, amethyst,
garnets, etc you soak the raw material in a 5 gallon bucket
containing hot water to which a can of oxalic acid is added (do this
outdoors) and you get clear colorless or near colourless crystals of
quartz, and brighter more intense color in the rest of the iron
covered minerals).
Lye is extremely easy to make though - particularly now when you are
cleaning your WOOD BURNING fireplaces or stoves or Kachelovens out.
WOOD ASH, not fireplace log ash, or charcoal bar-b-q pit ash contains
NaOH-or sodium hydroxide, or potash…whatever you call it is is easy
to get a good quantity by filling a 5 gallon bucket or water tight
wooden firkin with the ash shoveled out of the fireplace or
hearth,fill the bucket to within 5 inches of the top, add rainwater (
for that extra acid-y touch!!) or any water you want,cover it with a
pane of glass if you have one or plexiglas, or something farly clear
and clean ( algae covered substrates are not desireable,) and stand
in the sun for at least 24 hours ( 2 days of 12 hours of sun) then
you drain the liquid off and voila- about a10.9% solution of NaOH…
if not higher.Depending on what you want it for ( that is almost
strong enough to saponify oils for soap)- use the same water in
another bucket full of ash, wait two days and then drain off the
result…now the solution is potentially strong enough to damage silk
or cotton a simple test is to take a baby food jar (glass jar) put
about 4 -5 tablespoons of used frying oil -vegetable derrived oil.If
you don’t have any used oil, use some fresh coconut,almond or olive
or whatever oil you do have other than used or fresh motor oil, and
add about 1/4-1/3 cup of your caustic soda /potash/lye solution
swirl or mix with a stick and watch for two reactions- one : the
release of heat or steam (depends on the humidity) the other:
solidification of the oil…if it readily turns into an opaque mass
that is semi-solid to solid you have saponification and a fairly
strong lye solution ( if you want to get fancy add about 2
tablespoons of 20 mule team borax, and up to ten drops of any
essential oil other than pure sassafrass, and mix it in (spearmint is
cheap smells appealing to most, is emollient and doesn’t cause the #
of skin reactions the equally cheap citrus family of oils
triggers).after letting it air-cure for a day or two you can keep it
in a clean covered container with a plastic lid ( preferred over
metal canning jar lids).It is a superb hand cleaner, softener and
healer,and the addition of about a half ounce of raw beeswax (with
the propolis still in it) helps to make it longer lasting than
milling it
…lye is actually more readily available than you think…you just
have to read labels If you need any questions answered, feel free to
email me off Orchid…
How to make lye:
How to make lye: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Lye
I’m confused - I know I come from a different part of the planet but
I’m sure we have roughly the same chemicals…
I always believed that Lye was an archaic term for an alkali but
particularly POTASSIUM Hydroxide (Caustic Potash) - made from wood
ash, but a number of people here have been referring to Lye as
SODIUM Hydroxide or Caustic Soda - another chemical
entirely…Which is correct?
Over here in the UK we have pretty much abandoned the slang names
for chemicals and not before time. With sometimes up to half a dozen
variations in name for one chemical (like Antimony Black and
Antimony Glance for Antimony Trisulphide [or Trisulfide…]) and
similar names for different chemicals (such as Copperas for Ferrous
Sulphate and Blue Copperas for Copper Sulphate) these can be
confusing.
As a good proportion of list members are now from countries across
the world and the ‘slang’ or ‘trade’ names of the chemicals being
described are not always consistent across different countries, it
would be most useful if members would try to limit themselves to
using the standard international chemical name of substances they are
referring to.
Best wishes,
Ian
Ian W. Wright
Sheffield UK
Hi Ian,
The word “lye” is a somewhat generic (not slang) term for either of
the strong alkalis, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
Generally, when one purchases “lye” either in the USA or the UK, it
is sodium hydroxide, but it’s always good to check the label.
Incidentally, the etymology of the word “lye” indicates that it is
derived from the old Middle English word “lEag” (sic), meaning “a
strong caustic”. Fundamentally, I agree that when we speak of
chemicals, we should be using the standard international
nomenclature.
