First Williams shave

[HoosierTrooper]

And I gotta say I love it! Soaked it in hot water while my brush was soaking, gently shook out the excess water and loaded for about 20 seconds. Made enough lather for two passes on my face with the Gillette New loaded with an Astra blade, and one ATG pass on my head with the M5. Still had plenty lather leftover. Smells fine to me and I like the way my skin feels about an hour later.

I do have extremely soft water, thanks to the Culligan water softener and reverse osmosis system which I'm sure helps in making good lather.

As a side note, the Gillette New is one outstanding razor. The one I have I picked up for $9 dollars and it was pretty much black with corrosion. Once it was cleaned up I found that almost all of the gold is gone. I'm going to start checking with a couple jewelry stores to see about getting it replated.

 

[tg16]

And I gotta say I love it! Soaked it in hot water while my brush was soaking, gently shook out the excess water and loaded for about 20 seconds. Made enough lather for two passes on my face with the Gillette New loaded with an Astra blade, and one ATG pass on my head with the M5. Still had plenty lather leftover. Smells fine to me and I like the way my skin feels about an hour later.

I do have extremely soft water, thanks to the Culligan water softener and reverse osmosis system which I'm sure helps in making good lather.

As a side note, the Gillette New is one outstanding razor. The one I have I picked up for $9 dollars and it was pretty much black with corrosion. Once it was cleaned up I found that almost all of the gold is gone. I'm going to start checking with a couple jewelry stores to see about getting it replated.

When I used a DE, the Gillette New was my favorite. In fact my rotation consisted of a New and a 47 SS.

 

[Saltchuck]

I used a Gillette Long Comb New and Williams just yesterday. Great combination!

 

[Moe]

I do have extremely soft water, thanks to the Culligan water softener and reverse osmosis system which I'm sure helps in making good lather.

From what I'm seeing and reading, water quality makes a difference. We have very hard water (you don't dare wash a vehicle with it), but indoors it's very soft, thanks to the softener. Williams Mug soap works wonderfully, and Van Der Hagen Deluxe, the most-oft recommended beginner soap, is so slick I have to concentrate to hang onto the Merkur handle with its excellent knurling. With our soft water, it's like VDH has kerosene, lamp oil, diesel fuel, or home heating oil in it, for those old enough to know how slippery those are.

 

[Deltaboy]

We have soft water but my parents water is so soft it takes a 1/2 hour to wash the shampoo out of my hair if I use the same amount I use at home.

I am going to try the Williams at my folks next time I visit.

 

[redwing]

williams: grated into a bowl, but i add aqua velva blue to it as i go, with a couple drops of glycerine;

nice combo

 

[A_Jameson]

I bought some williams as soon as I started DE shaving and haven't started using it yet. I keep telling myself it's because I'm working on my technique. If it's as good as you guys say, I'll pull it out for a spin tomor...some time next week!

 

[luvmysuper]

And I gotta say I love it! Soaked it in hot water while my brush was soaking, gently shook out the excess water and loaded for about 20 seconds. Made enough lather for two passes on my face with the Gillette New loaded with an Astra blade, and one ATG pass on my head with the M5. Still had plenty lather leftover. Smells fine to me and I like the way my skin feels about an hour later.

Try it with a cool to lukewarm water soak instead of hot, it works just as well and you don't leach out as much of the lathery goodness. Makes it last and lather longer.

 

[Zepher]

Great lather, but not awesome.

The scent is why I don't use it...not my fav.

 

[RBE17]

Are you guys soaking the whole puck or just putting water on the top of it?

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Try it with a cool to lukewarm water soak instead of hot, it works just as well and you don't leach out as much of the lathery goodness. Makes it last and lather longer.

Thanks. I only soaked it the first time. After that I just used a wet brush.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

Are you guys soaking the whole puck or just putting water on the top of it?

I just soaked it the first time. After that I've just used a wet brush on the dry puck. It only takes me 20 seconds or so to get enough on the brush to build plenty of lather.

 

[JCD]

I use very hot water, dip the brush in and let the excess run onto the puck for a couple sec. Shake out the brush and use a hot towel for a min or so, pour the water off the puck into the bowl, load up the brush and make great lather adding small amounts of water as needed. I haven't noticed a change in the puck by using hot water but I'm not at the very end yet.

 

[RBE17]

Thanks for the info. I've been wanting to try my Williams for awhile, but it's been sitting in shaveden storage under the vanity top. Maybe tonight.

 

[DougK]

I've been using Williams so much lately that I had a hard time making a good lather with CADE. My muscle memory was all messed up and I had to start over a couple of times because I just couldn't get the mix right. What a strange problem to have.

 

[sandmountainslim]

I shaved with some 1970's vintage Williams today.....we shall just SEE if it is as horrible as it's modern counterpart





Vintage Williams Test Setup

1970's Vintage Williams Soap
Bull Mastiff Old Type
Red Pack Personna
Dollar General WH
Avon Tribute AS circa 1970



I was surprised! Unlike modern Williams the old stuff lathered with little problem and did NOT dry on my face!
The bugspray scent was still there but nowhere near as strong as a new puck so it wasn't as annoying.

Not in the same league with Van der Spice but I can see why it would have sold as a useable soap thirty years ago.
Wp