Food grade lye for cleaning iron?

[DLipscomb]

Greetings everyone! Just getting ready to set up my lye bath and e-tank for the summer. After shopping for lye today, it appears that our local Lowes store no longer stocks the Roebic lye. Also after shopping on line, I am finding that food grade lye is much cheaper than industrial grade lye. Is there any difference in the cleaning abilities of the two?

Thanks, Dennis

 

[Doug D.]

As long as the ingredients state 100% sodium hydroxide, whatever's cheapest is fine.

 

[Mike Green]

Isn't saying food grade lye like saying food grade stuff that will dissolve your innards? Ok, soap comes from lye, but if you can bathe in it, maybe food grade is weak? Just wondering...