How to Make Lye for Soap From Wood Ash
Extracting lye from wood ash has been a time-honored method that goes back beyond the days of pioneer settlers. While this method of obtaining lye is not the most reliable in terms of producing a consistent finished product, it is something that everyone who is preparing to be self-sufficient over the long-term should learn. The process is not that complicated and involves a few general steps that are outlined below. Having this skill at your disposal can help to ensure that you can produce lye if other options are not readily available.
Getting Started
The quality of the lye that can be produced has a direct relationship with the wood that you use. Wood that has a high ratio of resin content should be avoided as this material can taint the finished product. Consequently, it’s recommended that only hardwoods be used. Examples of common hardwood species include Ash, Hickory, Aspen, Cherry, Chestnut, Elm, Oak and Walnut. To prepare the ash, simply create a fire pit that is free from debris from other types of wood, build a fire from hardwoods, and let it burn down to ash. Scoop up the ash, place in a bucket and set it aside.
Preparing the Processing Container
In order to make lye, all you really need to do is mix water with the wood ash and let it drain. However, it’s important to follow certain steps in order to make the finished product as pure as possible. Historically, old wine barrels were used to for this process. However, you can also use a large plastic bucket as an alternative that may be more practical.
The first step is to drill a small hole on the side of the barrel about an inch from the bottom. The hole should be small, maybe around ¼ inch in diameter or smaller, and it needs to be plugged up while the product is being processed. The aim is to have a hole big enough to allow water to escape the container while holding back the wood ash. Create a makeshift stopper and test it to make sure that liquid won’t leak from the hole once it is plugged up.
You also want to place the container on a table or stool so that a bucket can be placed underneath to collect the liquid as it passes through the system.
Lining the Container
The next step is to fill the container about ¼ the way up with a mixture of different types of stones, gravel, sand and charcoal. You’re essentially building a filtration device that will capture larger particles in the wood ash as water passes through the system. You have plenty of room to tinker and improvise as you develop the right blend based on your circumstances.
After you’ve laid the filtration material, take some dried straw and pack it into the barrel until it fills half-way up. Then, scoop up the wood ash, and place it atop the bed of hay. You can fill the barrel with as much wood ash as you like. Altering the amount of ash and water you use will lead to different concentrations of lye in the finished product. Again, experimentation is key in order to get the desired level of potency. Slowly pour hot water over the top of the ash and hay so that it gets soaked into the material but doesn’t pool up too much. It is recommended to use rain water whenever possible as it is soft and lacks chemicals that can interfere with the quality of the finished product, but this isn’t absolutely necessary. Tap water or filtered stream or lake water can also work.
Processing the Ash
Cover the container and make sure that your bottom hole is plugged up. Let the contents of the barrel soak for three days. Open the lid of the container on the second day and add more water or ash if necessary before covering it for one more day. On day three, remove the plug, and let the liquid drip from the container into your bucket. You won’t get a lot of liquid in comparison to the amount you put in at first, but this will be a concentrated base that you can extract the lye from.
Remove the bucket once all of the liquid has been extracted and bring it to a gentle boil. Use gloves and protective eyewear as the liquid is now very acidic and can burn the skin. Once the liquid has boiled, you can opt to pour it through your filter once again and let it drip through back into the bucket, but you don’t have to re-process it for three days again. Once the liquid has been extracted a second time, you’re good to go. This second pass can give you a better finished product, but it’s not necessary.
Testing the Lye
The final step is to test the the concentration of the lye in the liquid. Place a feather from a chicken in the liquid. If it dissolves, then the lye is strong enough. If not, you will need to process it again with some additional wood ash. Another way to test the liquid is to place an egg or potato into the liquid. If it floats, you have enough lye. If it sinks, the concentration is too weak.
All you need to do now is incorporate the lye liquid into your favorite soap recipe. Make sure to handle the liquid carefully as you mix it in with the other ingredients, and it’s also important that the ratio of lye to other ingredients is such that it will be diluted enough to provide the benefits of cleaning without causing burning or irritation. Again, this takes some trial and error, but you’ll get the hang of things after doing it once or twice.
This is a good skill to know in order to be able to produce your own lye when other options are not available. You can also tweak this process now and start incorporating it into soap recipes that you are currently using. At the end of the day, this simple process can provide you with an excellent and all-natural way to make homemade soap. Try it for yourself, and enjoy adding this option to your survival bag of tricks.
