joan of ark:

I bought the best molds at the Dollar Store,sets of 4 molds; seashell, turtle, crab, fish plus bucket and shovel for sand play- $1 each set!!!

I found a mold for regular bars at a discount store for .89. That was the best of my deals.

I found lye at Lowe's hardware last night.  It was with drain cleaners.  I cannot remember the name of the company, but it is 100% pure lye.  I think it was 4 pounds for around $6.00. 

april

I found my notebook where I wrote my info.  I was incorrect about the lye.  The name brand is REOBIC.  The container was 2 pounds for $7.66.

Sorry, it was the sodium carbonate for laundry detergent that was 4 pounds for $6.87.

april

I have made lye soap before. Last year was when I made my last batch. I also made some with olive oil, coconut oil, lard or canola oil, lye and water. I like the kind with the olive oil, coconut oil, and canola oil best. It is very soft tho, so you have to be sure it is really dry, before putting it away, it will turn rancid and it just plain smells then. It lathers best too. The lard, lye and water is what I make my laundry soap out of.

I found the lye at our neighborhood Ace Hardware store for the price of $3.29 for 1#.

 It is very hard to find now adays, since druggies learn to use it for making some kind of drugs. I don't know why they would use lye,  but then again, I don't do drugs. LOL

I did find lye in my latest catalog from www.betterbee.com and they had the best price too, at 4# for $9.50, they sell beekeeping equipement, but also a lot of soap making stuff too.

 I learned to make lye-base soap after a friend of mine--a soapmaker--had her baby and retired from making soap.  I was hooked!  Both hubby and I have sensitive skin, so having absolute control over our washing products is essential to prevent head-to-toe itching. 

 Does anyone know how to make lye?  I have a book that says you take your wood ashes, in a barrel, and let rain water seep through them.  The resultingliquid that comes out should be so that a raw egg floats in it.  Can any one confirm this?

 I'm sure that's the way it's made. I've heard it over and over. Have you read the Foxfire books? 

 No, I read a couple of books...but it was like Reader's Digest.  Plus my grandma Maryused to go out in the morning to check hers, BUT I didn't know it was lye or what.  I just remember her dumping an egg in water near her barn.

 I've never done it or seen it, but heard about it many times. The Foxfire books explain that and a whole lot of other things, is why I asked. The egg is to be sure it's strong enough after it's boiled down. There's something about putting a stick with a weight in it, too, but I'm a little fuzzy on what that's supposed to do. 

Does anyone know how to render tallow for soap? I bought a book on soap-making from the 70s from a library book sale, and it prattles on with "after you've rendered the tallow" and "take your rendered tallow" and "take care with your rendered tallow."

However, there are positively no instructions for rendering the tallow!