Dirty Little Alum

[ono]

As I couldn't find a forum about alum I figured this might be the place.

I recently purchased my first alum block from an ebay vendor ( I think he probably gets them off a turkish cornershop on demand, as the photo didn't match), I thought I'd save a couple of quid from buying osma block.
What I received is an alum block which looks pretty much normal but it has bits of dark swirls embeded within, they look like dirt trapped when It was crystalizing (??).
Has anyone experienced this? is it normal? outrageous? bad batch? I can post a picture If this sounds weird.
Thanks.

 

[mftoms59]

I use the Alum from BestShave; http://shop.bestshave.net/alum-block-70-gr-green-pack-p-34.html and it has some flecks of Black. It hasn't affected the performance of the Alum and I don't notice any difference in the feel on my face, my block had lasted ~10 months. I purchased another from Appleton Barber Supply, no specks I can see, and it performs like my previous Block.

 

[EL Alamein]

All I can say is that I will be watching this for a reply from someone with different alum experiences. My block which is nigh a decade old came from the Gentlemen's Shop in England and it the Block Osma brand. It looks like a rectangular block of ice with no contamination (no black swirls or spots etc just completely clean looking but cloudy like clean ice cubes for a cocktail et al). It works perfectly for staunching a minor bleeder or weeper spot. I use it so infrequently I'll probably be buried with it.

Still curious if what you have performs the same, though.

Chris

 

[YoungerThanMyRazor]

I use the alum stick by RazoRock and it has no black swirls.

 

[nrv216]

Mine was purchased from AoS and has a few black spots in it. I do not know what they are or if they affect anything as this is my first alum block. It has been working fine for me for several months and even survived a fall with only a small chip. Its a beast.

nrv216

 

[Gam]

I've been using Monster Block Alum everyday,it's as clear as a ice cube maybe even clearer.

 

[Triad]

I use the alum stick by RazoRock and it has no black swirls.

+1 clear

 

[mmack66]

I buy the cheap ones at the Indian grocer and they have the dark swirls and such. I also have an expensive one I got at eShave, and it looks a lot nicer. Each of them works as well as the other.

I would say that the "dirty" looking ones are a more naturally sourced product and the nicer looking ones are cultured.

 

[jkingrph]

It is a natural mineral block, cut from solid deposits. No telling what the dark spots are, but certainly natural.

 

[jesseix]

Mine has a small spot with some shading like you mentioned, but it's not on the surface level and like others mentioned it hasn't seemed to affect the performance. But if you start seeing a third eye growing in with your stubble you might have some problems ;-)

 

[roklein]

Think of your alum block as having "character".

 

[ono]

Ok nice, I just thought mine had ben contaminated during manufacturing, i.e. the worker had kicked it around the factory floor : )
if swirls are normal, then that;s all good. I'm going for my morning dose of addiction, good shaving!

 

[Hammertime1]

nope, I know the Hero brand(Indian) is like that. I get funny looks as I go through about the 30 of them looking for the nicer ones to buy.

 

[fccexpert]

It is a natural mineral block, cut from solid deposits. No telling what the dark spots are, but certainly natural.

Poison Ivy is natural too, but I wouldn't want to spread it on my face.