I have read throughout the forums trying to find an answer for this question. I am new to the site so maybe that's why I couldn't find one.

Regardless, I have 2 half gallon mason jars which have metal caps which I am quite sure are aluminum. There is no plastic film around them it is just metal that screws onto the glass. I know that Lye eats through aluminum but none of the A/B teks I have read have said anything about not using aluminum caps and they all suggest using mason jars, which usually come with aluminum caps. Is this because of the amount of lye being used? The tek I am using, Thick light's tek, calls for 1500ml of soup, 150g of lye, and 600ml of Naphtha.

Basically my question is am I going to end up with lye eating through my jar's cap during the shaking process? I have never done an extraction before, but I understand how an A/B extraction works pretty well.

Thanks for any answers and if this is a redundant post I'd appreciate being pointed to the right direction as I am still learning the ebb and flow of the Nexus.

All I know is that Lye + Aluminum = Hydrogen and corrodes away aluminum... That would be if you shook for extended periods of time wouldn't it? (Correct me if I'm wrong)
But I think even after a minute or two the reaction might start to some extent (?)

So, to some extent (I believe) it WILL react, so some unwanted substances might end up in your soup :L
But maybe only a negligible amount as to not be dangerous?

Personally I wouldn't do it. I think Sodium precipitates out (?)

If you do persist, wipe the cap dry after shaking, and maybe neutralize it with some vinegar if it's still reacting (the cap)

Do yourself a favor.. and just cut a circle out of an HDPE milk jug the size of the lid and use it in place of a metal lid. Get mason jar bands like these http://www.myworldhut.co...n_band_j00098__66110.jpg to hold it on.

Now you have a chemical resistant lid for your mason jar. this is how i do all my mason jar extractions.


Again, cut a circle out of a HDPE jug the size of a mason jar lid. Then use the newly cut HDPE circle as a lid (while using a mason jar band). To give the lid more strength in case you are mixing a solution that creates pressure, you can then just place a mason jar lid on top of the HDPE lid THEN secure it down with a mason jar band. This effectively makes you an HDPE lid liner.

I was thinking about maybe putting some plastic ceram wrap around the top of the jar then capping it. I dont know if that would be a good or bad idea. I'll go to the store tomorrow and see if I can find any plastic caps that are the same size. I have some pyrex plastic caps that are just a tad too big and it makes me ever so sad

Either get a cork that fits your jar or get a second jar and a stainless steel funnel...

I do all my mixing by pouring or funneling from one container into the other (and back) - there is no pressure build-up whatsoever and when not pouring or funneling I cover the mouths of the containers with a stainless steel mini dish that I place upside down...

Everything I use for extractions is either glass or stainless steel - I use my corks when doing back-saltings or washes but I try to make sure that no liquid touches them...