elitenaildesign Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I haven't bought lye forever. What's the best lye source with the best price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I use the lye guy. He's on the east coast though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camay Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 http://www.aaa-chemicals.com/ in TexasYou can also check with your local hardware store. A lot of places don't stock it anymore, but might order it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrinningGoblin Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 (edited) Check around at your local old-style hardware stores (if you have any within driving distance that lowe's/home depot hasn't swallowed up). I bought some from the lye guy myself, and his prices were pretty good with the buy 5 get 6 deal he has, but there is a hardware store I found after the fact that sells it in 50 pound pails for about a quarter of the cost. Edited May 23, 2012 by GrinningGoblin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Essential Depot.com is a great source. I once bought a 50 pound sack of lye and lost about half of it to moisture; so the two pound bottles with the seal lids are best for my small operation. HTHSteve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanie353 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I bought my first small container of lye from a supplier. Then bought the next one from Ace Hardware. Rooto or something like that. The stuff from Ace works much better than the stuff from the supplier. It blends faster, heats up more and no particles left in the sieve, so far. The stuff from the supplier had little black particles in it most every batch and my temps only got to 155.Just dawned on me. My first couple batches have a strange texture to the outside and are dry. They are fine on the inside. Wonder if the lye had something to do with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbuddy Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 AAA Chemicals just had a sale, so I bought 32 lbs. I normally drive to the outskirts of Los Angeles and pick up the 50 lb. bags myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elitenaildesign Posted May 23, 2012 Author Share Posted May 23, 2012 Followed advice and called a small hardware store in a small town by us. 1Lb container 100% lye $3.32. I had her order me a few more lbs. Great deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camay Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 AAA Chemicals just had a sale, so I bought 32 lbs. I normally drive to the outskirts of Los Angeles and pick up the 50 lb. bags myself.The sale is still on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I usually order my lye from essential depot, but my recent order was from aztec international. They just recently started selling lye and it comes in heavy duty buckets (10 lbs. Lye). For $19.99. they only have the technical grade though. http://www.candlemaking.com/store/Sodium-Hydroxide-LyeCaustic-Soda-P2624C110.aspx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 That's a really good sale AAA chemicals has right now, so I went ahead and ordered some more. Thanks for the heads up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_35550 Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Isn't food grade sodium hydroxide supposed to be bettter for soapmaking than technical? Just asking.Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Isn't food grade sodium hydroxide supposed to be bettter for soapmaking than technical? Just asking.SteveI think most prefer to use the food grade..I use both, whichever is the best price and cannot tell any difference in the quality of the soap. Both work equally great for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbuddy Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 That's a really good sale AAA chemicals has right now, so I went ahead and ordered some more. Thanks for the heads up!I'm glad the sale is still on and you're getting some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 I'm glad the sale is still on and you're getting some.Thanks for posting the sale Irena or I wouldn't have known! I love a good sale, and that's like getting 12 lbs of lye free:) I just paid about the same price for 20 lbs. with shipping/handling charges as I paid at AAA yesterday for 32 lbs. so you can't beat that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Essential Depot.com is a great source. I once bought a 50 pound sack of lye and lost about half of it to moisture; so the two pound bottles with the seal lids are best for my small operation. HTHSteveGet yourself some gamma seals to keep the extra lye nice and dry. Keeps it pretty safe from flooding too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudMarineMom Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Thanks for the heads up on the sale at AAA, Irena. Even with shipping the cost is still about half. Should keep me for a while.Steve, I agree, prefer the 2lb bottles myself. Easier to store and easier to work with. Maybe if I was able to soap full-time, the larger bags would be better.Talltayl, is there a good place to get the seals? I assume you just put them on the open bottle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TallTayl Posted May 24, 2012 Share Posted May 24, 2012 Talltayl, is there a good place to get the seals? I assume you just put them on the open bottle. Gamma seals are used for pails (like 5 gallon buckets). For those that buy lye (or anything else really) in bulk, the seals form an air tight/water tight seal to protect what's inside. Stockpilers use them to store rice, flour, beans, etc.Home Depot and Menards carry them now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudMarineMom Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Gamma seals are used for pails (like 5 gallon buckets). For those that buy lye (or anything else really) in bulk, the seals form an air tight/water tight seal to protect what's inside. Stockpilers use them to store rice, flour, beans, etc.Home Depot and Menards carry them now.Thanks for the info. That actually makes more sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted May 25, 2012 Share Posted May 25, 2012 Wonder if Lowes carries them as well. I'll worry about that when I start buying my lye in bulk! LOLRight now I buy my lye in 1 lb containers at my local Ace Hardware. In this small town they are the only shop that carries lye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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