On Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:54:32 +0000, Christopher Tidy
wrote:

Grant Erwin wrote:
Christopher Tidy wrote:

Robert Swinney wrote:

I have an even older Wagner 7.5 HP motor with grease fittings on each
end. Grease is a way to keep something oiled without having to tend
to it very often. Think of grease as it was originally . . . oil
absorbed into soap flakes.



Interesting. I never heard that before. I had always assumed that the
first grease was derived from animal fat.


.. soap being of course animal fat boiled up with lye

Good point, Grant. I'd overlooked that.

Does anyone know of a book which describes the process of making grease
from oil and soap flakes? I'd be interested to read about it.

Best wishes,

Chris
The "soap" isn't necessarily something you would wash with. Lithium
is one "soap" used. So is Sodium, and Barium, as well as Calcium and
aluminum.

All the above are considered "soap" type greases.
I don't know of any grease in common use made from Lye soap (or Ivory
Snow)
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