on 7/2/03 1:31 pm, Marc Perdue wrote:

> Soaps are not waxy, per se . . . they are slippery because of the lye
> that they contain.  I wouldn't think that that would be a good thing to
> put on the paint . . .

donning my Cliff Claven hat...

soaps are slippery 'cos of the saponified fatty acids they are made from.

lye is used in the making of soap, heat fat (animal or vegetable) with lye
(sodium hydroxide) and you will get soap. The longer and  more saturated the
fatty acid the harder the soap will be.

(ie harder to softer: tallow > lard > palm oil > olive oil

Alistair

--
'82 Westy -> diesel converted to gas in '94
albell@uvic.ca
http://members.shaw.ca/albell