Check out this thread: http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/the-vintage-williams-project.45842/ I have done this one twice and really enhances my vintage Williams pucks. The second MWF will get used up (eventually I had to titanic my way through puck number one) and the 3rd, Lord willing, I am still around, will get grated and pressed directly into my ceramic bowl. BTW, yes, the cavendish experiment was VERY successful. Excellent results; no ill-effects on my skin.
Thread resurrection! I have a new puck of Mitchell's on the way along with the ceramic dish. My first puck, which has maybe one or two shaves left, was just the refill. I grated it and pressed into a cheap plastic container, which actually worked really well. I am inclined to grate the new puck into the ceramic dish and press to fit. I have never had lathering problems with The Fat. To me you just need to soak it while showering and then load like it owes you money. Beautiful lather every time. So, since we're almost a year away from any posts in this thread does anyone have anything to add? New methods? Grating still work? I thought I remembered @Primotenore trying the soaking method as described here but not being overall pleased with the results.
The ceramic container is pretty nice to look at, but it is very slippery when wet. If I had it to do over again, I would buy the refill and put it in a cheap plastic container. I have to be very careful each time I lather the fat.
The Fat does get slick. My counter space in my bathroom is very minimal so I keep most of my soaps in round Ziploc containers. I am very careful with my ceramic Tabac container, and my Old Spice Mug. Clayton
I didn't use MWF for about two months when I moved, and the puck dried out and shrank. Soaking didn't fully rehydrate it enough to fill the ceramic bowl again, but did make it soft enough to push down into the container. Putty-like consistency. If you have qualms about soaking it, grating and pressing is a perfectly acceptable alternative. In fact, in hindsight, I would recommend grating it unless a person plans on using it at least twice a week to keep the initial hydration procedure 'topped off.'
The reason I wasn't pleased with my soaking results, was that much of the puck leeched out either the lanolin, and/or some other ingredient(s), rendering the soap lackluster and disappointing; truly, it was a different soap. I have worked my way through 3 full pucks of MWF, two of which I have infused with tobacco and I get the most success from grating the puck and pressing it into the dish. I do give the puck a big-long soak whilst showering. I am going to stick with this method.
I want to clarify that my previous post was never meant to show @PLANofMAN any disrespect. I remain a 'Libertarian' shaver and what works for you...works for me.
first time i heard of soaking the puck.haven't soaked so far but got great lathers..i bought a refill and put it in a glass container.hopefully it won't expand and crack it..
The expanded soap is quite soft, similar to italian croaps. I shouldn't think you would have any issues. Regular (daily) use also does this...so it's best to think of this as a "kickstart" method that just condenses a month long process. As for "soaking the puck," it's an extreme version of "blooming" a puck, and the term blooming wasn't around when I started this thread. I personally despise the word, since I don't feel it is an accurate description, and "soaking" is a more accurate, but less colorful definition. Still..."blooming" is a permanent addition to the wet shaver's lexicon. I have to accept it and move on.
Eh, if it the same thing described in the 1st result on google search from the urban dictionary, then count me out!
I just received a fresh puck of the NEW MWF without Tallow. Sunday will be the first use. I have read that the new version should be very easy to lather…easier as as Tallow version, where i never had any problems with…which brings me to my point. Soaking the soap for 24h in the bowl splays the soap completely so the Ceramic Dish is completely filled out. BUT, when the soap has been soaking for an amount of that time, the soap needs to dry out again if you ain ´t use it multiple times a week. This brings me to the „drying time“…for my thinking it would take days to get the soap completely dried out again. Does the soaking do any damage to the soap? Because I think that the soap will shrunk again to the origin size if it looses all the moisture or am I wrong? I never soak my soaps, i only use a damp brush and lather up. At least i put a dew drops on the surface of the soap…we are talking about a soap so no problems, but the soaking process get ´s me confused
I have an unopened puck with tallow. Glad this thread was resurrected. When I get around to using the MWF, I’ll keep this in mind.
This just softens the soap enough to be easily usable and pre-loads it with water. The puck will dry out, it takes a week or two, depending on environment. The puck shrinks a bit, but not down to its original dimensions. It does crack. Adding water once a week or daily use will prevent that. If you don't pre-soak the puck, or 'bloom' it before use, expect large frothy bubbles when you first try to build a lather. Those can be worked down into a good lather, but it's easier just to not have to deal with finicky stuff. A pre-soaked puck and a damp brush will give you good lather. A dry puck, damp brush, and slowly adding water will also give you a good lather, but it's far easier to futz the lather up, decide it's a crappy soap, and join the crowd of folks who can't lather MWF. Hope that makes sense. Edit: A small amount of lanolin and/or glycerine (I assume) does leach out of the soap. I haven't seen where it makes a difference to the lather.
My first two pucks of mwf remained whole in the container. They were just right. Puck number three was grated and pressed - big thanks to @Primotenore for the suggestion. That was just right, too. Puck four is now sitting in an Old Spice mug, whole and ungrated. It too, is just right. Seems it’s my soft NYC water. I bought ten backups of Mitchell’s and Kent when they were discontinued that will outlast me. Long live the Fat!
Thanks, Joseph. It is a tempting scent profile. I’ll keep it in the fun things to do on a rainy day list. First, to search for a supply of terbacky. There used to be tobacconists all over, now there’s hardly any, what with people being all concerned about their health and all. How much did you use for one grated puck? And how long did you maintain the infusion process?
