What is the best percentage of lye for soap making?

Most recipes and tutorials here on Modern Soapmaking use a 33% lye solution, as it’s typically a manageable water discount during the soapmaking process, but also hardens up a little quicker to get the soap out of the mold! A strong water discount is typically referred to as a 40% lye solution.

Where do you get lye to make soap?

Online Sources

1. Bramble Berry.
2. The Lye Guy.
3. Boyer Corporation.
4. Essential Depot.
5. Bitter Creek Candle Co.
6. Lehman’s Soapmaking Supplies.
7. The Soap Dish.

How much does soap making supplies cost?

Supply Cost Estimates Expect to spend at least $200 on ingredients, including lye and fats or oils. Your specific recipe will work to make your soaps stand out, so ingredient expenses may vary depending on your personal touches. Equipment costs for soap-making start at around $300, but often exceed that number.

Do you need food grade lye to make soap?

In order for it to be used on food, it must meet stringent purity requirements outlined by the Food Chemical Code (FCC) written by the Food and Drug Administration. Food grade lye is highly processed with very, very few impurities. Food grade lye is the only type that should ever be used in soap-making.

How do I calculate how much lye I need?

Divide the amount of lye by 0.3 and then subtract the amount of lye from the result.

1. (Amount of Fat) × (Saponification Value of the Fat) = (Amount of Lye)
2. (Amount of Lye) ÷ 0.3 = (Total Weight of Lye Water Solution)
3. (Total Weight of Lye Water Solution) − (Amount of Lye) = (Amount of Water)

What does 33% lye concentration mean?

Lye concentration of 33% means there are 33 grams of alkali in 100 grams of lye solution. Water makes up the rest of the 100 grams. In other words, the water weighs 100 – 33 = 67 grams. Lye concentration of 25% means there are 25 grams of alkali in 100 grams of lye solution.

Is lye illegal?

Because lye is used to make illegal drugs, it’s harder to buy large quantities than in the past. However, small containers are available in stores and online.

Where can I find food grade lye?

Food-grade lye isn’t something you’ll find at most grocery stores, but it’s readily available on Amazon and sometimes at specialty baking retailers or restaurant supply stores.

What happens if you use too much lye in soap?

Soap with a dry, crumbly texture could be caused by too much lye in your recipe. If your soap has a crumbly texture, ensure it is not lye heavy. If the pH is safe to use, the crumbly texture could also be caused by soaping with cool temperatures.

What is the ratio of oil to lye in soap making?

Divide the amount of lye by 0.3 and then subtract the amount of lye from the result. For example, to make just over 2 pounds of olive oil soap, measure 32 ounces of olive oil and 4.33 ounces of lye because 32 ounces of olive oil × 0.1353, which is the saponification value for olive oil, = 4.33 ounces of lye.

Is homemade soap a good business?

An average amount of Profit that can be earned by individuals doing Soap making business on a monthly basis would go around INR 20000 to 80000 per month. This would depend on the total number of markets that you could capture, as the demand for Soaps is already out there in the market.