Thread: Major update on Mitchell's Wool Fat soap!

Jim, I have to agree with Obie. The first thing I noticed was how long the lather lasts. I've used Williams for years. In fact, I started shaving with it back in dinosaur days. And while I like it, its lather is rather short lived. In addition, the results on your face are worlds away from Williams. I have nothing against Williams -- I still have three boxes of pucks -- but I'm now completely sold on MWF. There's just no comparison. It's worth every penny! Frankly, I'd be hard pressed to go to anything else now.

Bruce

You know, when you get on the freeway each morning to go to work and you drive the ten miles or so and get off at the same exit each day and you do that for years and years and you wonder what's down that road if you only kept driving. That's the way it is when you start out with soaps. You begin like we all do with the basic brands and we think they are fine and do what we want and can't imagine something better and then one day we decide to take a ride and we discover new adventures and the same with soaps we discover wow what a difference.

Many just get comfortable with the basics and never realize what is out there and the difference they can make and like that long road they never explore what's out there. It's only when you experience more that you begin to realize.

As far as MWF goes like everyone says it's great stuff. is it the best? No, but it's darn good. I find it takes a bit more water and a few more swirls and it likes soft water too.

Originally Posted by skyguy

... how long the lather lasts. ... Williams...lather is rather short lived. In addition, the results on your face are worlds away from Williams.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

... I find it takes a bit more water and a few more swirls and it likes soft water too.

I have an explorer's heart. I hate GPS devices, and a map is only for dire emergencies. We'll find our way to where we need to go and discover new things along the way. Once I learn a route to someplace to where I know it without really thinking about it, I can't help but try alternates just to see what's there and what might be discovered along a new road.

That said, the rising costs of fuel have hampered my road wanderings, and similar restraints leave me looking over the map of choice routes instead of driving them when it comes to soaps, razors, stones, carburetors, tranny's, etc. The snippets you guys have given (see above) are the kind of info I'm looking for.

In my two-wheel cruising days I was always on the lookout for two-lane black top. I had a nimble bike that was a lot of fun. Some guys liked the straight highways for high speed cruising, others liked twisty switchback hills, others looked for scenery. A guy could tell you he found a great road; maybe the best stretch of highway he'd ever been on...but what did that mean?

It's one thing to say something is great, it's another thing to relate it to something your hearer (or reader in this case) is familiar with...especially since personal experience is such an influential factor in this case. AKA Reviews vs. Reactions

FWIW I have no doubt that MWF is great stuff. Obie doesn't have a hollywood face for nothing! I'm just curious about it's characteristics compared to other products.

Peace,

Originally Posted by BigJim

I have an explorer's heart. I hate GPS devices, and a map is only for dire emergencies. We'll find our way to where we need to go and discover new things along the way. Once I learn a route to someplace to where I know it without really thinking about it, I can't help but try alternates just to see what's there and what might be discovered along a new road.

That said, the rising costs of fuel have hampered my road wanderings, and similar restraints leave me looking over the map of choice routes instead of driving them when it comes to soaps, razors, stones, carburetors, tranny's, etc. The snippets you guys have given (see above) are the kind of info I'm looking for.

In my two-wheel cruising days I was always on the lookout for two-lane black top. I had a nimble bike that was a lot of fun. Some guys liked the straight highways for high speed cruising, others liked twisty switchback hills, others looked for scenery. A guy could tell you he found a great road; maybe the best stretch of highway he'd ever been on...but what did that mean?

It's one thing to say something is great, it's another thing to relate it to something your hearer (or reader in this case) is familiar with...especially since personal experience is such an influential factor in this case. AKA Reviews vs. Reactions

FWIW I have no doubt that MWF is great stuff. Obie doesn't have a hollywood face for nothing! I'm just curious about it's characteristics compared to other products.

Peace,

Very nicely put

Jim, I can't speak for the whole spectrum of shaving soaps on the market, but I believe some of the guys above have commented on some characteristics compared to others. For example, compared to Williams, MWF is thicker, more lubricating and longer lasting. At least that's my take on it. Check back on a few of the earlier comments and at least a couple of other soaps have been mentioned. Hope that helps.

Bruce

I know some guys in Hollywood with Hollywood faces. Lets see there's Frankenstein,the creature from the black lagoon, the hideous sun demon, Freddy Kruger-Har har.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I know some guys in Hollywood with Hollywood faces. Lets see there's Frankenstein,the creature from the black lagoon, the hideous sun demon, Freddy Kruger-Har har.

thebigspendur, my good man, such Hollywood faces. Ah, pish! The Perfect Hollywood face blossoms every morning in my shave den when I splash on a touch of Spanish Leather and belt out, "Oh, sole mio . . ."

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by BigJim

Anyway, I wonder if you guys could relate the qualities of MWF to other common soaps.

For instance, I heard plenty against Williams Mug Soap, but found it's lather comparable to Col Conk's soaps that I've tried and heard plenty of good things about. Meanwhile I've seen VDH soap looked down upon as the "beginner's" soap that gets the job done but is nothing special. IMLE it lathers easier with better lube and cushion than WMS and even Col Conk.

Jim,

If you do end up trying MWF you will never use the words Williams, VDH or Col Conk again! Or perhaps very rarely, if only for nostalgia's sake.....

Sometimes you just have to say life is too short, so go for the good stuff.

I'd been wet shaving for a while and was pretty content with my soaps. I really had no desire to try anything different. Then one day I placed an order and decided to throw in one of those MWF refill pucks for 13 bucks. I'll have to say the hype that it receives is true. Nothing that I've ever used has left me rubbing my face all day feeling how soft it is. This stuff is good. A little finicky on the water ratio to get good lather, and I really think the water ratio changes with the atmospheric pressure and moon phases. On days when I'm having a difficult time getting good lather I just add a dab of cream and have a uber-lather shave.

I always heard how good MWF was and couldn't wait to try it. I finally got some about a year and a half ago. I tried and tried to get the super luxurious lather that every one talked about. I whipped that stuff in my shave bowl, chanted over it, waved incense at it, all to no avail. I could NOT get a decent lather from it at all.

Then,

I saw Joel's video from B&B, where he just face lathers with it. I tried that on a whim, and BAM! Wicked super amazing uber lather. I don't know what the difference is, but for me face lathering with that soap is the dog's danglies. I now love MWF and have a hard time using anything else in the morning these days.

Try it, you will like it.

Cheers,
Sean