Best sources for inexpensive lye

[Jeff McGrady]

[size=12]I noted the Sticky for places to purchase lye, and appreciated the links in that post.

However, I wondered if anyone has discovered better sources to obtain sodium hydroxide?

Tractor Supply wants $14.99 for 2 pounds, and in looking on eBay I found the shipping costs a bit restrictive on some auctions.

I am hoping to set up my first lye bath in a 20 gallon resealable plastic tub, so would like to purchase at least 4-5 pounds of lye....maybe twice that much to have a second round, on-hand, though I don't wish to purchase 'in-bulk.'


The best price I have found in my short time researching/comparing is at Bulk Apothecary:
Sodium Hydroxide (LYE)
Size:      8 lb ($2.11 / lb) - $16.92 (+ $14.68 ship'g)

If anyone knows of a better source, and is willing to share, I'd appreciate it!    ;)


Thanks![/size]

[Cheryl Watson]

http://www.ronshomeandhardware.com/1030-Rooto-Crystals-of-100-Lye-Household-Drain-Op-p/602415.htm

I order it by the case. :)

[Valerie Johnson]

I have purchased it from my local Dollar store and from Big Lots, What I get is Drain cleaner which lists the sole ingredient as Sodium Hydroxide crystals, I paid $3.00 for 2 lb containers at Big Lots, I have used other crystalized and liquid drain cleaners that list lye as the sole ingredient.

Some of the drain cleaners have aluminum flakes listed as an ingredient, I avoid those.

[Jeff McGrady]

[size=12]Thank you both!

$3 for 2 pounds beats anything I had found, thus far....now if I can find a nearby Big Lots that carries the same thing yours does, I should be in bidness   8-)[/size]

[Lewis Downey]

Idealtruevalue is in the sticky (I think) and their price per pound is a little higher than a couple of places mentioned in this thread. Their shipping cost can be pretty good if you buy in quantity. I usually buy 40 or 50 pounds of Rooto from idealtruevalue.com per order. The Rooto itself has been $2.22/lb from  for a while. The overall cost per pound varies based on the shipping. Shipping prices change at quantities of 10.  The table below does not include the cost of the lye ($2.22/lb). It only shows an example of how the shipping charge changes.

Feb 2017

lbs of lye		shipping charge to NC
10 lbs		$10.99
11 lbs		$12.99
20 lbs		$12.99
21 lbs		$14.99
30 lbs		$14.99
31 lbs		$16.99
40 lbs		$16.99
41 lbs		$18.99
50 lbs		$18.99
51 lbs		$21.99

Shipping 50 pounds to Raleigh NC adds an extra $0.38/lb on top of the cost of the lye - not too bad. The $2.22/lb price may not be the lowest, but combined with shipping it is a decent price.

[Jeff McGrady]

[size=12]Thanks, Lewis![/size]

[Jeff McGrady]

[size=12]I actually decided to go with Duda Energy LLC's 2 lb containers of Red Hot Devil Lye, 99+% Purity, Food Chemical Codex, High Grade Caustic Soda Beads, Micropearl Form.

The reason I chose to do so was when I attempted to order "2" of Bulk Apothecary's 8 pound sizes of sodium hydroxide, the shipping more than doubled from only a single 8 pound purchase. (?)

Duda Energy LLC had 'breakover' price reductions at quantities of 2, 6, 12, and 18, so I ordered 6 of the 2 lb. containers at $5.95 each plus $14.68 shipping.
Equated to less than $3.70 per pound, shipped to my door.

They also offered 50lb resealable buckets for a better price--- as well as palletized options that would have reduced pricing even further--- if anyone needed to order in bulk.[/size]