Col Conk - Cost Effective??

[dreadpirate]

While most shave products have some merit, there are few shave products out there I would (IMHO) universally say no to; Col Conk (aka Col Crap) is one of them. Everybody should know; it is a glycerin based soap that you will deplete inside of three months. Any triple-milled soap will last something like 9 - 12 months or more. And what the hell kind of name is Col Conk?? Sounds like a joke or satire. I would be embarrassed to have anyone see a Col Conk product in my house.

If you want a decent low cost soap - there are sooo many good choices out there. Col Crap is not one of them. You need to multiply the cost of Col Crap by three or four (include S&H) for a fair comparison to most other soaps.

 

[StubbleShaver]

I'm confused? Did you just make this thread purley to bash a shaving soap? Just because it doesnt work for you doesnt mean others do not like it..

 

[dreadpirate]

I'm confused? Did you just make this thread purley to bash a shaving soap? Just because it doesnt work for you doesnt mean others do not like it..

I'll be glad to tell you why I made this thread; I don't think everyone realizes the difference between a glycerin based soap and a triple-milled. At least know up front you are buying soap that is not going to last.

 

[AABCDS]

...
Any triple-milled soap will last something like 9 - 12 months or more.
...

Triple-milled soaps don't even last that long. The only thing I can think of that comes close is a 170 g jar of MdC.

 

[KodiakAttack]

I know some people who really enjoy glycerin based soaps, regardless of how long or short they last. I think theres a place and a buyer for all kinds of shaving soaps. Just my opinion.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

I'm confused? Did you just make this thread purley to bash a shaving soap? Just because it doesnt work for you doesnt mean others do not like it..

I thought I was in a Williams thread for a moment.

 

[roklein]

Saying you don't care for Conk would have been sufficient.

 

[barsuk]

LOL. I think it's time for a new subforum "HATED SOAPS", wilkie and konkie, etc.

 

[inspiringK]

Everybody should know; it is a glycerin based soap that you will deplete inside of three months.

The big pucks of Conk go for $8. If they last for three months, you are paying less than $3 a month for soap. I think we can all justify that lavish expense

I thought this thread may be an attempt at drawing a realistic comparison on per shave costs with a cheap Conk puck vs a more expensive triple milled puck of soap. It ended up just being a directionless rant.

Did you even try a Conk soap or were you too embarrassed about the name? I am more concerned with performance than the name of a product. I couldn't care less what people think when they see a shaving product in my house.

 

[GrimmFu]

Loud noises!!!

 

[dreadpirate]

Saying you don't care for Conk would have been sufficient.

If you know up front what you are getting and it works for you, that's fine. But - I'm not so sure reading the posts here that everyone realizes what they are getting. It pains me to see a new comer asking about Col Conk, just because that's what the vendors often bundle with their products.

 

[dreadpirate]

The big pucks of Conk go for $8. If they last for three months, you are paying less than $3 a month for soap. I think we can all justify that lavish expense

I thought this thread may be an attempt at drawing a realistic comparison on per shave costs with a cheap Conk puck vs a more expensive triple milled puck of soap. It ended up just being a directionless rant.

Did you even try a Conk soap or were you too embarrassed about the name? I am more concerned with performance than the name of a product. I couldn't care less what people think when they see a shaving product in my house.

Yes; Col Conk came bundled with my razor holder and bowl when I bought it way back when I started DE shaving. In my (perhaps not so) humble opinion, Col Conk is not the best soap for a newbie. I would like to see everyone at least informed about the difference between a Col Conk and other non-glycerin soaps.

I do have a bit of an attitude when it comes to vendors bundling Col Conk with their products (and you have no choice), especially now that I know better.

SO can you can really tell me that Col Conk is a better low cost soap than say e.g., Arko? I don't think so.

 

[barsuk]

Actually, the Conk soaps are great for newbies. Easy to lather, good protection, slick, cheap. There are a lot of soaps that are better but there are also a lot of soaps that are worse. If my first soap was Arko, I'd quit that hobby on the same day I opened it. YMMV, but you provide nothing that justifies your rant. We all get that you hate the Conk!

 

[SuperChris]

I'll be glad to tell you why I made this thread; I don't think everyone realizes the difference between a glycerin based soap and a triple-milled. At least know up front you are buying soap that is not going to last.

