How to Buy Lye

The demise of Red Devil Lye a few years back left home soap-makers scrambling for a key ingredient. Otherwise known by its chemical name, sodium hydroxide, lye is an essential component of cold-press soap...you can't make soap without it! Die-hards out there can make lye themselves at home from wood ashes and rain water, but the process takes time and a serious commitment. If you're committed to soap-making but not quite that hardcore, check below for a few places you can purchase lye online (like the rest of us lazies)!

Things You'll Need

• internet connection

Instructions

1. 

   Consider taking a soap-making class. If your area offers community education classes, chances are there's a class on handmade soap making. You're looking for a class on cold-process soap-making - not one on using glycerin (a.k.a. melt and pour). Once you're in class, ask your teacher where she/he sources their lye and check out any websites they give you.

2. 

   Try the Lye Depot at www.lyedepot.com. As of this writing, eight lbs. of technical grade sodium hydroxide is priced at just over $13. At that price, just think of how much soap you could make!

3. 

   My soap-making teacher swears by Texas Natural Supply, at www.texasnaturalsupply.com. They ship their lye via ground only, or if you're planning on making TONS of soap and don't mind the drive, you can pick up a 50-lb bag in person for $105.00. If you've got a couple of friends interested in making soap with you, save some money by going in on the lye purchase together!

4. 

   Take a look at Certified Lye at www.certified-lye.com/buy-lye.html. This company offers lye in a wide variety of amounts - just scroll down the list to see what's on offer. As of today, five lbs. of lye (i.e.: four 20 oz. containers) will run you $20.95, plus shipping. They also offer safety equipment for purchase; it's a smart idea to purchase some goggles and rubber gloves if your nearest Home Depot is a few hours away.

5. 

   If you're of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" school of thought, do a search on eBay for Red Devil Lye. A search this afternoon yielded 12 results in a variety of amounts from 2 - 50 lbs. But let the buyer beware - in an eBay transaction, you're on your own, so make sure you have all the information you need regarding shipping, legal paperwork, and approval of your lye for soap-making. Double-check to make sure any lye you purchase is food-grade (99%) and can be used to make soap.

Tips & Warnings

• The writer of this article acknowledges that lye is a controlled substance and accepts no responsibility for others' use of lye for purposes other than the intended soap-making.

• Lye WILL burn skin if it comes in contact with it, and water will not stop the burning. Keep a container of vinegar near you at all times when working with lye. Always wear rubber gloves and eye protectors (safety goggles) when working with lye, and if you're new to soap-making, take all safety warnings extremely seriously. Remember Fight Club? That was a lye burn. Ouch!

• Meth-makers, take heed! In order to purchase lye, you are legally required to sign a document stating that you will not be using the lye you purchase to make meth. This is a legally binding document. If you do use the lye for meth and you are caught, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Resources

• The Lye Depot
• Texas Natural Supply
• Certified Lye
• eBay