so ive done the stb method before. this time i went for a/b.
ive got my acidified solution reduced to one gallon. and i added lye to basify, however something appears to be floating around in my solution still. i am using 100% lye, to my knowledge. the acidic solution was hot to the touch when lye was added. the solution seperates if left alone. so it appears i have precipitates in it............the floaters look grey and foamy.

when i stir the solution it turns a grey/greenish/brown color, but within 1 minutes of sitting still, the grey floaters sink down... any advice/experience with this situation?

never mind all i needed was more lye. it appears that not adding enough lye to the acidic solution keeps them from mixing. so i added more, and it turned a nice deep black pH 12.4,,,, doing first defat now.

WTF, you defat the basic solution?!?!?!

um,,, no. i was a little cloudy on what a defat was when i said that. but im sure im doing it right.