Lye water going green, any ideas why?

[suzysoaping]

FFS

This has never happened before, measured out my water and lye correctly and was dissolving my lye water
UNTIL it went green!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

Using a stainless steel pot. Used this recipe without any hassle before. Any ideas why this could be happening?

So P***ED OFF :evil: :evil:

 

[Genny]

Are you positive that the pot is completely stainless steel? It sounds like it's reacting with the pot. Some stainless steel pots have a coating of aluminum or other metal.

 

[suzysoaping]

It's a brand new pot.

Used the pot 3 times b4 and came out with lovely soaps. So not sure whats happened this time

 

[Genny]

Did you wash out the pot with anything before using it this time?

 

[suzysoaping]

I washed the pot with warm tap water and dried with a clean towel

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

What kind of water are you using-tap/distilled/purified?
What utensil are you stirring with?
Is your lye food grade or technical grade?

 

[Genny]

Hmmm....I'd ditch the pot for now and try it in a plastic pot instead if you have one.
It really does sound like the pot is reacting with your lye. I once used a large, what I thought to be stainless steel bowl to mix my lye water. After a 1/2 dozen times of using it, I noticed that there was this brownish/green tint to my lye water. After careful looking at the package my bowl came in I saw that the description actually only said, "Steel Coated". I switched to plastic after that.

 

[suzysoaping]

Hmmm....I'd ditch the pot for now and try it in a plastic pot instead if you have one.
It really does sound like the pot is reacting with your lye. I once used a large, what I thought to be stainless steel bowl to mix my lye water. After a 1/2 dozen times of using it, I noticed that there was this brownish/green tint to my lye water. After careful looking at the package my bowl came in I saw that the description actually only said, "Steel Coated". I switched to plastic after that.

I threw the label for the pot but i think i may go back to the shop where i got it and read the labels there to see. Won't plastic melt? Even on low heat?

Thanks for the advice, when i was very very new to cold process i stupidly used an aluminum pot, to which i had to throw the pot out.
But a new stainless steel pot i thought would be ok.

 

[suzysoaping]

What kind of water are you using-tap/distilled/purified?
What utensil are you stirring with?
Is your lye food grade or technical grade?

Hmm did post but seems the post has gone.

I'm using distilled water
Stainless steel pot
and lye: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1kg-Sodium-Hy ... 336409d7b7

 

[Genny]

I threw the label for the pot but i think i may go back to the shop where i got it and read the labels there to see. Won't plastic melt? Even on low heat?

Thanks for the advice, when i was very very new to cold process i stupidly used an aluminum pot, to which i had to throw the pot out.
But a new stainless steel pot i thought would be ok.

Are you heating up your lye water? Or are you asking if the lye water solution will melt it?

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

I'm using distilled water
Stainless steel pot
and lye: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1kg-Sodium-Hy ... 336409d7b7

I don't know exactly how important 1% is where lye is concerned, but that lye says 99%. That 1% could be some sort of impurity tainting your solution. The lye I've purchased online or in the hardware store says 100%.
Just a thought...

 

[suzysoaping]

I threw the label for the pot but i think i may go back to the shop where i got it and read the labels there to see. Won't plastic melt? Even on low heat?

Thanks for the advice, when i was very very new to cold process i stupidly used an aluminum pot, to which i had to throw the pot out.
But a new stainless steel pot i thought would be ok.

Are you heating up your lye water? Or are you asking if the lye water solution will melt it?

You know what, i am the dumbest soap maker on this planet.
Yes i have been heating up my lye water (stupidly thinking that's the way to dissolve SH)
Correct me if i'm wrong, but i think i've just realized YOU DON'T actually need to do that. you just pour ur measures SH
into distilled water and it will dissolve that way, naturally.

I'm having a blond moment!!

 

[Genny]

Definitely not the dumbest But you're right, you don't need to heat the water up for the lye to dissolve. I just add my sodium hydroxide to my water & stir, stir, stir. Dissolves just fine that way.

 

[suzysoaping]

I'm using distilled water
Stainless steel pot
and lye: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1kg-Sodium-Hy ... 336409d7b7

I don't know exactly how important 1% is where lye is concerned, but that lye says 99%. That 1% could be some sort of impurity tainting your solution. The lye I've purchased online or in the hardware store says 100%.
Just a thought...

You have a point there. Never really took into consideration 99% SH could have 1% impurities!!!

I initially bought it on the prospect of having enough to make a good few bars under my belt seen as i'm new to cold process soap making.

Thank you for bringing that to mind