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 Making soap with lye
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl

940 Posts

T
MI
940 Posts

Posted - Sep 27 2009 :  3:51:02 PM  Show Profile
Ok all you avid soapmakers out there. My neighbor would like to try his hand at making soap. Lye soap. I am clueless. Could you point me to a really great book...or website...or even just share your farmgirl wisdom? I know he'd appreciate it.

windypines
True Blue Farmgirl

4178 Posts

Michele
Bruce Wisconsin
USA
4178 Posts

Posted - Sep 28 2009 :  08:22:47 AM  Show Profile
there are a ton of sites to go to and read up on. My first soap was a simple lard soap. Which I use for laundry soap. Lye, water, lard, amonia, and borax.
(I think :)!)

Michele
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Cabinprincess
True Blue Farmgirl

682 Posts

Melody June
Athens TX
USA
682 Posts

Posted - Sep 28 2009 :  08:41:53 AM  Show Profile
The Foxfire Book has the story and instructions starting on page 151. It is the first book in the series, all the ones after this one has numbers after the title. Our local library has the whole set of them so your friend can probably read it there. If you have a problem finding the book let me know we can barter, I have an extra one.
This book also has HOW TO things like hog dressing, building a log cabin and a ton of other lost arts. They give complete direction from the old timers that did them.

Smiles, Melody June

God's gift to you are your talents, your gift to Him is how you use them.
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl

676 Posts

Molly
Arizona
676 Posts

Posted - Sep 28 2009 :  2:15:08 PM  Show Profile
Try: http://www.millersoap.com/ Best basic information available.

The Biz www.tvalahandmade.com
The Blog: http://blog.tvalahandmade.com/
The Bits www.happydalehobby.blogspot.com/
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StarMeadow
True Blue Farmgirl

940 Posts

T
MI
940 Posts

Posted - Sep 28 2009 :  2:42:57 PM  Show Profile
DUH....I have that series...Or at least the first 6 I think....
Thanks ladies!
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Daisy7896
Farmgirl in Training

16 Posts

Sarah
Douglas MA
USA
16 Posts

Posted - Feb 22 2010 :  06:38:34 AM  Show Profile
Another great book is The Natural Soap Book by Susan Miller. I've been making soap for awhile now and haven't found a book I like more!

I love my goats
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl

686 Posts

Emily
Thomasville PA
USA
686 Posts

Posted - Feb 22 2010 :  2:49:22 PM  Show Profile
dumb question, where would you buy lye at?

See my custom costumes, download free patterns, and hear some spook EVPs from Gettysburg, PA on my site, www.alterationsbyemily.com
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl

11303 Posts

kristin
chickamauga ga
USA
11303 Posts

Posted - Feb 22 2010 :  2:56:26 PM  Show Profile
Emily, I just ordered mine from The Lye Guy. He's got a web site by that name. Very reasonable prices, I think. Our local hardware store USED to sell it but no more because of meth makers. Can you imagine?

Kris

Happiness is simple.
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl

933 Posts

Brenda
North Rose NY
USA
933 Posts

Posted - Feb 24 2010 :  04:06:16 AM  Show Profile
Emily if you happen to have Tractor Trailer Supply stores near you, they usually sell it too. That's where I've been buying mine, there are no other local sources. :(

Brenda
FarmGirl # 711

Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan

http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/
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momdrinkstea
True Blue Farmgirl

180 Posts

Elizabeth
Ozark AL
USA
180 Posts

Posted - Aug 07 2010 :  11:35:20 AM  Show Profile
Is the lye & lard soap in the FOXFIRE book?


"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." -Albert Einstein
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl

11303 Posts

kristin
chickamauga ga
USA
11303 Posts

Posted - Aug 07 2010 :  1:51:01 PM  Show Profile
Elizabeth, there is a part in Foxfire that tells how to make lye with oak ashes. It's really very interesting. I'd love to try that one day. And I think they do tell how to make soap from that. It's on page 151 in the 1st book. I'm going to look at it again. I love those books. I wish I had all of them. I have the 1st 3 books and #6.

Kris

Happiness is simple.
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Terri B
Farmgirl at Heart

2 Posts

Terri
Lebanon OR
USA
2 Posts

Posted - Aug 15 2010 :  12:01:14 PM  Show Profile
Hi there!

You can get Red Devil lye at just about any store that has Drano or Liquid Plumr. If you're just starting out and don't want to stock up on bulk amounts of the stuff, Red Devil is great. It's in the drain unclogging section. I used it for quite awhile before I started ordering online. It's been so long since I've ordered online I don't remember the website.

Good luck!
Terri



Anybody who ever said money can't buy happiness never bought a puppy.
- Snoopy
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corrabelle
True Blue Farmgirl

71 Posts

Corrabelle
Hamilton, Morrowville ontario, Kansas
71 Posts

Posted - Aug 23 2010 :  11:14:40 AM  Show Profile
I've always used my grandmother's method, which really is just about the same as the foxfire books. If no one has said it yet though, have a bottle of vinegar on hand when working with lye. If you spill some lye on yourself (heaven forbid!!) you'll need the vinegar to nutralize the lye.
I've used a variety of fats, from beef tallow to olive oil. They've all turned out differently, but really neat! Email me if you need some recipes:)

Corrabelle
http://themayberrysparrow.com
A Kansas gal living in Ontario. Sigh.

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