Where to get potassium hydroxide in Hilo
Top answer
Can't make your own home-made equivalent? If your recipe calls for 1kg of potassium hydroxide, use 3kg of wood ash, put it in a container that allows you to compact the ash and has holes in the bottom. For every 1kg of ash, run 3l of hot water through it. If you have the equipment to measure the pH, it should be around 13. Corn stalk and sunflower ash are good sources of potassium. Bamboo, as well as any other grass, is also excellent.
From the KNF library
From the KNF library
Drafted by Claude from Office Hours and the books
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Sep 2026
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4 sources
The library does not name a seller in Hilo. It adds three points to the answers above.
- Buy potassium hydroxide for liquid soap. Sodium hydroxide makes solid soap. (Office Hours Ep. 143, 43:29)
- Drake's JADAM soap recipe calls it caustic potash, another name to look for. (Office Hours Ep. 128, 48:59)
- Keep it sealed and dry. Wear goggles and gloves. Keep vinegar on hand, because only vinegar stops a KOH burn, not water. (Office Hours Ep. 33, 12:09)
Both potassium and sodium hydroxide react violently with water, so keep the bag away from it. (Office Hours Ep. 33, 12:00)
Sources
- 12:09 Office Hours Ep. 33 (Jun 2022) — Potassium Hydroxide Soap Safety, Raw Milk LAB, IMO Pile Surfaces · “Keep it sealed and dry, wear goggles and gloves, and keep vinegar on hand”
- 48:59 Office Hours Ep. 128 (Jun 2024) — JADAM Sulfur & Soap Recipes, IMO Stages, Mulberry Recovery · “Dissolve caustic potash (potassium hydroxide) in soft water”
- 43:29 Office Hours Ep. 143 (Sep 2024) — Angelica Substitutes for OHN, Jadam Pesticide Costs, Sulfur & Soap · “Potassium hydroxide makes liquid soap and sodium hydroxide makes solid soap”
- 12:00 Office Hours Ep. 33 (Jun 2022) — Potassium Hydroxide Soap Safety, Raw Milk LAB, IMO Pile Surfaces · “But both those have violent chemical reactions with water.”
1 more answer
BEI Hawaii ! http://www.beihawaii.com
It comes in 55 lbs bags so be ready with a large plastic tote to store it in with a good lid. Obviously you want to keep it DRY. It'll probably last you 20 years depending on how much soap you're planning to make.
