Thread: William's Mug Soap Again

I decided to give the williams mug soap a try again today and I noticed something that bugs me.

The first pass wasn't TOO bad. I was able to shave a little over half my face before reapplying the lather. I had to relather the chin and lip a 2nd time.

The 2nd pass was AWEFUL. It seems that once I've gotten the big burrs of whiskers off the moisture in the soap EVAPORATES much FASTER. I got about 3 strokes against the grain and had to relather. I relathered about 7 times during the 2nd pass. That's plain crazy.

I know I'm "hot" . but I'm not so hot that I'm causing the moisture on my face to evaporate that fast .

My guess is something in the soap is acting as an evaporating agent similar to rubbing alcohol.

Anyone else experience this with Williams? I'm still looking for a local store that has Arko so I can try it.

I can't wait for my soaps to finish curing. I'm ready for a nice soap

Williams just seems to take a *lot* of water for me, maybe half again as much as a normal lye soap. I have trouble getting a wet enough lather from williams unless I lather in a separate bowl where I can control the mix better.

I've got a batch of lye soap curing as well, that I made up in early may. It should be ready by now, maybe I'll test it this weekend.

FUD, maybe you're just more careful on the 2nd+ passes, and thus, it takes longer.
btw, I currently make the lather more watery for each subsequent pass. On the last pass it is almost like soapy water (well, not quite )
Getting some good results this way.

Redwoood

FUD,

For some reason the Williams works great for me.
I use to use it exclusively back in the days when
I shaved with the Gillette multi blades.


Terry

Yeah, but the cartridge razors shave much more quickly, so the soap doesn't get much of a chance to dry out. It does work well, though...

Originally Posted by mparker762

Yeah, but the cartridge razors shave much more quickly, so the soap doesn't get much of a chance to dry out. It does work well, though...

No doubt the cartride shave is quicker. But it still does
just fine even with a straight. I use it every couple of
weeks just to remind myself that if I ever get destitute
I could fall back on it. But damn I would miss the Taylor's
cream and Tabac soap.


Terry

Believe it or not, I actually shave faster going against the grain than I do going with the grain. Don't ask me why it just seems to go quicker on the 2nd pass. I pay careful attention both passes. Maybe I got a bad puck. Who knows.

Glen F

Originally Posted by FUD

Believe it or not, I actually shave faster going against the grain than I do going with the grain. Don't ask me why it just seems to go quicker on the 2nd pass. I pay careful attention both passes. Maybe I got a bad puck. Who knows.

Glen F

Glen,

Definately avoid Colgate soap. I could get ok shaves
but it definately would dry out during the pass.

Hope that you have good luck with your shaving soap.


Terry

I used the williams until I convinced myself to spring the $$$ for the english soaps. Don't use it daily anymore, but I've got a puck in a little aluminum tin that I take on trips.

I took a two day road trip to Kings Island in Ohio
last week. I took along my DE and a tube of
Palmolive lather cream. This stuff is nice.

Another trip to the norther part of the state (WV)
back in the spring I took Proraso soap. The plastic
tub it comes in is great for travel.


Terry