DIY Lye

In this section I will discuss the process for making lye at home. Lye can be used for making soaps, cleaning products, and bio-diesel. The process in simple and inexpensive.

The following is a list of materials required for this project:

- ash acquired from burning hardwood (700 or higher on the Janka hardness scale e.g. Maple, Cedar, Cherry, Oak, Ash, Beech, and Walnut. Not softwoods like Fir, Pine, Alder, Juniper, etc)
- 2 buckets
- straw
- river rock
- rainwater (not tap water, surface water, or well water due to dissolved mineral content)

Optional:
- a potato (to roughly check pH)
- pH meter, test strips, or aquarium test kit
- bulkhead fitting and ball valve with inorganic gaskets
- 2 bricks

Note: It is important to not use metals or organic components is the lye bucket as these materials will quickly corrode from the lye.

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