I am about to do my first test batch and after a lot of reading on this site I am unsure which is the better of the two. I have found a company in Adelaide where I can get Methanol who supply Potassium Hydroxide in flakes. Should I use this or get some Sodium Hydroxide?
Thanks
Daryl

The only advantage of NaOH is that it is usually easier to get... ;-)

It produces solid glcyerine... which isn't usually an advantage.

I started with NaOH and have just purchased 25kg KOH.

NaOH is great to start with - you can buy it from you supermarket or bunnings in 500g containers. When you start making large batches or decide on a conical tank you should switch to KOH as it allows the glyc to
remain liquid when cooled.

I had a batch using NaOH go hard in my conical tank and had to replace most of the piping - not to mention the hell of a time I had trying to clear the pumps.

Thanks guys.
Wasn't sure but as I said I can get KOH from the same place I get the Methanol.

whoflungdung,
I see you are in Lilydale. We lived in Narbethong for 15 yrs before moving here. Was back there last week. Great place but forgot how cold it was.
Daryl

Yeah I would stick with the KOH. I think it's more expensive but whichever one you use the cost is pretty insignificant per litre compared to the methanol anyway.

It also dissolves in the methanol much quicker than NaOH, and the glycerin is less harmful to the environment - i.e. you can compost it no problem.

__________________
Sean