Testing lye to make sure it is still good?

[Darbla]

I haven't soaped in awhile so I'm wondering if the lye I have is still good. Is there a way to test it before I waste a lot of oils just to find out it's no longer good for soaping?

[Kitn]

I would put a cup or two of water in your lye pitcher and add a TBSP of the lye, stir well and see if it heats up.. I have never had lye go bad, but it can get clumpy if moisture gets in.

[Stella1952]

I can see that this would indicate whether the lye is still reactive at all, but is there some formula or test to check this with more accuracy?

So I went a-Googling... and found the following methods:

http://www.101winemaking.com/testingsodiumhydroxidekaph.htm

The following link says: http://sodium-hydroxide.com/make-lye-at-home-from-wood-ash-10-practical-steps-to-follow

In olden days, people tested lye with fresh egg. If a fresh egg floats near the surface of the solution with a little lye water above it, your lye is of right strength. If the same egg drowned, your lye lacks strength. If the egg floated above the solution, then it is too strong.

This link

http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/make-lye.html

has not only the egg-floating method, but a feather dissolving test as well...

(I just liked this one because it is from an old book and has cool old stuff and formulas there)

http://books.google.com/books?id=1yxRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA73&lpg=PA73&dq=how+to+test+the+strength+of+lye?&source=bl&ots=fjGqHxDf6i&sig=Ka0bFVYQ8ozYV6qk2GLIbmc201s&hl=en&ei=tvi-Tue2KY-5tgeLq9nKBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFUQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=how%20to%20test%20the%20strength%20of%20lye%3F&f=false

Seems that there is no easy way to measure the strength of lye accurately, so give the egg thing a try. : ) HTH

[Darbla]

Thanks, Stella! I found an old thread where Top had some good info too:

http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?90838-lye-still-good-already-read-thread-from-december