Learning how to make soap

**Yves** · 07-31-2013, 11:35 AM

Hello, I was reading this article on making soap:
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2011/0...e-bar-of-soap/

It's very good. However, I do have concerns. In the article it says that I should use plastic buckets. Should I be putting something that is as corrosive as lye into a plastic container? And then putting the combined solution into a metal pan without concern that nothing will burn through?

I have the safety equipment with me. However, I want to be sure that nothing will be destroyed.

If anyone has done this, if you could fill in some of the holes for me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

**finallyME** · 07-31-2013, 03:48 PM

Most buckets are HDPE which is fine with sodium hydroxide. Most pots and pans are stainless steel, mostly 304, and that is fine with NaOH as well.

Try this site if you are worried about chemical compatibilities.
http://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance

**Rick** · 07-31-2013, 04:29 PM

Mom made it in a wash tub. She let it solidify, cut it into small blocks, then removed it. I imagine she washed the tub out but I don't remember that part.

**Yves** · 07-31-2013, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by finallyME

Most buckets are HDPE which is fine with sodium hydroxide. Most pots and pans are stainless steel, mostly 304, and that is fine with NaOH as well.

Try this site if you are worried about chemical compatibilities.
http://www.coleparmer.com/Chemical-Resistance

And now my concerns have been assuaged

. Thank you.

I'll probably still work with it outside (hopefully it'll be dry).

**finallyME** · 08-01-2013, 09:32 AM

Wear gloves. Don't ask me how I know.

**Yves** · 08-29-2013, 04:09 PM

One suggestion I've heard is that I should wear something that filters the air due to fumes given off by mixing sodium hydroxide with the liquid base. Have any of you ever done this? What was your experience?

[edit]

Are those fumes toxic in any way?

**Yves** · 08-29-2013, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by finallyME

Wear gloves. Don't ask me how I know.

lol, you probably got a few scars from that.

**finallyME** · 08-29-2013, 04:46 PM

I always mix sodium hydroxide in a fume hood. Doing it outdoors with a simple mask is probably all that is needed.

I have had to work with it recently at work. The highest concentration that I have touched with my bare hands is 10%. It burns a little and basically takes the oils in your hand and turns it to soap. A good rinse and hand cream fixes it later. When I deal with higher concentrations, I always wear gloves. Wear safety glasses as well, or better yet, a face shield.

**gryffynklm** · 08-29-2013, 04:48 PM

Here is the material Safety Data Sheet for sodium Hydroxide.

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924999

**Yves** · 08-29-2013, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by finallyME

I always mix sodium hydroxide in a fume hood. Doing it outdoors with a simple mask is probably all that is needed.

I have had to work with it recently at work. The highest concentration that I have touched with my bare hands is 10%. It burns a little and basically takes the oils in your hand and turns it to soap. A good rinse and hand cream fixes it later. When I deal with higher concentrations, I always wear gloves. Wear safety glasses as well, or better yet, a face shield.

I got all that safety gear. The reason why I ask is because I don't want it to give off too many fumes...

**your_comforting_company** · 09-01-2013, 05:55 AM

I use ceramic containers, including the crock-pot, to make hot-process soap. The advantage to hot-process is that during the cooking, you can watch it saponify right before your eyes, so you know when it's done, and when you pour it into your molds, it is no longer corrosive, so it doesn't have to "age".
Several fellas here have tried my hot-process soap, so they can attest to it's gentleness.
This year I have about 30 lbs of beeswax, so I'll be making some really nice soaps and creams if I can manage to sell all this honey to buy supplies.

**jack p** · 09-23-2013, 10:45 PM

Hello, soap making is a great past time, but you must be patient! You can make your caustic soda in almost anything as long as its not aluminum. Have fun and be safe!

**Rick** · 09-23-2013, 10:49 PM

Jack - We don't know you or anything about you so we'll take you advice with a grain of salt. Non-aluminum salt but salt all the same. You might want to give us an Intro if you plan on dispensing information. It's nice to know who you're talkin' to.

**gryffynklm** · 09-24-2013, 07:31 AM

Aluminum and caustic soda is not good. Depending on the concentration of the caustic soda it can react with aluminum. The video below is using aluminum foil.