After my last post, I tried adding a little hot water directly to the williams, and also added a touch of mineral oil (had heard that helps create a better lather) and ended up with my face all cut up. Actually drew blood for the first time. I think that was because of a dull blade (haven't gotten it honed yet), though I did change a large portion of the routine that day (also might have been distracted... can't really remember though). Course, now the mineral oil is stuck in the brush, so I don't need to add any more (lol) and found that having the brush like that seems to help get a better lather, also, I tried shaking the last of the water out of the brush before mixing it with the shave soap. It created a thiner layer of a thicker lather (if that makes any sense).