6 lbs. lard or vegetable shortening
1 can lye
5 c. water

Slowly add lye to water in a metal container, stirring to dissolve with wooden spoon. Have fat softened (but not hot) in a large metal pan. Slowly pour lye and water mixture into fat in a slow, thin and steady stream and stir with slow even strokes. (Rapid pouring and stirring causes separation.) Continue to stir until wooden spoon can stand on its own. Pour into wooden box or 10x14 baking dish. Mark off sizes for bars and let cool.

I use a 13-quart stainless steel mixing bowl to stir my soap in. The heat from the lye may cause a crock or glass bowl to break.