Jan
8
So, you’re finally ready to start your soap making journey and might be wondering how to make lye soap the old fashioned way. First off, you have to get all the necessary soap making supplies ready which include a couple of gallons of water, around 10 ounces of lye and 5 lbs of beef fat. Note that the amount of lye depends on the kind of fat you use.
The three ingredients mentioned above are used in making all kinds of lye soap. The only difference is in the kind of fat and quantity of water used in making it. To start with, you have to cut the fat into a cubical shape with around one-inch dimensions. If you’re using fat from meat you’re cooking yourself, simply trim away the fat and let it continue to cook after the meat is done.
After the fat is thoroughly cooked and all the grease is eliminated from it, you have to twist the solid part that’s left. It’s really important to be careful while cooking fat, as burning it will reduce the quality of your soap. The use of cheesecloth during this process can help a lot.
Once the fat cubes are ready, measure 5 pounds of solid fat using a scale and put it in an iron melting pot. Then, pour the water gradually into the pot along with the fat and cook until the mixture looks blended. Once completely blended, add the lye carefully, keeping in mind that it’s an alkali and can easily burn the skin and eyes if you’re not careful. Be sure to follow all safety precautions such as wearing goggles and gloves, too.
From this point on, avoid using any aluminum tools or utensils because the lye will have an acidic effect and might cause damage to your skin. Your mixture of fat and water should look like a single solution without any separation of oil. When it does, add 10 ounces of lye and stir in slowly using a wooden tool.
You should notice the saponification happening and small bubbles rising above the surface of the mixture. At this point, boil the mixture for a minimum of 30 minutes up to an hour. It’s essential to boil slowly and remember to stir the mixture from time to time.
Finally, you should have a thick and creamy soap mixture ready to be poured into your chosen molds. Using a wooden paddle, pour the thick cream into your molds and allow them to set for a couple of days before cutting into bars. Best of all, once you understand the basics of how to make lye soap, you’ll want to start experimenting with different types of oils, colorings and fragrances too.
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