Does Methanol add bang or the punch to the oil. I've read most failures in separation is the lack of lye, or it's potentcy compensation. What happens if you use to much lye. I think it safer to have to much lye than not enough. Most of my non-seperations have occured due to the lack of lye. This happened when I went from Robic at Lowes to using potash. I would think to much lye would be rinsed out during the washing process to a nuteral level. I've also read to much methanol won't hurt, but it's just a waste. Too many questions maybe for one post? Any input would be appreciated.

Too much NaOH will cause gell. You'll get a big batch of glop. Excess methanol is good up to a point, if there is way too much, it can keep the glycerin in solution and you will have poor separation. Ethanol does this as well. The best thing to do is to stop guessing at the amount of caustic and TITRATE! HTH