New guy from Detroit. Friend was dispensing with a perfectly fine Merkur 178 that I scooped up. After cleaning it up, I headed to the local Meijer (Wal-Mart-like superstore for you non Mid-Westerners) and found a cheap Burma Shave boar bristle and an even cheaper puck of Williams. And herein lies my frustration. I've gathered from reading these boards that Williams has its fair share of detractors and loyal followers. Many claim that Williams dries out on their face and isn't all that slick. Other say it just takes a little extra brush work. I am having the same problems re drying out on the face. I read some of the advice provided here and filled my mug (with the soap in the bottom) with piping hot water and then let it and my brush bathe in a basin also filled with hot water while I showered. When I got out, I drained the mug, filled the bottom with water, and added a dab or two of shave cream from The Real Shaving Co. as well as ~7 drops of glycerin. I started my brush work, but after about two minutes all I had was a soapy slush not much thicker than water. I dumped this out and continued with the brush. After another 2 minutes or so, I had a pretty thick lather that I applied to my face. Alas, same problem. I got done with 1/2 of my first pass and the rest was dried out and clogging the razor. What am I doing wrong? My local Walgreen's sells VDH Deluxe and I'm definitely going to try a puck of that out tomorrow. However, I really want to make the Williams work; I love the smell and sense of nostalgia. Please help!
Welcome to The Shave Den! A great community of guys and gals that enjoy wet shaving, I hope you enjoy your stay! Williams can be a little tricky, and with your brush being new, that doesn't help either. As cheap as Williams is, I would say keep making practice lathers till you get it down pat, and that will help get the brush broke in. Those Burma Shave boars take a while to break in and soften up. Have you seen this great video by Justin (Etoyoc) on how he lathers Williams? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqucNXP7c8Y Here is another video that shows a different way of lathering with a boar brush. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIsj58fqVjY Finally, if you have not already seen it, have a look at the Shave School Master Stickies List for links to Mantic's video series on wetshaving, and lots of other great info too.
Thanks. I'm thinking I put too much water in the mug after I initially dumped it out. Thus, when I dumped the runny pre-lather, I also got rid of most of the cream and glycerin that I put in. Also, this guy his hand differently than I later my face. Seems to be using the tips of the bristles in a sweeping pattern. Something to consider, I guess.
Well, I tried the guy in the video's method and was able to generate a good lather with the Williams. However, same problem; dried on my face about half way through. Threw the puck of VDH Deluxe I picked up earlier into a mug, hit it with a few drops of glycerin and applied it for my 2nd pass. Didn't have any problems. I hate to do it, but I'm gonna have to retire the Williams to the shower. Feel badly about it as I love the smell and the packaging, but I gots to do what I gots to do. Maybe I'll give it another go in the future. Thanks for the help.
Welcome. Williams is cheap enough that you can always try it again later. Hang in there it is worth it.
I noticed this is a 1305 brush, so a few words of advise: Please don't knock the brush handle hard against the mug. If this brush is being used continuously like this, then sooner or later some cracks or chips will appear. Use a wider container like a bowl or a scuttle or if you want to use a narrow container like that mug, then put your finger closer to the knot covering the wider area of the handle to prevent direct contact with the mug wall.
