[Artemisia] The making of Lye

[Sondra Gibson]

I have not looked in the past couple of years, but I used to be able to get straight lye off the grocery store shelf, in the toilet cleaning section.  While I've done all of the other soap making steps 'from scratch' (I didn't think the rendering was so bad, but then I used to bake waxed leather armor in my kitchen...)  I have never made the lye.  I really haven't had ready access to hard wood.  Have read about it but not done it.  

And FWIW, straight lye is *really* caustic.  I have a large scar on my arm from a small mishap with powdered lye...  

Gefjon

-----Original Message-----
From: artemisia-bounces at lists.gallowglass.org [mailto:artemisia-bounces at lists.gallowglass.org] On Behalf Of Jackman-Brink, Julia
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 7:58 AM
To: Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list
Subject: Re: [Artemisia] The making of Lye

I have to ask for it, but I can get it at ACE, should have clarified.  They are pretty curious when you say soapmaking.  Thanks for picking up the thread, I knew you guys were out there. :) 

Juliana

-----Original Message-----
From: artemisia-bounces at lists.gallowglass.org [mailto:artemisia-bounces at lists.gallowglass.org] On Behalf Of Laura LaBelle
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 7:44 AM
To: Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list
Subject: Re: [Artemisia] The making of Lye

Your Grace,

Yes, my husband Lord Forrest of Gumb has been making soap for 15+ yrs, now. He has made it from the "ground up" twice or more (bugger of a chore and rendering stinks - got him banned from the kitchen). He did have his most recent batch of medieval soap in last year's Kingdom A&S and also at last Uprising, in the artisans' showcase. It was a lovely batch. I am sure he would gladly speak with you about his process, although I don't know if he will be making anymore the period way anytime soon. It really was a lot of work.

I don't know if he is still on the Aerie, but I will let him know that you are interested in picking his brain. I know he gets his lye in bulk, but from where I don't know. He makes a lot of soap (non-period) for sale at our farmers' market throughout the summer and shows in the fall, so he has to keep his lye cost down.  He doesn't get it at any of our local hardware stores, as it is too expensive and just plain lye is hard to find.  Apparently it's not the caustic/hazmat issue that has it pulled from the shelves.  It's the fact that it can be used in bombs and I think meth production.

YIS,

Lady Gwen (formerly Branwyn... aka Laura)




On Wednesday, January 22, 2014 11:28 PM, "dukealan at q.com" <dukealan at q.com> wrote:
  
Hello All you medieval smart folks.....

So, has anyone actually made lye from wood ashes?  I'm interested in making soap, including the raw materials.  I have some rendered animal fat, and have aspen wood ashes, so I'm looking for info.  Preferably real-deal info, rather than just something in some book.

Thanks in advance for any info you might have....which could include a book reference if that's all we can come up with.

YIS,

Alan

PS.  Plus, this list has been dead entirely tooooooo long.  We aren't all on FaceBook, and it seems the communication seems to have comepletely shifted over there....
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