So I don't really understand how to test the ph with paper because the solution is black so it just turns the paper dark purple. It the ph should be 13, should it be 13 before I add the bark for Noman's tek? That would make sense since it is still clear. For Marsofold's tek, I don't know though. You add the lye after the bark so how do you use ph paper and tell what color it is supposed to be? It says right in the tek to use ph paper. Am I misunderstanding something?

For me when I dip my paper in the bark solution, I barely touch the paper in there and the solution will bleed out farther than the bark to easily tell the ph.

I considered this but I still don't know if that is the purple bleeding in or the actual ph color indicator. Are you confident that it is the color indicator on the paper and not the solution itself? Part of the issue for me is a ph of 13 is supposed to turn the paper dark purple so I can't differentiate between the two easily.

I'm honestly not sure. It would make sense that it is the actual ph and not the bark.

What I would do is make 2 mini solutions, with 1g of bark in each. One with lye one without and if the solution that bleeds out farther than the bark is the same on both papers then the bark is affecting it.

That's a good idea! Thanks!

Any thoughts on whether the ph test is supposed to be done before or after adding the bark in Noman's tek?

before