First experience with New Williams

[Dugz]

I was scouting a local supermarket for DE blades and spotted a sole lone box of Williams for about a buck. Needless to say I snagged it up just on principle.

Today I decided to mess with it. I grated it up and pressed it into a small rubbermaid container and took it up for a test run.

I used a badger brush, and loaded up my brush pretty well, about a minute I would guess. I had read that Williams needs a lot of water, so I put about a tablespoon of hot water in my lathering bowl and went to it. At first it looked like soapy dish water, but lo and behold pretty soon it began turning to foamy lather! It looked a little weak, so I hit the puck again for a little bit and returned to lathering and soon I had a *lot* of pretty decent lather. It seemed a bit light but felt slick enough, so I called it done and got to shaving.

Overall, a DFS! No nicks or irritation, and very smooth. I would say that Williams seems perfectly usable to me. I can't compare it to any high end soaps, but it did the job without any problems. Apparently the lots of water trick is the key to getting a good shave from this soap. I had plenty of extra lather after 3 passes and some touch-ups.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's my new favorite, but I'm pleased that I got it to lather up nicely and got a good shave with it.

 

[tjg5181]

I too recently bought a puck of Williams. I plopped it at the bottom of a Jim Beam coffee mug (just out of principle) and "soaked" it in hot water for about a minute. I then emptied the water from the mug and used a boar brush to soak up some of the soap. Transferred that to my mixing dish and we had lift off! Same results as you at first, thin soapy shine, then after a good work out, I was able to produce a nice bowl full of thick lather. I'm not sure if my badger is ready for this, I think the thinner/softer hair will not create the same results I made with the boar, but I'm sure I'll get experimental and give it a go.... I tend to only use the badger for creams...

 

[celestino]

Congratulations and continued success with it.

 

[Disburden]

I found I can make very thick lather with williams when I use more water than other soaps...a LOT more. I posted pics in other threads of williams. Its got the best slip of any other soap imo.

 

[El Generico]

Dugz, glad you posted this. I recently picked up a puck of new Williams for $1.19 and will be trying it tonight. I don't expect it to be up to par with Mike's, but for a buck I don't have high expectations.

 

[El Generico]

The only thing that I noticed after using Williams for the first time is that it didn't leave my skin feeling moisturized like Mike's or TOBS does. I think Dugz summed it up best, it did the job without any problems.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Welcome to the 50% that can use it.

 

[mharris127]

Does grating really make that much of a difference? I have tried Williams a couple of times, the OP is right on the water issue -- I only had good lather with it if I soaked the puck in water for 12 hours first before lathering up. I did find Williams makes a silky smooth hand soap, however.

 

[OldSaw]

Welcome to the 50% that can use it.

Anyone can use it. 100% could easily use it if they wanted to, but what's the point? It's just a cheap $1 soap, nothing more.

Williams:

Sells for
Under a buck
Can you shave with it?
Know for sure,
Start now.