|
 A
good common hard soap may be made from clean tallow or lard and caustic
soda, without
any very special skill in manipulation. The caustic soda
indicated is a crude article which
may now be obtained from wholesale
druggists in quantities to suit, at a very moderate price.
A dye of
average strength is made by dissolving it in water in the proportion of
about 2 pounds
to the gallon. For the saponification of lard, a given
quantity of the grease is melted at a low
heat, and ¼ its weigh of dye
is then added in small portions with co9nstant stirring; when
incorporation has been thoroughly effected, another portion of lye equal
to the first is added.
As before, and the mixture kept at a gentle heat
until saponifi cation appears to be complete.
If the soap does not
readily separate from the liquid, more lye should be added, the soap
being insoluble in strong lye. When separation has occurred pour off the
lye, add water to the
mass, heat until dissolved and again separate by
the use of more strong lye or a strong solution
of common salt. The
latter part of the process is designed to purify the soap and may be
omitted where only a cruder
article is required. The soap is finally remelted on a water bath, kept at a gentle heat until as much water as
possible is
expelled, and then poured into frames or molds to set. |
