I refer the members unfamiliar with this thread to check it out. Thanks again to @GDCarrington. http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/the-vintage-williams-project.45842/ I use this and have had nothing but success.
I picked up a vintage puck of Williams the other day and decided to give it a run this morning. I already had one vintage puck but haven't used it mostly because I only had one (maybe I figured it was worth more "untouched") and it's a bicentennial puck and I don't know if those are extra special or not. Anyhow, the puck I picked up the other day is labeled Cranford NJ with no ingredient list so I knew that it was of the vintage I wanted to try. I have hard water so there are several soaps that either don't work for me or underperform (ie. Trumpers, T&H, Penhaligons, etc.) so I either don't use them or I opt for the same brand but use their creams. After reading several posts regards "how-to's", I put the puck in an Old Spice mug and did my usual. I filled the sink with hot water (floating the mug) and put one of my stiff boar brushes in the water to soak along with a small bottle of pre-shave oil. Then, following advice from other posts, I added just enough water to the mug to cover the soap and left it while I took my shower. End of story; very easy to produce a very nice creamy lather that gave a very nice shave. The only thing I didn't do that's part of my normal routine is add a few drops of glycerin to the puck for extra slickness (which I'll probably do next time; not because it's particularly necessary, but because its simply part of my ritual). Ps. absolutely no scent so I might consider adding some "smelly" to it. My hat is off to vintage Williams.
I will have my Williams shave before work. WOOOOO not vintage though, So did the water there treat it?
Oh man! It's 08:15, just finished up. The water did great. Lather was picture perfect. AV matched up perfect! Mrs Samurai is asleep, I am smoking a pipe on the streets of Westminster!
Gary was my direct mentor. Thanks for sharing that with us! Good info, and glad you've shared success!
Williams's Wednesday not such a great shave not sure what I did wrong here but I'm definitely feeling it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That's what they want you to do anyway,isn't it......finish with Aqua Velva. I'm looking forward to that combination this summer.
You would be correct I went into a face lathering with the brush dryer on the second pass not sure if the damage was already done on pass on or not. Today reminded me how much Alum stung it's been awhile since I've really felt any burn from the Alum. It was the middle of my neck and upper lip that really got it today. Sent from my XT1609 using Tapatalk
I generally don't either the funny thing is I nailed the lather the first time I shaved with Williams so much so that I didn't understand how it caused so many problems. Sent from my XT1609 using Tapatalk
Every body has a bad day. I blow it up at times too. One of my videos has some bad williams in it. Had to relather a few times. Do not let it get to you. You know you can do it because you have. Lot more then a lot of guys can say!!!
I fired off a signature shave for today. 1912 Gem Jr. PAL VDH boar Williams Mug Shave Soap WH Aqua Velva AS I am very happy to see a lot of AV love too. Almost brings a tear to my eye....almost. @Paul Turner get crackin' it is Summer!