I have no problem getting a nice lather out of Conk, or any of the other melt and pours (VdH, Honeybee, Mamabears, etc.) for that matter. My second soap was a Conk soap and it didn't bother me at all. I think its a great soap for newbies because if they don't like it, they are only out about $3. But as with everything YMMV. Conk isn't glycerin based though, I don't know of any soap that is.

 

[oscar11]

Between the two of them, I'd rather shave with Conk, Arko bothers my face.

 

[dreadpirate]

Actually, the Conk soaps are great for newbies. Easy to lather, good protection, slick, cheap. There are a lot of soaps that are better but there are also a lot of soaps that are worse. If my first soap was Arko, I'd quit that hobby on the same day I opened it. YMMV, but you provide nothing that justifies your rant. We all get that you hate the Conk!

As for this being a rant; guilty as charged!

The non-rant version:

1. Col Conk is often forced upon newbies often when they buy accessories; I was one of these. I think this is unfortunate.
2. I will grant you that a glycerin soap is easy to lather; but a newbie should also understand there are lots of VERY different soaps out there, When I tried my first triple-milled, it was such a stark contrast to the glycerin-based soap. Ease of lather does not always equate to a good shave.
3. A glycerin soap does not last. If you know that up front and have made an informed decision to buy it anyways, then that's fine. I am not confident that everyone (esp. a newbie) knows the difference.

 

[inspiringK]

Yes; Col Conk came bundled with my razor holder and bowl when I bought it way back when I started DE shaving. In my (perhaps not so) humble opinion, Col Conk is not the best soap for a newbie. I would like to see everyone at least informed about the difference between a Col Conk and other non-glycerin soaps.

I do have a bit of an attitude when it comes to vendors bundling Col Conk with their products (and you have no choice), especially now that I know better.

SO can you can really tell me that Col Conk is a better low cost soap than say e.g., Arko? I don't think so.

I disagree, I actually think Conk is a great choice for newbies. At the least, it is much less polarizing than Arko. I get that you are trying to inform newbies about the differences between glycerin soaps and other soaps, but you have to recognize that you haven't actually done that, just ranted about not liking Conk. Were there elements of performance that you felt Conk lacked in or that you feel glycerin soaps in general lack in? Or, is it just that these soaps are used more quickly than a triple milled soap?

One thing that comes up often, is that the lime version of the Conk line is really poorly regarded. Is your experience with Conk limited to the Lime? Certainly Conk may not be the best soap in the wet shaving world, but I don't typically think of it as offensively bad either. I still keep a puck around the house and plan on replacing this one when it is done too.

Actually, the Conk soaps are great for newbies. Easy to lather, good protection, slick, cheap. There are a lot of soaps that are better but there are also a lot of soaps that are worse. If my first soap was Arko, I'd quit that hobby on the same day I opened it. YMMV, but you provide nothing that justifies your rant. We all get that you hate the Conk!

+1

 

[dreadpirate]

Off topic, but I think this is a great signature:

Razors don't shave people. People shave people!

 

[Xilbus]

my 1st shaving soap that I got was derby cream tubes. Right now im solely shaving with a big puck of col conk bay rum and its going to last me way more then 3 months , I shave 3 to 4 times a week and id get the col conk before getting derby soap again. But i wont be getting any col conk soaps any more. Theres too much out there that i want to try.

 

[dreadpirate]

In response to:

"Were there elements of performance that you felt Conk lacked in or that you feel glycerin soaps in general lack in? Or, is it just that these soaps are used more quickly than a triple milled soap? "

I would say the triple-milled produces a more substantial lather, and better protection against irritation. I don't think ease of lather is as important as how well the soap guards against irritation.

Besides triple-milled being (to me) a better soap all round, my other objections against Col Conk;
1. I personally don't think Col Conk should be the default soap, forced upon with no alternative, as the bundled soap with accessories. This is often the first soap a newbie will use.
2. I am not so sure a newbie gets the same protection with a glycerin soap, and I would argue becomes discouraged due to burns and weepers on their first shave.

As far as being Col Conk inexpensive (realizing that cost may be really not an issue if you buy e.g. a $30 puck of Penhaligons), you will definitely not get the same longevity out of a glycerin based soap when compared to other soaps. For me, it was a four to one comparison. I could see someone (again a newbie) thinking "gee, this is really cheap, let me try it".