Thread: Still struggling with MWF by itself!

kevinred,

Indeed

Adding the small pea sized dollop of cream compensates for the difficulties that a lot of people having loading from the puck - it will allow them to make a decent lather, so they can at least shave

Milling the puck makes it much easier to load the brush with enough soap.

I found all this out when I tried MWF some years ago; personally, I don't rate MWF as a superior soap; for me it is very average.

Others, like many other things in shaving, find it an excellent soap, and good for them

As other posters have said, if it doesn't work for you, give it away or bin it.

For me, all this experimentation in straight razor shaving is it's greatest attraction

Life would be a bit boring if everybody liked the same thing and did everything the same way !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

I just had my first shave with MWF.

First, we have softened water.
Second, I used a DE (Gillette Adjustamatic on 4 with a Personna SS) instead of a SR.
Third, I was impressed.

The lather seemed to be whiter than most.

I moistened the puck with about 4 drops of water. Did my usual shave prep.

Loaded the brush and had no problems getting a rich lather by face lathering.

The shave was smooth with plenty of glide and cushion. There was almost an abundance of cushion. Almost to the point of not "feeling" the razor.

I shaved the day before with Tabac using the same razor and blade. Is it better than Tabac?

No, but it is on par with Tabac and if not for the extravagant cushion would have been the same quality shave.

Tomorrow I will try MWF with a SR. Irregardless, MWF will be in my rotation.

Now I await my MdC which is somewhere between US Customs and my home. That will be very interesting to evaluate.

Dave

Dear All,
Very interesting to read all the posts on MWF. I have a love-hate relationship with it: I've gotten some really great shaves with it and some really lousy shaves with it. Each time I use it, I think: OK, this is it...one more bad shave and into the shower it goes for bath soap. And each time there is something redeeming about it that prevents expulsion to purgatory.

What works for me is lots and lots of water. Someone said to use a dripping wet brush, and I do, but then add more and more water as I face lather. The amount of water would dilute any other soap but seems to work for MWF and prevents early drying, another common problem with it.

Even on its best days, it is no better than Cella or Tabac, my other 2 favorite soaps, and seems to take more work to do it. Still, I like the variety and the ceramic bowl it comes in is very attractive....if I had another use for the bowl, I'd probably trash the soap.

The bottom line: all this fuss makes a chore into an adventure. Wish I'd gotten into it earlier.

Best, Alan

BTW: Does anyone know where NYC water is on the hard-soft scale? Thanks

Originally Posted by Tack

I'm one of those mystified by those who have trouble lathering MWF. I have moderately hard water yet it is among the easiest to lather for me and does not have a narrow "sweet spot" with respect to water content as some soaps do.

Attachment 155193

That's a Vulfix 2234, not a big brush at all and not the best for working in a mug.

^What this man says^

I too am in a horrendously hard water area, and I use a Vulfix 404 Grosvenor mixed badger and boar brush just for Mitchells. Its a cheap brush, but almost purpose built for face lathering with Mitchells.

I fill the Mitchells ceramic dish with hot water so that the puck is submerged, and soak the brush too - whilst I shower. I then tip the water out of the dish (my puck is always stuck to the inside of the dish, so never moves!), squeeze the water out of the brush so its only damp, then load the brush up vigorously on top of the puck. Gather up any excess lather that is trying to escape around the edges of the dish, then face lather, stopping only to dip the brush in hot water periodically - then back to the face and so on.

I love Mitchells!

Originally Posted by cigar460

Dear All,
Very interesting to read all the posts on MWF. I have a love-hate relationship with it: I've gotten some really great shaves with it and some really lousy shaves with it. Each time I use it, I think: OK, this is it...one more bad shave and into the shower it goes for bath soap. And each time there is something redeeming about it that prevents expulsion to purgatory.

What works for me is lots and lots of water. Someone said to use a dripping wet brush, and I do, but then add more and more water as I face lather. The amount of water would dilute any other soap but seems to work for MWF and prevents early drying, another common problem with it.

Even on its best days, it is no better than Cella or Tabac, my other 2 favorite soaps, and seems to take more work to do it. Still, I like the variety and the ceramic bowl it comes in is very attractive....if I had another use for the bowl, I'd probably trash the soap.

The bottom line: all this fuss makes a chore into an adventure. Wish I'd gotten into it earlier.

Best, Alan

BTW: Does anyone know where NYC water is on the hard-soft scale? Thanks

Here's what I do with all of my hard soaps, all of which I grate into small pyrex bowls that are 3.5" wide. I load my overly wet brush until I have very thick suds, then squeeze it all out into my lather bowl. I can both feel and see how much water is in it, and can guess how much more it needs. I then dip the tips of my brush into water, then mix it in with the thick (aka dry) lather in the bowl. Repeat until you've got it just right. A good way to get to know a soap or cream, is to hand lather with it.

Originally Posted by cigar460

if I had another use for the bowl, I'd probably trash the soap.

I have pressed a stick of Arko into mine. Very attractive and now its my favourite quality soap container and it now holds my favourite shaving soap...lol

On Day 2 with MWF I did everything the same as the day before except use a SR.

With the SR I did not have the overabundance of cushion and I got a great shave.


I will continue to use this soap.

Tomorrow, MdC. Life is good.

Dave

Honestly, I think that when we talk about MWF lathering on these threads, we have serious problem in defining "hard water". Not all "hard water" is the same. I cannot wait to try Anthony1954 citric acid trick, because nothing else worked for me and MWF.
Cheers

Originally Posted by milant

Honestly, I think that when we talk about MWF lathering on these threads, we have serious problem in defining "hard water". Not all "hard water" is the same. I cannot wait to try Anthony1954 citric acid trick, because nothing else worked for me and MWF.
Cheers

Let me know how you get on. This works really well for me and is now part of my shaving routine each morning whichever soap/cream I'm using that day

Citric acid worked for me. I also get a better lather using distilled water. Shaved with MWF this morning and it worked great.