A partial list of things you will need. Those marked with an * are the required
minimum. Like any hobby, the list will get longer - it always does. |
- * Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
Lye is very caustic. Please take the time to read
about safety precautions when working with lye.
Many of the links on the home page have that information.
Information can also be found here.
- * Carrier oils and fats (Coconut oil, Crisco, olive oil, etc.)
- * Distilled water. (Available at most supermarkets)
- * Stainless steel (or enamel) stockpot(s) (4 to 30 qt.
depending on size of your recipe). For safety,
oil plus lye solution should be less than ½ the pot height. I use
an 8 Quart (7.57 liter ) pot for a recipe using 3.8 pounds (1.724 kg) of oil and 36% water. The
oil plus lye solution comes just below the middle of the pot. That much oil and water
makes about 5 pounds(2.27 kg) of soap. If using the Hot Process Double Boiler method, I
set that pot inside a 12 Quart (11.35 liter) pot.
- * Large stainless steel spoon for stirring.
- * Stick Blender.
- * Lye mixing container (2 qt. vinyl drink container will work in most cases).
- * Soap molds (can be homemade).
- * Thermometer (a candy thermometer will work).
- * An accurate weighing scale. (For fragrances and small oil amounts, I use a 4lb/2000gm digital postage scale
accurate to 0.1 oz or 1 gm. For larger amounts, a 24lb/12000gm scale accurate to 0.01 lb or 5 gm.).
- * Running water & vinegar to neutralize accidental lye splashes.
- FIRST, flush area where lye was splashed thououghly with running water.
- Then, neutralize remaining lye with vinegar.
- * Goggles or some form of eye protection.
- Rubber spatula to help empty soap into molds.
- Stainless steel spatula to scrape sides of pot (mostly for hot process).
- Apron.
- Kitchen gloves.
- Essential oils and/or Fragrance oils. (Careful, collecting these can be addicting.)
- Coloring agents. (Ditto)
- A few things that I probably left off the list.
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