Where does one buy lye in this day and age?

[coyotero]

I have one can of Red Devil lye left.I can't get it through the 2 local hardware stores.Walmart doesn't carry it.Help!! I'd like to find a half a dozen cans.

[four coil]

Coyotero, "Drano" or other drain cleaners are made out of sodium hydroxide which is caustic soda-lye. I have used it in the past to clean traps. This last batch of traps that I got from Tom, I soaked them in a container of water and plenty of Dawn dish detergent. I left them in there for a couple of days. Now they are sitting with a light layer of rust waiting to be dyed. Hope this helped.
Shawn

[nodlenor]

If there are any Amish communitys in your area I'm sure you can purchase some from them. We have several in the area I live in and can purchase lots of items from them that we deem obsolete in our "modern" society.

[catdaddy]

to make lye build a bonfire of hardwood,put all the ashes in water and you have lye

[torpedoman]

try lemans non electric hardware they supply the amish

[coyotero]

I found out Roebic Crystal Drain Opener Is 100% lye.You can get it at Lowe's

[Dee]

Red devil is commonly sold at small grocery stores, usually in rural areas. Some still use it to open drains. I use it to make blender size amounts of lie soap.

[coyotero]

Red Devil Lye has been discontinued.

[Dee]

I certainly didn't know that. I  suppose I will have to go back to wood ashes to get my lye.

[R Jones]

Coyotero, If you have any oilfield chemical supply houses in your area. Ask if they have Caustic Soda. Same thing as lye , but comes in 50 lb. sacks. I've been using it for years.

[rzwieg]

Holy cow! Red Devil is discontinued. I bought some last year.

Guess I'll be using Drano.