Finally Dialed in Williams Mug

[BigJim]

I finally got it
I have been using Williams Mug off and on since just prior to starting DE shaving, but up until now the lather has not been quite right. Usually I would have to lather areas again in the middle of my shave because my thin bubbly lather would be disappearing. Well, a couple of days ago I decided to try again, this time after loading my brush I face lathered as usual, the lather goes on thick but dry so I add more water. This is usually where things go wrong the lather gets to bubbly and thin. This time I keep working it with my brush, then dip the tips and keep working, it then starts to get better so I dip the tips again. Turns out I have just not been using enough water and have not been working it quite long enough.

I am really happy to finally have success with this soap! I know there are many people who hate this soap, but I actually like it. I mostly like Williams for the lemon fresh scent and it is very slick IMO. The next soap I try I believe is going to be Tabac, but at some point I also want to try MWF, which I have kind of been on the fence about due to so many people that seem to have problems lathering it. Now that I have figured out Williams I am more confident that I should be able to be successful with MWF.

By the way, I know everyone has their own method but what is working for me with Williams is soaking the brush and soap while I shower, then squeezing the brush and giving it a shake. So a fairly dry brush, then loading. I haven't really paid attention to how long I load, just until it looks like I have enough product in the brush. Which is always more than I need for 3 passes, but what the heck, it's cheap!

 

[plywood99]

Welcome to the few, the proud, the William's mug soap shavers.
Simply a great soap when you get it right.

 

[VerbaVolant]

I also started being disappointed and ended liking this soap. It has a subtle fresh scent, goes very slick and stays slick, it lasts a long way for such small puck, it can be stock piled for many years. When I find it on sale a buy several so my stash is quite respectable now.
I like it too, and might take it for a swirl soon.
I bowl lather this soap, since it does need some elbow grease.

 

[plywood99]

Water is the trick for William's, lots of water. I also found it easier to grate the puck into a container and press it down.
Since the puck is small and hard, grating alleviates the need to soak the puck in water.

 

[cpacamper]

I am working my way through a sample of MWF and can attest that, for me, MWF lathers like Williams. So, your Williams skill set will work with MWF and if you like Williams you might very well love MWF.

 

[Scott0079]

I am working my way through a sample of MWF and can attest that, for me, MWF lathers like Williams. So, your Williams skill set will work with MWF and if you like Williams you might very well love MWF.

Exactly, they are technique twins!

 

[Patpug]

I used Williams for the first time yesterday as I bought a few pucks recently in the US ,I was pretty impressed I added a touch more water to it after my first pass and was rewarded with a thick creamy lather.

 

[inspiringK]

None of this counts without a few lather pics

 

[Mister Moo]

Welcome to the few, the proud, the William's mug soap shavers.
Simply a great soap when you get it right.

And so it is. When you dial it in, it's great.

It only took me a few hundred tries over 40-years (and then one more day, post-internet) to get it working.