So I took the recipe a mixture from here (for core recipe) and here (for some advice on technique).

The recipe I used was this:

• 3 cups of bread flour
  
• 1 cup of tap water
  
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter (slightly melted)
  
• 1/2 tablespoon of dark brown sugar
  
• 1.75 tablespoons of kosher salt
  
• 1/2 tablespoon of instant active yeast
  
• 1/8 cup of food grade lye (I used this) + 2 cups of water
  
  
  Some thoughts about the process:
  
  
• I don't have a food processor/mixer, so I had to knead the dough by hand. As a result, the dough was not very stretchy, which made it pretty hard to achieve ideal Philly soft pretzel shape.
  
• With regards to the shape, I really need to work on my technique. I feel like defaulting to normal pretzel shape comes more naturally. Any tips here?
  
• Very happy with how the taste turned out. The dough was really good, and the lye provided the perfect golden brownness.
  
• Handling lye sounds scary but it's really not that bad. I used a plastic bowl in an empty sink. And I made sure to carefully use gloves the entire time. Still, if you decide to use lye, proceed with caution. I don't really plan to use baking soda, since no legit bakery I know uses this method.
  
• I accidentally forgot to set a timer when I put the pretzels in the oven, so half of them came out a little dark. Actually kind of glad this happened, because they didn't burn but achieved more of a dark pretzel-type flavor.

I got mine from Amazon.

Amazon sells it, and it's pretty cheap: http://www.amazon.com/Grade-Sodium-Hydroxide-Micro-Beads/dp/B001EDBEZM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381245711&sr=8-1&keywords=cooking+lye

Get a belt sander and some low grit for the flat surfaces. Have one of these for the detail work: Triangle Scraper

And sometimes good old fashioned NaOH for the older paints AKA Lye worked the best on our base layers of paint, which we thought might be milk paint.

God speed.

Amazon.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EDBEZM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for the tips!

Essential Depot Pure Lye Drain... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EDBEZM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EDBEZM/
I've had it for 5 yrs, and I'm maybe halfway through it.

>introduce me to no more toxic metals than eating fresh fish or drinking tap water

The toxic metals aren't the problem. It the random other crap that could be in there. I don't know what's in there, but is it really worth the risk?

I mean, you're probably right and all [Edit: After reading remidiality's reply, I'm not as sure about this], but even if there's a 1% chance that you're wrong, is that worth it? 1% is still a pretty high chance. Then you might also run into issues like the Zicam thing where they put Zinc in their 'homeopathic' nasal spray, which caused people to lose their sense of smell.

I'm assuming you live in the US, in which case I'll point you to this which was the first thing I found. That's a crap ton of lye for <$20. Seriously, how much could you possibly save by going for the lab stuff? Is $20 really that much that you would risk serious illness or worse?

Edit: By the way, if my tone seems a bit harsh or critical, I'm sorry, but I don't want you to accidentally kill yourself.

Why do you need lye?

If you want it for pretzels, you have to use "food grade" lye, you don't use laboratory sodium hydroxide.

http://www.amazon.com/Grade-Sodium-Hydroxide-Micro-Beads/dp/B001EDBEZM

This is what I got. I still have so much left over https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EDBEZM/

I got mine on Amazon. It's actually cheaper now than when I bought it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EDBEZM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Definitely makes a big difference using lye vs baking soda. It's really not that big a deal to work with, just use common sense. If you do get a little bit on you, put some vinegar on it right away to neutralize it.

I've been adding 2tbsp lye to 32 ounces of water (never water to lye!), then dropping pretzels into boiling water for a few seconds. Sorry for crappy pic: https://i.imgur.com/8SBXWIa.jpg

This is the brand/where I get mine from

You know now that you mention it I don't even know how pure it is. Here's its listing on Amazon, where I bought it from. I was under the impression that food grade means it's very pure, but now I'm not so sure. That's weird.

DON'T DO THIS

^but If you're dumb enough to do this, do it outside and wear eye and ear protection

Get some lye and some magnesium shavings, a large wax candle or wax block, and a granite crucible. Mix the lye and magnesium together at about a 1:1 ratio in the crucible, and melt the wax in a separate container. Light the magnesium and let it burn for a while, and then put it out after the blinding light and sparks stop by pouring the wax over it. There will be chunks of metal left over, these are elemental sodium. Just the tinyest bit in water will create a similar reaction.

http://www.amazon.com/Grade-Sodium-Hydroxide-Micro-Beads/dp/B001EDBEZM

Home Depot, at least in California doesn't sell 100% lye. Lowe's and Ace Hardware do though. Better to get it online, much cheaper.

For anybody wanting to do this.

US: https://www.amazon.com/Drain-Cleaner-Opener-Sodium-Hydroxide/dp/B001EDBEZM/

Canada: https://www.purearome.com/fr/produit/soude-caustique-naoh

Mix about 100-150g/L in a plastic container, put in your light, and watch it.

I found Essential Depot on Amazon, free shipping with Prime makes it seem more reasonable. Silly question, but with Palm Oil I was told it had to be warmed up in the original container... How can you tell if the container can benuked in a microwave? It doesn't say microwave safe on the Amazon site. (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EDBEZM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3V9M1NOX9PQ89&coliid=I1XGC0BKGY2U8V)

I noticed the molds around between $50-100, is that normal? Seems rather extravagant to me.

The local chemical factory is a great idea! I have no idea if there is one near me, but still.. Major kudos on creativity.

If you're confident in yourself, use lye. You can see there difference in post from a while back.

http://www.amazon.com/Grade-Sodium-Hydroxide-Micro-Beads/dp/B001EDBEZM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356213606&sr=8-2&keywords=lye