Another variable to the strength of your ash water / lye is what kind of wood did you source the ash from. Hardwoods have much more potasium than softwoods. Also, the material itself can have variability, things like the wood, bark, leaves etc all have their own potasium ratios. Let the backyard chemistry fun begin!
Chemistry bachelor here! I'd say that this a more of a craft. Practice makes perfect. If you're going to go with a sciencetific approach one alternative to eliminate the uncertainty of the caustic element might be to allow the lye-water evaporate so that you're left with a solid. Ofcource a very inefficient method of doing which might not be viable, especially if you're planning to sell the product. Relying on the density is probably a pretty good aproximation. For futher repeatability one should idealy use the same kind of wood ash
Fellow soapmaker here too. I have heard the most emmolient soap is made with the fat of bear kidneys! If you can find some kidneys, please let me know❤
Another variable to the strength of your ash water / lye is what kind of wood did you source the ash from. Hardwoods have much more potasium than softwoods. Also, the material itself can have variability, things like the wood, bark, leaves etc all have their own potasium ratios. Let the backyard chemistry fun begin!
Fascinating!
Chemistry bachelor here! I'd say that this a more of a craft. Practice makes perfect. If you're going to go with a sciencetific approach one alternative to eliminate the uncertainty of the caustic element might be to allow the lye-water evaporate so that you're left with a solid. Ofcource a very inefficient method of doing which might not be viable, especially if you're planning to sell the product.
Relying on the density is probably a pretty good aproximation. For futher repeatability one should idealy use the same kind of wood ash
Fellow soapmaker here too. I have heard the most emmolient soap is made with the fat of bear kidneys! If you can find some kidneys, please let me know❤