Primitive soap making

G

g123

Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
329
Hey Guy,

Do you know of any youtube videos or sites where I can read how making soap from scratch in the field.

No bring alone chemicals such as lye.

Thanks,

Geoff
 
No need to bring anything, but animal fat must be acquired somehow. Filter water through ash in your sock. The pearly droplets that float are potash. Mix that with rendered fat. Its a lot prettier if you first strain your rendered fat.
 
Plant saponids are easy to come by: yucca, soap root, etc. I'd check into the local flora as well.
 
As kids we use to find blue shale in a local creek and use it as soap. We called it Indian soap. Somewhere in the deposit between clay and rock you will find the right consistency.

I use sand in rivers often.
 
Geoff,

Not sure where you're from but try Soap Wort AKA Bouncin' Bett. It makes a lather when crushed and rubbed in your hands with some water. It is field expedient and as easy as it gets without serious processing. Works great to clean wool too.
 
Let me chime in and say that I, too, would be interested in learning a field expedient way of making lye soap. I've seen recipes for making soap, but they were geared toward homesteaders and people who wanted to live off the grid. They were fairly complicated, and involved large tubs, rendered hog fat, etc. Certainly there must be an easier, less complicated way that involves less preparation and paraphernalia?
 
The plant route, while it can be worthwhile isn't as long term or gratifying. Making it from scratch will really give you a good amount to wash with if you make a large batch. You can practice in the comfort of home too. Butchers shops will sell you their fat and you can take the ash from your fireplace. It isn't really hard, but it is time consuming and produces some unpleasant smells.
 
Thanks for helping me get to the bottom of this. From what I have read here and other places the hard part is knowing if the wood ash lye is of proper strength. Is there a way to test this with PH paper or is it always hit or miss.

Thanks,

Geoff
 
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