Hi,


We are going to get into the soap business, and already own a large steel bin to make the soap, but unfortunately it is galvanized. One of the key ingredients in soap making is the lye, and it apparently would react with the zinc coating on the bin, which would be bad. We are on a budget, and were thinking if we coated the bin with a epoxy paint or some sort of coating(as buying a stainless steel bin would be very expensive), then we could use the bin for the soap making.


Our question is, what type of coating would you recommend to paint or coat the bin with that is inexpensive, that would prevent the lye in the process from reacting with the bin, or the coating for that matter? Thank you for your assistance.

No, you will need proper equipment. Also do not forget about license, insurance and so on. Including the recent years of regulations on what is, and what is not soap and required labels.

Possibly an epoxy based enamel. I would shop the poultry, paint and chemical supply yards, there are loads of scrapped SS tanks. Lye, Sodium Hydroxide, and zinc also form hydrogen, an explosive gas-- Zn+2 H2O + 2 NaOH= Na2Zn(OH)4 + H2

If you are going to get into this business, do it properly with the right equipment. Anything you make will have to be passed by the FDA and they will frown on improper equipment used to make a product that is supposed to be hygienically safe for the human body.

There red are many recipes for soap without the use of lye.