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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Lye Water

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Roger

05-10-2004 21:59:08




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Have any of you made lye water for cleaning parts? How well did it work? Researching the topic on the net seems to suggest that it is very easy to do.




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larry in tn

05-13-2004 05:36:51




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 Re: Lye Water in reply to Roger, 05-10-2004 21:59:08  
Roger The Lye and water solution is very effective. It was used for years in the automotive industry until OSHA pretty much outlawed it. With proper handling and ventilation it can be used without to much chance of any harm being done. However, be careful if you dip zinc or zinc coated parts in the mixture because the chemical reaction causes the formation of a pretty toxic gas that is not good for your lungs and can cause some nasty problems.
Larry

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Ryan

05-11-2004 10:04:07




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 Re: Lye Water in reply to Roger, 05-10-2004 21:59:08  
I have tried using Red Devil and water solution and it works very well for removing paint. If you have sheet metal peices of your tractor you can drop them in there on a wire, I keep mind covered as well. I check on them after a day or so and the paint just falls off. I wash them and if they still have some stubborn paint, back in the bucket they go. I got mine cheap from an oddlots once. You don't want to get your hands in their or breathe the fumes though. Seems like it would clean your pocket change..... ....?

Ryan

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Van in AR

05-11-2004 08:38:03




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 Re: Lye Water in reply to Roger, 05-10-2004 21:59:08  
FIT from the JD page is the resident expert on this subject, he also does electrolisis (sp). Check out his website for all the info.
Van
http://www.fboerger.com/



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Roger

05-11-2004 11:47:44




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 Re: Re: Lye Water in reply to Van in AR, 05-11-2004 08:38:03  
That's a good idea Frank has there, but I was wondering about the old way of making lye water, by passing water through hardwood ashes from a fire. It would seem to be the absolute cheapest method for making it, especially if you are cleaning up your property by burning wood at the same time.

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CNKS

05-11-2004 07:23:40




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 Re: Lye Water in reply to Roger, 05-10-2004 21:59:08  
Lye is sodium hydroxide. You can buy it in granular form and make your solution to suit--one brand is Red Devil. It is corrosive. It is also the ingredient in most spray-on oven cleaners. Good for cleaning grease, etc off farm equipment if followed by a pressure washer. It will also remove paint, so if the part is painted, you should use some other method. It will burn skin.



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Pete - IN

05-11-2004 11:07:07




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 Re: Re: Lye Water in reply to CNKS, 05-11-2004 07:23:40  
Where can you buy lye anymore? I tried to buy some a couple of years ago and could not find it in the stores. I wanted it to get rid of mice. I'm told if you put it where they will walk through it, it burns their feet. They lick their feet and it kills them. I don't suppose the animal rights wackos would approve of this method.



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CNKS

05-11-2004 13:55:20




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 Re: Re: Re: Lye Water in reply to Pete - IN, 05-11-2004 11:07:07  
I bought mine in a grocery store. I think it was in the cleaning/soap section. I don't believe Wal-Mart had it. You might look at drain opener and read what the ingredients are, but it may be too dilute.



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VaTom

05-11-2004 04:09:58




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 Re: Lye Water in reply to Roger, 05-10-2004 21:59:08  
Been doing that for years to clean saw blades. A little drain cleaner in shallow water in a 5 gallon bucket works great for a 10" blade. Greatly lengthens the life of the carbide.

Haven't tried it for machine parts.



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Cherrywood..John,PA

05-13-2004 13:50:28




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 Re: Re: Lye Water in reply to VaTom, 05-11-2004 04:09:58  
Try using 1 tsp. Lye (DRANO(tm) to 1 gal. water. Stains CHERRY furniture to beautiful old color.



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