trying to buy lye locally

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Cortney

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Location
Southern California/Colorado
I am having a heck of a time finding lye here. Stores either can't/won't carry it or don't know what I'm talking about. I found one that said it contained sodium hydroxide but no one was sure of it's percentage. One lady asked me why I would want to use something so poisonous in soap :shock: and that I should just buy some soap. Lowes told me California no longer allowed the shipment of lye but another said that it wasn't on the shelves because no one buys it. Such a search. I'm just going to order it from BrambleBerry but even that worries me, what if they make regulations about shipping it....then what...what if I like making soap so much that I wish to continue into my old age!!

Do you stock pile your lye? Also, do you keep it in a lock box? I have three, small, curious children and was thinking of maybe getting a locking tool box to store it between uses.

Thanks for listening to me! :)
 
call around to a few different ace hardwares. that is where i get mine locally.
 
I buy mine at Ace as well. In fact, they will even order it for you if it's out of stock. :)

Jude
 
I got my first two batches at Ace as well, in the plumbing supply section. Finally I found a local source though, just a few minutes from my house. Good luck!
 
x

you might check and see if you have a local "chemical supply" store. then you don't pay shipping.

if they don't carry it, they should know who does. :D
 
I also get my lye at my local ACE hardware store. I find it in the plumbing section and I must be competing with another soaper because the store is often out of it because " a lady that makes soap " comes in and buys it all at once. I think she is raiding the market of the fresh gm as well. I often can't get it because "a lady" comes in and buys in all in one go! My ACE hardware store only gets one box or 6 jars of it in at one time. Apparently it is used in crystal meth making and that is why we are all having so much trouble finding it on local shelves. Wow....that is indeed scary.
 
I finally found a ton at a local True Value, the Rootos kind. I checked Ace and they didn't have any. I gathered the rest of my supplies and am ready to try!!! Wish me luck!

Thanks guys :)
 
:shock: Man, now I wish I hadn't just ordered 16 lbs of the stuff from somewhere else for twice that price! :roll:
 
I'm unable to get it in any local stores and the local chemical companies sell it in quantities that would take me 5 years to use. I've found good prices at http://www.boyercorporation.com/, but the shipping is what gets me. The cost for shipping is almost equal to the cost of the product! :(
 
For $53.88 you can order a 12 pack of lye from Ace Hardware and they will ship it to your local store for free. :)

Jude
 
I get mine at Tractor supply. Check out farm and hardware places. Good luck!
 
I get mine from Ace or Menards here in Minnesota. I have had some problems with Menards because the clerks have steered me to products with only a percent of lye and not 100% lye. I can't imagine what sort of horrible soap that would create. Just be sure to read the label yourself. Good luck.
 
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