ok, I was looking high and low for a good base today. Coulden't find lime, but found some lye.

The "drain cleaner" contains Sodium Hydroxide (lye), Sodium carbonate(washing soda) and Sodium chloride (salt).
The first 2 seem great, but is the salt a problem? Will the naphta be "salted" like in a salt precip? And if so can the salt be separated or am I screwed?

The company that makes it is based in Canada and they put the salt in there to unfreeze our frosty drains. Gah.

keep looking for 100% sodium hydroxide

Thank you very much.



...... ah, I will. But, that's not really helpful unless you state why.

is it:

1. Salt is OK, but it's just better to have pure lye. (ya I'm looking)
2. Salt will ruin it and can't be removed.
3. Salt will ruin it and can be removed but it's too hard (need electrolysis or something)
4. I don't really know but I love to post.

If anyone know where I can get lye or lime in Atlantic Canada let me know, I was checking pickling and soap making forums and the ladies were having hard time as well.

Maybe I'll go old school and make some like Great grand Ma.

what are the percentages of each of those components? and for sure there isnt anything else appart from them?

Both sodium carbonate and salt are fine. Salt is even added at times to extractions to help break up emulsions. Sodium carbonate is a base but its not strong enough base for an STB tek, for example (but for an A/B it could work). So you want it to have an overal majority of the product as NaOH. If so, then it should be fine to use (Your mimosa should get totally black when added in your basic solution, meaning pH is high enough). But please make sure there isnt anything else appart from those 3 things

on the back it just says: contains sodium hydroxyde

But under FIRST AID TREATMENT it states: "Contains sodium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and sodium chloride. If swallowed, call poison control" ...... and so on.

I was trying to find out more info online, but am having little luck.

the product is:

Super Drain Granulated

INOVX SERVIPRO Inc.


I might call the contact number and try to find out the % of ingredients and make sure that's all that's in it.

If it is that's awesome. But I'll call them. Man this stuff is hard to find here. thanks for your help.

Try searching for the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for your product, it should have a list of the ingredients and % of each.

Ok as I said



By that I mean I AM looking for the MSDS. I called the contact number on the bottle. The company(or distributor) is based out of Quebec and can't really speak english. She tells me: No we only make wooden pallets! I tell here the protect is in my hand, she is like nope it's not. so I'll keep looking for the MSDS but this company is really small and their service blows.

.... So back to looking for Lime. I find this at wall mart.



Is just says Calcium Hydroxide on the back. it's $5 for 155g

*EDIT* : It says Calcium chloride.

Then goes on to say that it is equal to 1lb of pickling lime. Ok now I'm confused I thought they were the same thing. I'm keeping at it but I'm learning more about pickles, soap and plumbing than I wanted to. Not the type of "Mind Expansion" I was looking for.

I AM going to find a base! All your base will belong to us!

Ha, calcium hydroxide is pickling lime. I wouldn't trust that product.

Damm, I got it wrong the Pickle crisp is CALCIUM CHLORIDE, not hydroxide... now it makes more sense... but I'm still not sure how 155g of CALCIUM CHLORIDE is equal to 1lb pickling lime.

This is from the main preserves company in Canada like Ball is the US. If it was not true my grand ma would have called them on it spanked them with a wooden spoon.

I wonder if this will still work for A/B vinegar, lime/ naphtha extraction. Assuming I use enough. The Ph may still be too low.

*Update*

The Pickle People tell me that chloride is better for their uses because it water solouble, while Hydroxide is not, so they only need a little. This explains the claim of 155g = 1 lb of Hydroxide. AND! it won't raise the ph.

But, that's not really helpful unless you state why.

sorry for the fast reply,

if you dont know why mixed drain cleaner should or shouldn't be used, you should follow the teks as written. imho

also, koh might be easier for you to source in CA-eh

I sent a MSDS request to Rona (where I bought It). If it turns out that this product is indeed simply lye and salt I will have found a convenient local source even though it's "mixed" and have added so info to the community.

So no, I don't know why using mixed "drain cleaner" is bad. Do you? I mean other then it's your humble opinion?

is it:

1. Because the bible tells me so.
2. I R uber NOOB 4 asskin stuff.
3. You are trying to protect the "Base"
4. You are way too sassy Lucidj, I'm not talking to you anymore. I bid you good day sir. HrrMMph.

serious tho, I will see about caustic potash. thanks.