The link below might help you about making the home made lye.

I imagine the site also has the soap recipe topo.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Making Lye From Wood Ashes

My cousin, who is 90, used to go to schools and demonstrate making soap. However, she used purchased lye. Her recipe calls for 1 cup of cold water, 5 Tbs. of Lye and grease from pork, beef and fowl. I have her recipe and instructions on file, but it is 2-1/2 pages long. First she listed all the utensils, etc. you would need, then the recipe, and then hints. She uses the variety of fats because she grates the soap. Using all pork would end up hard like Fels Naptha, which seems to be what you want.

SOAP RECIPE

1 Cup Cold water and 5 TBSP Lye

Mix in Stainless Steel pan with Stainless Steel spoon.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO BREATHE FUMES!!!

Lye water will get very hot and then start to cool.ÃÂ When bottom of pan feel Lukewarm,
You are ready to make soap.

Pour 3 cups lukewarm grease in blender.ÃÂ Add lukewarm lye water.ÃÂ Blend slightly.
Both ingredients must be the same temperature or it will curdle.

Add:ÃÂ 1 tsp. Ammonia
1 tsp. Borax
1 tsp. Sugar (for lather)

Blend and pour into prepared box.ÃÂ It will look like honey and cool like fudge in an hour or so.ÃÂ Cut when cool so it will break apart easily when cured.

Allow to cure at room temperature a month or more before using.ÃÂ Bars are handy at kitchen sink.ÃÂ Soap must be grated to use in Automatic washer.ÃÂ Install shoe box and flat grater near washer and grate a bar in spare moments so there is always some ready to use.
One-third to one-half cup is ample for most wash loads with softened water.ÃÂ Holds suds if suds saver machine is used.

I have made it many times and did it for a school project once, but I too use the purchased lye.

I just went to chemocurl's ultra outrageously cool website!! I swear, I'm going to do this (much to Jenny's chagrin) and report back on the results. Of course I will wait for wood burnin' stove weather to get premium "white" ashes for the most lye content.

I have been searching and searching the web for sites that might lead me to a recipe and here one is on KT. I really appreciate the recipe marygailv. I wish I could sit and visit with your cousin. I love the stories she would probably share.

chemocurl: I'll check the sight out, thank you. I have a family friend that has to make soaps out of self-defense; I'll share the site with her. Thank you.

OnAHoliday: I'm interested to hear how your project goes.

ravencajun: your experience is encouraging, thank you.

DGM claimed that the purchased lye was too inconsistent in it's lye content, that's why I was wondering if there was a way to measure the strength of the purchased lye. Then, I could go to the local school supply house and get "The good stuff".

Thank you all soooooo much. I would be curious if there are others, but you all have helped ease that "Totally frustrated" feeling I have been dealing with for so long. Thank you.

When the family is together for Sunday Dinner I will read it to them and see if it fits with what they seem to remember. I don't remember any ammonia, but I was only in Elem. school & had breathing problems; I didn't get very close very often.

You may not even be able to purchase lye anymore...please read the thread linked below. It seems it is an ingredient in making illegal drugs.

I suggest you get one of Carla Emery's books, THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COUNTRY LIVING (there are 10 editions) and I have the 9th edition. It covers the soap making process, the old way, including how to make your lye and how to tell if it is strong enough. It is a good read, that covers about everything one would ever want to know about country living.

Here is a link that might be useful: lye is hard to find

blitzyblond, here are the rest of the instructions:
THRIFT JOY SOAP

1 Blender

1 Quart stainless steel sauce pan

1 Stainless steel spoon

1 Measuring Cup

1 Set measuring spoons

1 Large canning kettle

1 Piece cheese cloth

Small boxes (candy, shoe, etc.)

Cloth to line boxes (old sheet)

Left-over grease, Lewis Lye, Ammonia, Borax, Sugar, Salt,

To Prepare Grease:

Save cooking fat from pork, beef, foul, etc. and keep refrigerated so it does not mold as it accumulates. Coffee cans make good containers.

In large kettle with cover, put equal amounts of water and grease and heat to a boil. Remove from heat and cool as fast as possible. Winter months is best time to do this.

When completely cold (24 hrs.) the clean grease will have risen to the top and foreign matter will have settled into the water. Remove clean grease, cutting off any dirt adhering to bottom of clean grease. Put into kettle to re-heat. When it spits, sprinkle with salt. When fat has boiled and appears clear, purify with a few slices of raw potato. Remove when brown. Strain clear grease through cheese cloth and set aside until ready to make soap.

Prepare boxes while waiting for lye water to cool:

Tear strips of old sheets width and length of boxes. Wet cloths, wring out and completely cover bottom and sides of box by laying one cloth in each direction, allowing ends to hang down outside of box so it does not fall in when the soap is poured in.

HINTS

Make Soap in Basement.

A shoe box requires two batches for nice size bars.

Keep several cans of lye on hand so you wont run out making several batches of soap.

Put a small amount of sugar in container to be used for soap only (separate from food.

Lay newspapers on floor where you will be working with soap project for easy clean up.

To make you project more interesting, have a Soap Making Party. Save 8-10 cans of fat, purify and invite a couple friends to make soap. It is easier when two or three work together and they can divide the soap and all have a years supply.

Top 8 Lye Calculators

I used to do the cold process method, I don't know if you can still buy the cans of lard but that is what I used to buy at the grocery store. I have no idea what happened to my recipe that I used.