I try to buy lye, which is why I cry.
 

Honestly, wherever I go looking for some lye to make a trial batch of bio I think people think I'm a meth-mixer:dizzy2: Probably already sent my description and plate # to the cops.:rolleyes: I was looking for Red Devil drain cleaner as I understand it's nearly pure sodium hydroxide. Anyone know where I can get any?:confused:

lowes stopped carrying it but they have another brand of drain cleaner that is 100% lye.. i cant rember the name

Red Devil is no longer being made
 

BUT, you can try the local hardware stores or look in the yellow pages for Laboratory Supplies and there should be a place that can help you.

Good Luck

They may also think you are trying to speed up the decomposition of a dead body.....:grim:

While at college, some frat boys were hazing a new idiot. They got him all drunk and let him pass out in a mountain of lye. 3rd degree burns in the morning. Spent months in the hospital. As I was graduating, they were being tried. Real smart.

Sorry, just made me think of it. I guess the moral of the story is to be careful with that stuff.

My local grocery store carries it right next to all the drain cleaners.

KOH instead
 

Have you bought the biodiesel book by Maria Alovert? I believe she talks about using KOH instead of NAOH.

Kevin
240D 266000
190D waiting for arrival

The problem with Drano and products of that type is that they also contain aluminum chips. Aluminum enhances the reaction when the water and the NaOH are mixed, producing the furious bubbling reaction. The problem is.....those aluminum chips might somehow find their way into your ip. Not a pretty visual. :eek:

If all other sources fail, there is such a thing as food grade caustic soda :eek: (in liquid form). Probably quite expensive though. It's what makes the crunchy exterior on soft pretzels.

(Never eat a soft pretzel that is damp on the outside, as if not thoroughly baked.) Trivia from my short career in the popcorn stand business, many years ago.

I know that we got it at the grocery store for making home made soap. Try craft or soap making supply stores/sites. And be very careful with it!!! Goggles AND gloves at a minimum.

he should of been dead.. lye doesnt stop burning the skin until it hits bone


if your going to use either lye or KOH keep vinegar on hand in gallon jugs incase you get some lye on you

I guess it was late at night, from maybe 3 or 4 until he was found in the early morning (6 ish?). He had 3rd degree burns over something like 80% of his body. Really messed up bad.

Look, If you are going to get down to the basics and make your own Bio-D...then you might as well make your own LYE....
You just burn down a hardwood forest and precipitate water through the ashes...

Do a google search for ' lye hardwood ashes precipitate' ...

Check out http://thechemistrystore.com for Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Hydroxide. Very good prices in anything from small to hugh bulk. I get both in the 2lb size.

ACE Hardware carries Red Devil Lye