MWF problem, please help!

I'm not sure why, but prior to the military moving me up to MO about a year ago, MWF was my go to soap that always worked amazing. After moving here, it stunk (not smell-wise). I don't know if it's a difference in water type or what, but every time I've tried it since moving here (probably around 30 times), I was left with a very raw face and not very close shave. Since that time, I've switched back to my next favorite, Cella... and it performs as great as it did before the move. I'm stumped on this. I've tried so many things to get the MWF to work for me again... it drives me nuts that I can't use it anymore!

I've tried hot water, cold water, medium(?) water, bowl lathering (with and without glycerin, and even uber'ing), face lathering...

Any ideas on what could be going on or what I could be doing wrong?

Pick up a gallon of distilled water at the PX.
If you need warm/hot you can microwave or tea kettle a portion of it...(it works cool/cold/room temp if you dare...come on over to the cold side..)
Not sure about the rest of your system, but I put some water in the container before I shower when I also soak my brush.
Save that soaking water for your build up liquid (you won't need all of it probably)
Since you have used MWF with success in the past this is probably a water quality issue.
I don't have any info on MWF tallow going bad/rancid - others may chime in.

And than you for your service...

Tuesday is "Fat Tuesday" so you need to work this out soon..

Smooth shaving...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MJC

Pick up a gallon of distilled water at the PX.
If you need warm/hot you can microwave or tea kettle a portion of it...(it works cool/cold/room temp if you dare...come on over to the cold side..)
Not sure about the rest of your system, but I put some water in the container before I shower when I also soak my brush.
Save that soaking water for your build up liquid (you won't need all of it probably)
Since you have used MWF with success in the past this is probably a water quality issue.
I don't have any info on MWF tallow going bad/rancid - others may chime in.

And than you for your service...

Tuesday is "Fat Tuesday" so you need to work this out soon..

Smooth shaving...

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Dang, I never thought of trying distilled water! I have some that I use for my neti-pot (bad allergies since I moved up here). I'll have to give it a shot tomorrow. My routing sounds identical to yours... have everything soak and get ready while showering. It works perfectly to have everything how I want it when I'm done and can jump into the shave to finish everything off.

Hopefully the distilled water idea works. I miss my MWF!

And thank you for the "thanks for the service". These past several years, we really don't hear it as often as we used to, not nearly as much as the late 90's-early 00's. Always gives me a few goose bumps hearing it.

So did that help?

I used MWF on Tuesday (MWFAT Tuesday) and I have to admit I was out of practice and the results were "meh" at first.

Let us know how it went...

I shaved with MWF yesterday.... still my favorite... skin feels so smooth and lush afterwards

I tried out the distilled water after it was suggested... but still no luck. Just to be sure, I tried it again today and still no dice. I'm wondering if the soap went bad or something. Just so strange that I used to get unbelievable shaves with it, and now they're so rough.

If it still smells like you remember - it has not gone bad yet.
But it may be very dry.
Do you face or bowl/scuttle lather?
Before you pitch it, float a tablespoon or two of distilled water on the puck in the container and set it aside for a day. That may re-hydrate the puck. (Cover the top of the puck with water)

Plan B - I grate my MWF and pack it in layers in to the container, tamping each layer down. You will get small shavings the first two times you lather, then that stops. It seems to make loading easier/faster/better.

Are you able to load the brush? (When in doubt - more product is a place to start)

Very sorry that this is not working - hang in there.

The whole "grate the puck into a bowl" trick can work nicely. Also MWF is unbelievably sensitive to water conditions so llet us know how the distilled water worlds.

And thank you for your service.

People don't feel it any less then back then, they just got out of the habit of saying it, I think.

Not sure whether this helps. but it is worth a try.
I work as an airline pilot and noticed that after long-haul flights my skin is dried out and needs extra prepping (moisturizing) time if I want to get a comfortable shave.

I don't change my method (glycerin soap or face wash, and a washcloth) but give the water water extra time to soak into my skin.

If you are based at a high elevation/low humidity location, allowing additional time for hot water to soften your skin might improve your situation.


Good luck....


B

Very strange. I've used MWF for many years from coast to coast and have never had a problem making a rich, thick lather. I've also never had a puck go bad. Something I started doing several years ago, like the poster above, is grate the puck into fine shavings and repack it. I also always use just warm water right out of the faucet.

Good luck with solving your problem and as others have said, thanks for your service.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wxman2000

I tried out the distilled water after it was suggested... but still no luck. Just to be sure, I tried it again today and still no dice. I'm wondering if the soap went bad or something. Just so strange that I used to get unbelievable shaves with it, and now they're so rough.

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No MWF expert but I have used it successfully for a bit.

Could you tell us what the "not working" trait is?
Too thin, drys out, lather collapses?
Can you get the brush to load?
If you can, what happens next?

If you had not had success before this would be (relatively) easy - we would tell you practice and use more water.
But you have done this before, so we are vexed...
Keep us posted...please...