Hot Jar!

[ZarathustraMadman]

When I mixed Roebix sodium hydroxide with distilled water into my Ball jar, they were not joking when they said the jar would get hot to the touch. It got so hot I couldn't even touch it, I thought the jar was going to turn red. It was also smoking. I was concerned that the jar was going to break or that the jar would explode once I capped it - has this ever happened? That would be horrible as the acid-like substance would cause much destruction on my body and everything around it. I put some on my aluminum toolbox and it bubbled and looked like it was going to burn a hole in it

Thanks!

 

[Leon Trout]

be seriously careful with those jars... they can break... advice from my grandmother, who puts up mad preserves: warm the jar up slowly in hot water first, it doesn't break as easily when heat is applied gradually... myself, i mix my lye & water in a pyrex 1 liter cup first, then mix the rootbark in a little, then decant over into the jar... haven't had a problem yet...

& also, if you continue to mix lye & water in the jars, make them single use jars... i did that my first extraction, & reused the jars... & the second time, one of them broke from the heat... luckily i was working over a sink with gloves on...

good luck!!!

 

[Electric Kool-Aid]

Wow! Hot stuff!

The Teks always say to add the lye a bit at a time. Stiring between times. Wait until the jar cools then add more.
Did you add it to the water in one shot?
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I just thought of something. Has anyone ever used like a metal bucket to mix the lye & water? Then when cooled then added to the jar? This might illuminate the risk of etching the jars because of hot lye/h2O mix.

 

[ZarathustraMadman]

I mixed in a little at a time, swirling with a spoon until dissolved, and then added more. Oh well, I guess that is just how it is. I will only use them once.

 

[SnozzleBerry]

That would be horrible as the acid-like substance would cause much destruction on my body and everything around it. I put some on my aluminum toolbox and it bubbled and looked like it was going to burn a hole in it

Thanks!

Hey man, just wanted to point out a few things.

First, lye is an incredibly strong base rather than an 'acid-like substance'. I wanted to point this out so that should you ever find yourself in a situation with spilled lye-water (as has happened to some people on this very site) you understand what you can do about it.

Second, in order to neutralize the lye and minimize the harm it can cause to you or your stuff, you can pour vinegar on anything that you spill the basified water or even extraction mixture on. Doing so can prevent serious injury to yourself and is one reason why it is highly suggested that whenever working with a strong base, you have acid on hand to neutralize possible spills.

Third, you should never expose aluminum to water that has been basified with lye. Not only will the water eat through the aluminum (as you noted), but it produces highly flammable hydrogen gas. This is dangerous for several reasons, which I hope are apparent to you.

Hope that helps clarify things...and good luck with your extractions

 

[Macre]

I think the other guys have given you some very good advice. Also, a good bit of advice to keep in mind with lye is: never add water to lye....always add lye to water....Add water to lye and lose an eye!

Peace

Macre