Lye Calculator

Posted by David DeLauro on Thursday, July 9. 2009 at 15:56 in Soap

When making homemade soap it is essential to find out how much lye you need by weight. Using volume could lead to too little lye--a very oily soap--or too much lye--a harsh drying soap. You can use this calculator to determine the quality of soaps as well how much lye and liquid you will need for your soap batch. You can find the lye calculator here: http://www.metaphysicalfarms.com/pages/Lye-Calculator.html

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SAP Table
If you want to figure out--on your own--the amount of lye to use in your soap, you will want to use the SAP a values. A much easier way is to use the Lye Calculator.To calculate the SAP value for a combination of oils first you need to calculate what perc

Weblog: Metaphysical Farms
Tracked: Aug 15, 09:49

Homemade Soap Making
Soap Making InstructionsSince I was a kid I have been playing with chemicals. It started with a chemistry set that was used daily when I was growing up. It morphed into a wonderful baking and cooking career and has landed itself in the world of soap mak

Weblog: Metaphysical Farms
Tracked: Aug 15, 13:43

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I just wanted to thank you for this calculator. I've been using your calculator since late 08. I was a bit surprised at the new format but I'm glad you're still providing the service.

#1 Jacqueline DeWylde on 2009-07-15 19:53 (Reply)

omg! You are the best ever!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for this calculator, you truly are a smart and kind person!! XOXO

#2 Naoko on 2009-09-03 07:17 (Reply)

This calculator is the best! other websites have one but not as good as this one!

#3 Ana C Warren on 2009-09-13 16:59 (Reply)

i want to make soap but i want to add mud/clay powder do u know if i need to know any speacial calculations to do this or do i just add it???? btw ur calculator is really helpful aswell as ur videos

#4 touria zizou on 2009-10-02 22:30 (Reply)

I don't know of any special considerations. I would make sure the clay is good and liquid before adding it though. I know certain clays can clump up worse than lumpy gravy.

#4.1 David (Homepage) on 2009-10-26 08:20 (Reply)

Thank you for this lye calculator. It is the best I've ever used

And that's saying something!

#5 Ashley on 2009-10-28 23:42 (Reply)

You are welcome Ashley. Glad you like it!

#6 David (Homepage) on 2010-01-04 08:36 (Reply)

your calculator and the one on thesage give me totally different results. Why?

#7 Barky on 2010-01-25 07:51 (Reply)

Hi Barky, It would depend on the oils used. They may have slightly different SAP values for the different oils. If you hover over the oils, you will see what SAP value I use in the calculations. What were you trying to make?

#7.1 David (Homepage) on 2010-01-25 08:31 (Reply)

im confuse with the lye calculator..ijust want to know how much lye will i use with my soap...why theres alot of colors and percentage of lye.. which one is the exact amount of lye im gonna follow?

#8 liza on 2010-02-15 00:01 (Reply)

hi i have found 100% refined coconut oil, when using the lye calculator what colomn should i enter my weight?? 92 ,76 or fractionated

#9 mike on 2010-02-22 16:23 (Reply)

Put it under the 92.

#9.1 David (Homepage) on 2010-02-22 16:34 (Reply)

pls..reply to my inquiries...badly nid ur help...im liza

#9.1.1 liza on 2010-03-05 09:42 (Reply)

I thought I did

#9.1.1.1 David (Homepage) on 2010-03-05 10:20 (Reply)

gud pm david... sorry for asking to much...but i just watched ur soap making vid..and im trying really hard to understand how the calculator woks...but the only thing im sure is i saw where to look for the meausre of liquid...but for the lye..im confuse...where can i see it? which color?? sorryy...

#9.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 2010-03-05 10:50 (Reply)

Measure the oils and put them into the calculator. When you get the amounts click "calculate" The next screen that comes up gives you various options. It gives you are range of water... if you don't know how much just use the middle of the two numbers. For the lye you are given a range of superfatting levels. 0 (red) means no superfatting... the higher the number the more superfatting (and the more mild the soap). I usually just choose level 5 for superfatting.

#9.1.1.1.1.1 David (Homepage) on 2010-03-05 10:55 (Reply)

gud day again david.. thanks a lot...now i can start making soap...God bless and thnks for your time...liza

#9.1.1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 2010-03-06 00:52 (Reply)

Hi David, i want to make goatsmilk soap. do i entirely replace water with goats milk? or is there a ratio for water and milk?.

#10 Mike on 2010-03-29 17:31 (Reply)

hi david im a total beginner with soap making (havnt done my first yet) but theres somthing i dont understand. What is superfatting? im from sweden so maybe its just confusing because of language. /Em

#11 em on 2010-06-27 18:43 (Reply)

got a question what is or what does it mean the Superfatting Percent? i really dont understand that

#12 danna on 2010-07-13 19:42 (Reply)

Hi David, A Question: I made a batch that after I poured it into the mold it rose in the center/then cracked/then slowly overflowed the mold like a slow volcano.What caused this? It was a mixture of 36% Olive oil and 63% Coconut Oil. Thank you!

#13 Terry on 2010-09-05 17:57 (Reply)

Hi Terry, The lye is breaking down the chemical bonds within the oils that you used. You are basically mixing together an acid and a base, like mixing vinegar and baking soda at a slower rate. While I have never seen bubbles form in the soap while it is saponafying, it does make sense that it might do that while I'm not watching. It shouldn't be anything to worry about but rather something to plan for. Don't fill the mold up to the rim, leave a little area.

#13.1 David (Homepage) on 2010-10-03 15:03 (Reply)

For the double boiler option, bring the water to a boil. Then, add your melt and pour soap of choice, cover, and leave on low. This will take quite some time to melt so about every 10 minutes, check the base to see if it is melted. If you like, you can stir occasionally to ensure an even melt. Fragrance For both methods of melt and pour, if you want to add in fragrance, once the base soap has melted, then you would add the fragrance oil. Be sure the fragrance is mixed in completely and that the base of the soap does not have a cloudy appearance.

#14 home and garden (Homepage) on 2010-12-20 18:16 (Reply)

Hi Everybody First: Thanks for this lye calculator, i used it to make my own solid soaps Thank you Webmaster did somebody tried to make liquid soap? I read a lot, everybody is saying, the hot process is the method to use, did somebody tried the cold process? And must i use 100% KOH. I can only buy 90% KOH here in Germany, And what things should i take into cosideration? I dont need clear liquid soap, it just should be skin friendly, and good. Should i wait one month before using it? Its amazing and also sad, but there is too few information about liquid soap, in comparison to hard soap, and when you find a book or a website, they just use the hot process. Sorry about my bad english Thank you very much Nassim

#15 Nassim (Homepage) on 2011-01-25 07:37 (Reply)

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#16 jeamnerurse on 2011-02-20 17:49 (Reply)

So qraz.y. Oh.. Ltaedr

#17 Cheburatorst on 2011-05-18 17:49 (Reply)

I used lye calculator.I think this is the best I've ever used.You did very good job. Go ahead..

#18 Kukuru Australua on 2011-06-10 10:57 (Reply)

just examined the thread. Awesome job.

#19 Lomtoombcog on 2011-06-12 17:01 (Reply)

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