Williams help

[Steve G]

Ok fellows, Williams was the first soap I tried, I got iffy results and moved on. Due to price and constant controversy on B&B I decided to buy a new puck and try it again (new puck needed due to science experiment with Godrej menthol and double boiler)
I seem to have an interesting situation: I can't seem to get terrible results no matter what I try.

I've tried soaking the puck in the mug with and without the brush, dry brush wet soap and combinations in between. This morning I face lathered with quick and excellent results.

I really lile the scent and how soft my skin feels after using Williams, I however could use some help in choosing further lathering techniques. Gentlemen, I would appreciate votes on options but not limited to: milling puck into a bowl, using as a shave stick, creating a proper shave stick from it, etc.

I'm open to suggestions of course and do thoroughly apologize to those who have come in looking for an open invite for Williams bashing, the title was meant to draw you into positive Williams testimonial from newbie. GOT YA!!

Thanks guys,
Steve

 

[Dewaine]

I mill all my soaps into bowls. This increases the surface area for loading the brush, and just makes them easier to use.

I have Williams, VDH, Arko Shave Stick, and Euro Palmolive in bowls. I even smashed my Omega soap into another bigger bowl.

 

[TheVez2]

Much like Lilac Vegetal, I think some are just 'chosen' by Williams. I get good results from it. I just lather straight off the puck. My only experiment was to mill Williams and VDH into the same mug and mix well. That combo works very well.

... and do thoroughly apologize to those who have come in looking for an open invite for Williams bashing, the title was meant to draw you into positive Williams testimonial from newbie. GOT YA!!

You don't think that is going to stop them, do you?

 

[Seraphim]

Apart from all the negativity, Williams really is a fantastic soap.

Modern cartridge razors are a remarkable engineering feat, they are really great too.

And for those who prefer immediate gratification, you really can't beat the convienience of goo in a can, I mean really, just press a button, and you get lathery goodness. Fantastic! Another terrific option.

And let's not forget electric razors. These also are great. Why limit yourself to 3 passes? At 1,000 cycles a second, you'll be BBS in no time.

When you come right down to it there really aren't any shaving products that are less than great.

Really.

 

[Luc]

This should help: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=2141228

 

[pelicano]

Except for soaking the puck and face lathering, there's nothing much I could add. Are you using a boar or badger brush?
Boar tends to work much better. It's all I use for soaps now.

BTW, cheers from a recent Miamian. Did you go to Art Basel last week?

 

[djh]

A Williams technique that you might not yet have seen........

• Place equal amounts of Williams Shave Soap and brown rice in a plastic bag

• Discard bag

• Lather puck of MWF and shave like a King

• Apply AS and Cologne

• Have a great day

 

[Seraphim]

A Williams technique that you might not yet have seen........

• Place equal amounts of Williams Shave Soap and brown rice in a plastic bag

• Discard bag

• Lather puck of MWF and shave like a King

• Apply AS and Cologne

• Have a great day

Can a paper bag be used instead?

 

[djh]

Can a paper bag be used instead?

Hehe..... I guess that if the soap puck is dry........

 

[mharris127]

I have to agree with the OP so far, but I am only one shave into a Williams puck. It was marked down to 99 cents, so it may be NOS -- it has sodium tallowate as the second ingredient. There are also Aqua Velva ads written on the flap of the top. I will have to search for the thread discussing vintage vs. modern ingredients later.

The smell is something like commercial cleaning solution, but with proper soaking in mug of water and then dumping most of the water off after a three minute soak and lathering with a moist brush (adding about a teaspoon of water while lathering), it lathers quite well. My face was great and the neck was OK other than the center lower neck area (which I know I shouldn't be shaving anyway -- too low for hair) had weepers. My face and chin were BBS, actually. I will try again later and see if this trend continues.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

I have to agree with the OP so far, but I am only one shave into a Williams puck. It was marked down to 99 cents, so it may be NOS -- it has sodium tallowate as the second ingredient.

That's the current formula,not NOS. The vintage Williams has tallow as the first ingredient or in the case of the really old packages there is no ingredient list.

 

[Steve G]

H

A Williams technique that you might not yet have seen........

• Place equal amounts of Williams Shave Soap and brown rice in a plastic bag

• Discard bag

• Lather puck of MWF and shave like a King

• Apply AS and Cologne

• Have a great day

That sir, was a good one. Unfortunately, the combination of Williams and dry rice would most likely over-dry the bag the contents would litter your palacial marble floors.

As far as the brush... I don't know I bought it for like 2$ at a local pharmacy... Made in Brazil "natural and synthetic materials" was pretty much all I could decipher on the packaging but it works well for me, holds water well enough for me and feels nice on the face. Brand name is Condor its only lost 2 or 3 bristles in past few months. I'm not ready to open the brush AD can of worms quite yet.

 

[Topgumby]

It's OK. Not everyone can lather Williams, and assuming that you don't make the mistake of becoming bitter about it, you can live a full life in spite of this rather minor setback.

It may keep you out of certain clubs, however.

 

[Seraphim]

It's OK. Not everyone can lather Williams, and assuming that you don't make the mistake of becoming bitter about it, you can live a full life in spite of this rather minor setback.

It may keep you out of certain clubs, however.

Whaaaaat?:

I said it was fantastic, didn't I? And I dare anyone to convince me otherwise.

 

[djh]

H

That sir, was a good one. Unfortunately, the combination of Williams and dry rice would most likely over-dry the bag the contents would litter your palacial marble floors.


I'm not ready to open the brush AD can of worms quite yet.

Thanks, but as far as marble floors are concerned..... not really in my postcode.
I am just a normal guy stuck in the middle of Europe but I do have a quality shave den (by virtue of it consisting of products that work and not necessarily products that are expensive). Honestly, I have never tried Williams shave soap- I don't feel the need as there are enough fantastic things here to use without chasing up something from across the globe that receives very mixed reviews.
One of the great quotes that I have read on B+B was along the lines of "Life is too short for poor shave soap"

SBAD is a difficult can of worms, indeed!

 

[pelicano]

It's OK. Not everyone can lather Williams, and assuming that you don't make the mistake of becoming bitter about it, you can live a full life in spite of this rather minor setback.

It may keep you out of certain clubs, however.

 

[talibeard]

It's OK. Not everyone can lather Williams, and assuming that you don't make the mistake of becoming bitter about it, you can live a full life in spite of this rather minor setback.

It may keep you out of certain clubs, however.

Well said!

Enjoying Williams might expand your life as well, leaving the bitterness for others to bear..

 

[shavervinnie]

The best help I can offer for Williams is to use VDH instead

 

[Dewaine]

Having been on this forum for well over a year now, and brush/DE shaving for at least that long, and looking back, the only advice I can offer is to judge nothing finally until you have tried it yourself.

For me, buying, holding, smelling, and using new Williams is one of the more enjoyable experiences in shaving.

Take that for what it is worth to you.

 

[BrianL]

I just swirl the brush on top of the puck and face lather.