Wayne Emery
www.lehmans.com
Thank you for that. They have products that I thought no longer
existed.
Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ
Ian,
If you google “lye” you will see many listings for NaOH, Sodium
Hydroxide, Lye, Caustic Soda, and Red Devil drain cleaner which is
the same. On the containers of Caustic Soda they are also labeled as
such.
Mark
I always believed that Lye was an archaic term for an alkali but particularly POTASSIUM Hydroxide (Caustic Potash) - made from wood ash, but a number of people here have been referring to Lye as SODIUM Hydroxide or Caustic Soda - another chemical entirely............Which is correct?
Well, both . Both chemicals are called lye, but I believe you’re
correct that the one produced from wood ash is caustic potash (KOH)
rather than caustic soda (NaOH).
For many purposes, such as saponification, they’re equivalent.
would be most useful if members would try to limit themselves to using the standard international chemical name of substances they are referring to.
Agreed.
Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ
my homemade lye ( sodium hydroxide) is from wood ashes and
water… i made one of the first posts on the subject and thought
it was fairly clear how to and where to buy and under what names and
departments one could find lye in retailers stores…
potassium hydroxide is, i believe a non-chlorine bleach…pearl ash,
potash flake…etc…
i stand by that sodium hydroxide is lye as is the ingredient in the
original question about “red Devil Brand” lye being hard to find and
expensive.of which i agreed with.neither…respectfully,.R.E…Rourke…
oh by the way wikipedia is not the most reliable source on the world
wide web…in my opinion as anyone that registers may contribute to or
edit anything anytime on any subject…so if ‘wiki’ confused you,
don’t be surprised…what one knows as true is truth…I’ve found that
rarely does that change
I always believed that Lye was an archaic term for an alkali but particularly POTASSIUM Hydroxide (Caustic Potash) - made from wood ash, but a number of people here have been referring to Lye as SODIUM Hydroxide or Caustic Soda - another chemical entirely............Which is correct?
In truth, both are correct. see:
http://www.meriam-webster.com/dictionary/lye
By and large, most people use lye to refer to the sodium hydroxide
crystals/powder, but especially in solution, either chemical can be
referred to by the name.
Ron Charlotte – Gainesville, FL
I always believed that Lye was an archaic term for an alkali but particularly POTASSIUM Hydroxide (Caustic Potash) - made from wood ash, but a number of people here have been referring to Lye as SODIUM Hydroxide or Caustic Soda - another chemical entirely............Which is correct?
Ian - I’ve always known lye as NaOH, and KOH as wood lye, although
I’ve heard a lot of people refer to KOH as just “lye”. The lye I’ve
seen in the Chinese grocers in Bristol & Southampton has been NaOH.
Depends what you’re doing as to whether you can substitute or not.
(My chemistry background is no further than A level, with an
unhealthy interest in 1940s chemistry textbooks & a father with a
doctorate in biochemistry, so I’m not going to pretend that my word
is gospel!)
Oh, and I bought my last lot of NaOH from Rose Chemicals, who were
quite happy to help a hobbyist. http://www.rose-chemicals.co.uk
Over here in the UK we have pretty much abandoned the slang names for chemicals and not before time. With sometimes up to half a dozen variations in name for one chemical (like Antimony Black and Antimony Glance for Antimony Trisulphide [or Trisulfide..]) and similar names for different chemicals (such as Copperas for Ferrous Sulphate and Blue Copperas for Copper Sulphate) these can be confusing.
…But some of the older crafts & industries still like to stick
with the traditional names.
ATB
Peter
For many purposes, such as saponification, they're equivalent.
Ahh, but they aren’t even for saponification. Potash or potassium
hydroxide is used to make liquid or paste soap. Lye or sodium
hydroxide is used to make bar soap.
Michelle
Wood lye is KOH. You don’t have to believe Wikipedia, there are
other sources on the web, e.g.
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_ashlye.html
http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i.9273#i
http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9370778/lye
(definition of potash)
Fortunately, for most purposes it doesn’t matter.
