Soaps

I've been using Col. Conk shaving soap, which seems to work ok, looking to try the Mitchell's Wool Fat soap, haven't heard a bad thing about it yet. The thing I like about the Col. Conk soap, is I can melt it down to fit in my shave bowl. Question, anyone know if you can do the same with the Mitchell's wool Fat, Melt it down in the microwave ? Also, looking for opinions on the Col. Conk soap.

No, don't even try it with MWF soap or you will completely ruin it and stink up your kitchen. MWF is a triple milled soap and as such, aren't meant to me melted. You can grate it up with a cheese grater, but I personally would never do it. I bought it with is classic ceramic dish so I don't have to do anything with it but use it. When you try out the MWF, you'll notice that it is far superior to the cheap glycerin soaps that are out there such as Col Conk.

I think you need to get to know how to use it. Its a good soap, but I've found it can dry out sometimes. Personally I would try out different brushes with the col conk first see how different brushes react to lathering up with it.

A good brush can turn a foamy mess into thick double cream, some soaps like to be irritated by different degrees, depending how much backbone the brush has really is a big factor for me so I try a soap out with all my brushes before deciding if its worthwhile or not.

kind regards
Alex

Buy the MWF with the ceramic dish. It is worth the price as it will last you literally forever! If you do decide to buy the puck, it must be grated into a bowl, not melted.

Do you have hard water? If you do, I would bet that you will be severely disappointed with the MWF. If you have a water softener or naturally soft water, by all means get the MWF as it will be an awesome soap.

You know what they say about opinions right?

There is a whole continuum when it comes to soaps. There are very few really bad soaps out there. Most run the gamut from "does it's job" to being luxurious and fantastic. If you are happy with what you are using and content not to use anything else that's fine. However if you are willing to explore the range out there you will find a whole new world opens up to you but you need a reference to compare or you will always think what you are using is the best.

Any soap that is Glycerin based can be melted down. The milled soaps cannot. Having said that I do know folks who have melted down milled soaps but you can't do it in the microwave you need other means. Maybe someone will chime in on that. Most just grate milled soaps.

+1 grating soap to fit your mug. You could also just grate the edge of the bar until it fits and then press the shavings atop the bar in your mug.

p.s.
Mama Bear will send you an empty tub if you ask her and the MWF refill fits like a glove, no grating required!

i don't see an issue with just using a slightly oversize mug. just wet the bottom of the puck with hot water and smoosh the puck in. let sit and it will tack itself on.

Great tips on the mama bear for the MWF puck! If I had the option of getting MWF (also Kent's) I'd only get the wooden bowl, never the ceramic.

Oh, and TexasRanger: don't forget about the Van der Hagen Deluxe!

Not really that crazy about MWF. I prefer the Proraso. Perhaps I'll try mixing the two. I tried the Proraso tub mixed with TOOBS and it was great!