In this video I show you how to make lye from hardwood wood ash using pickling lime - something nobody else has successfully shown on camera. I use a vinegar titration with to measure the exact concentration of my lye solution, taking the guesswork out of the process completely. Next video I'll be concentrating the solution and making soap with it. Natural handmade soap available at reallyeco.org. #lye #soapmaking #homestead #chemistry #naturalsoap

Chris Wing on Instagram: "When used properly and with appropriate safety precautions (like any chemical), lye (sodium hydroxide) is safe to use. Lye has many uses. It’s used as a drain cleaner, used to strip crusty cast iron, used to make soap, and it’s used to cure olives and make foods like pretzels (to name a few things). Eye protection and gloves are a must. I’ve had the lye solution pour into my glove. It’s also gotten into the glove from a tiny hole I didn’t notice until my skin felt rubbe