Incidentally, I also found this in a fascinating book
that belonged to my father - “Practical Chemistry” published in 1929.
Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ
my homemade lye ( sodium hydroxide) is from wood ashes and water..... i made one of the first posts on the subject and thought it was fairly clear how to and where to buy and under what names and departments one could find lye in retailers stores..
Do a little research and you will find your wood ash lye is mostly
potassium hydroxide but does contain a small amount of sodium
hydroxide as well. There is just not a lot of sodium in trees but
plenty of potassium.
James Binnion
@James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
360-756-6550
Ahh, but they aren't even for saponification. Potash or potassium hydroxide is used to make liquid or paste soap. Lye or sodium hydroxide is used to make bar soap.
You can make bar soap with either. When I was a child, my father
made the wood lye (KOH) and my mother made the bar soap.
Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ
Thanks to those who replied, both on and off the list. I was aware
of the use of the term ‘Lye’ which I knew as Lye (Potassium
Hydroxide) and Soda Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) although both these terms
are seldom used in the UK where Caustic Potash and Caustic Soda are
more common. However, the real reason I made the comment in the first
place is that, as we are an international community, many of whom
must translate the posts to their own language when they receive
them, it would make sense to try to make our posts intelligible to
all. In this case, the various posters were mixing up the two
chemicals loosely termed ‘Lye’. The original poster I think referred
to Sodium Hydroxide which is manufactured from Sodium Chloride (salt)
but then other posters described making Lye from wood ash which will
produce Potassium Hydroxide - another chemical entirely. In this
case, the two chemicals may have a similar effect but, in other
situations, the reaction may be completely different. Where people
talk about different chemicals as though they are the same, I think
it is counter productive as, in some situations, using the wrong
chemical may either not work or may indeed be dangerous. It is also
the kind of thing which leads to much of the mison the
internet and in books which is perpetuated and leads people up blind
alleys, causing them to lose confidence in the remainder of the
there. To illustrate, Some time ago I came across a
reference in a ‘how to do it’ book which said that you can cut glass
with scissors provided it is done under water. ‘That is silly’, I
thought, but, nevertheless, I just had to try it out and,
inevitably, ended up with a cut finger! So, incensed, I laboriously
traced the source of this back through three other
previously well respected books written years earlier to one written
in the 1700’s - now we are heading back into the realms of alchemy!.
However, what it showed was that people (authors) will happily steal
and plagiarise to fill their books or websites without
checking whether the is correct or, in this case, testing
the method. As many are finding out now, placed on the
internet in any form never goes away - your emails are not only on
the Orchid servers but in thousands of other machines - probably
including all the search engines and advertising company spider
servers, and will not be totally obliterated for hundreds of years!
In that time, many will refer to your words and probably take them
literally. So, if only for your own reputation, it is probably as
well to try to make them as accurate as you can.
Best wishes,
Ian
Ian W. Wright
Sheffield UK
For many purposes, such as saponification, they're equivalent.
soap is soap
whatever the form…liquid- bar- paste- powder both chemicals
transform oils and whatever ingredients one adds additionally, in
whatever proportions one combines them, into a saponified something.
.that something is soap;
if I want soap I take either chemical and a base oil or blend
thereof ( and usually vegetable glycerine, and 100% natural essential
oils from plants,herbs, woods,flowers, roots, and/or seeds, and / or
plant based waxes ) ending up up with a saponified batch of something
that cleans and lathers quite effectively (and may have other
properties as well like softening, dermabrading, exfoliation,
anti-microbial/fungal/bacterial activity, insect repellent activity,
or whitening to name a few)…i call whatever it is soap…and it
contains no Free Lye after the process is complete ( and i waited
long enough) .where’s the question or discrepancy in that?
I don’t want to go as far- in a jewelry making discussion,where my
responses are, in general off the top of my head,- to have to get out
or search a dictionary for the exact definition of saponification.
Experience tells me…if its a saponified compound that is oil based,
lathers and cleans, and maybe does something else too, it’s Soap