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Whatever meat scraps and drippings you have on hand will supply the fat and the lye comes from wood ashes and water. To make lye in the kitchen, boil the ashes from a hardwood fire (soft woods are too resinous to mix with fat) in a little soft water, rainwater is best, for about half an hour.
How is lye made?
A lye is a metal hydroxide traditionally obtained by leaching wood ashes, or a strong alkali which is highly soluble in water producing caustic basic solutions. “Lye” most commonly refers to sodium hydroxide (NaOH), but historically has been used for potassium hydroxide (KOH).
Is lye naturally occurring?
Is Lye natural? Lye refers to sodium hydroxide NaOH (bar soap) or potassium hydroxide KOH (liquid soap) and they are both made in a factory. Even though some people would consider all soap as a synthetic due to this. It is based on these organizations stand on soap that we list our soap as 100% Natural.
What is a natural source of lye?
To make this type of lye, you need the white ashes from hardwood fires. Collect ash from fires that burned wood such as ash, hickory, or beech. Softwoods, such as pine, spruce, or fir, do not contain enough potassium, which is necessary for making lye.
How was lye discovered?
Lye’s discovery and first uses revolved around soap. Toward the end of B.C., Romans discovered a lye solution when rain, volcanic ash, and animal fat from sacrifices mixed in a river, which became a place of cleaning. Nicolas LeBlanc, a French chemist, synthesized the first sodium hydroxide solution in 1780.
Can soap be made without lye?
Soap is an alkali (like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) combined with fats. Together they go through a reaction called “saponification”, and in the end you are left with soap. So, by the very definition of “soap”, you cannot make soap without lye.
How do you make Boerseep?
Making boerseep involves science, art and more than a little muscle. It begins with collecting rainwater, then adding lye and tallow, and then stirring (and stirring and stirring) by hand until the mixture is creamy and the fat and lye have finally dissolved.
Is all soap made with lye?
All REAL soap is made with lye (sodium hydroxide mixed with liquid). Any skin or hair cleansing product made without sodium hydroxide is not soap, it is detergent.
Why is lye safe in soap?
You see, the lye used to create soap reacts with other chemicals, which results in the formation of soap. The lye gets entirely used up during the process, which means it’s no longer present and can do no harm to your skin.
Why is lye used in pretzels?
Lye is a strong alkali that can be dangerous if misused, but it’s lye that enhances the Maillard reaction on the outside of the dough. This reaction gives each pretzel a chewy crust, mahogany color, glossy sheen, and that unmistakable pretzel flavor typical of a German soft pretzel.
Where can lye be found?
Sources of lye include: Drain cleaner (check the label) – e.g., Roebic Crystal Drain Cleaner, sold at Lowes. Sodium hydroxide from an online chemical supply store. Soap-making store. Candle-making store. Biodiesel supply store.
Can you find sodium hydroxide in nature?
Sodium hydroxide is derived from salt water (brine). It is most commonly manufactured by the electrolysis of brine, a salt (NaCl) solution. The hydroxide ion bonds with the sodium to form sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
Is lye vegan?
Yes, lye is an inorganic alkaline compound that is vegan-friendly. While the term “lye” is used freely, it refers to either sodium hydroxide (NaOH), or potassium hydroxide (KOH). While both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are key ingredients used in making soap, they produce different results.
How did ancients make lye?
The lye was produced by slowly pouring water over the ashes until a brownish liquid oozed out the bottom of the barrel. Some colonists used an ash hopper for the making of lye instead of the barrel method. The ash hopper was kept in a shed to protect the ashes from being leached accidentally by a rain fall.
Does modern soap have lye?
The Chemistry of Soap So, while soap is made with lye, it doesn’t contain lye. Modern methods and measuring scales – as opposed to what was available to frontier women – allow soap-makers to use the proper mixture of oils and lye, ensuring that all lye is consumed.
What is lye water in Tagalog?
Lye water (or Lihia sa tagalog) is a Food Enhancer Concentrate made from an alkaline strong liquid or a potassium carbonate solution.
How do you make soap lye?
Instructions Weigh the Water. To begin, put on your safety goggles and rubber gloves, and make sure your work space has good ventilation. Weigh the Lye. Place the mason jar on the scale, and zero out the weight. Add the Lye to the Water. Stir the Lye and Water Mixture. Set the Lye Solution in a Safe Place to Cool.
Where do you get lye?
Sources of lye include: Drain cleaner (check the label) – e.g., Roebic Crystal Drain Cleaner, sold at Lowes. Sodium hydroxide from an online chemical supply store. Soap-making store. Candle-making store. Biodiesel supply store.
What happens if you pour water into lye?
Mixing water and lye creates an exothermic reaction that causes a dramatic temperature increase. Adding lye to room temperature water can cause the water to reach temperatures up to 200 ° F. The mixture also creates fumes, which should not be inhaled.
