My best experience with Williams was to grate the puck, pack it loosely in a mug/container, then fill it with hot water and let it sit over night. It would absorb all the water, double in size and congeal (similar to PLANofMAN's MWF Hydration Method) With that said I've found Williams lather serviceable but still mediocre compared to other soaps.
That's about what I do but I soak it for about a week because I don't grate it up first. I find it drying and not quite as slick as the better quality soaps.
Williams = great lather. I out my wet brush on top of the puck while I shower. I then load it like beast and proceed to face lather, adding water until I have voluminous lasting lather with slickness and cushion that are second to none. No magic, no grating, no super lather techniques, no extra time, just plain excellence in the best priced soap on the planet. Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk
I used Williams almost daily for 40 years. The best way to get lather is to use it every day....and not let the puck get bone dry. Its not the best soap to use in a large rotation of other soaps because it dries out....and then you have to start over. Start by blooming the puck (soaking it in warm water in your mug) while you shower in the morning. Pour off the bloom water and then load your brush. First day or two the lather is not as rich, but if you use it every day (and bloom it while you shower) you will be able to build snowmen with the lather. Great soap. A legend in its own time...and that goes for the old Williams and the new Williams.
I'm not telling you that it's useless but go ahead and toss it anyway just to play it safe. But seriously I couldn't even use it as a shower soap, after 2 days my wife pitched it . You're going to have better luck with a bar of Ivory. Just saying...
I have to agree with you Mike, why would anyone subject themselves to such a torturous process for such a substandard product.
I found it for a dollar so I tired it out and had the same experience as a lot of you guys. I grated it into a tub, and just couldn't get a good lather out of it. I noticed that a lot of soap and a little water worked best, but still the soap would just disappear. I refused to even try Shaving with it. I gave it a whirl a few times. No luck. Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
I bought two pucks of Williams today, for $1 each. I began grating it into a container but the shavings were so fine it was almost like powder. So I stopped and just put the remaining intact puck down amongst the gratings and topped it with water. I'm going to let it soak for a while, perhaps several days, ala @DDuckyMark. We'll see what happens. Again, it's only $1. I'll report back with updates as something (or anything) happens.
I have no problems getting a good lather from Williams. It's not the slickest, so I don't use it often, but if I'm feeling nostalgic about my grandfather I'll break it out.
Absolute best use for Williams - scatter a few pucks around your campsite to keep mosquitos away. Also works well as a urinal deodorizer. Can't think of any other uses for it?!?!
I guess when I learned to shave (80 - 82, I was 10-12 ish), it was for sure on Williams, and I think Colgate??? From both my dad and Grampa, lather was always built over a puck, either in a mug or bowl. No loading and going to the face or bowl, but just adding a little water at a time as needed, and whipping over the puck; left over lather dried in the bowl and stayed there. Try mixing that Williams over the puck, keeping a drier brush until it is SUPER creamy, then add in water a bit at a time. Never listen to, "I load my brush for 40 seconds....." Load until you have some cream, and add water until you have serious foam. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Just for kicks I decided to whip up a Williams lather. I soaked the puck in warm water for 5 minutes then took my Stirling Kong synthetic, wet it, shook it out until slightly damp, and began to load. 30 seconds later, I moved to the bowl and began adding water and swirling for about a minute and a half. At that point I had a decent lather as seen below. I stopped and left it sitting on the counter for 25 minutes to see if it dissipated. When I came back I had this. See. No problem. I could and have made a 3 pass and touch-up and still had lather left over. The scent problem can be overcome by leaving the pucks sitting out in the garage for a few days.
I guess that when I read most (except regular dudes from here) stories about lather porn, I laugh: Yes, we can all build it, stacked up brushes full of Dairy Queen make great pics.... But "Come on"... That isn't what makes your face feel right. Please though, keep em coming.... Love em. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Great pictures, and terrific lather! Thanks for posting. I have some determination to make Williams work. It's always dissipated on me but I want to keep working at it!
Start with rather dry brush, and work the water in a little at a time. Just a few drops and work it in well before adding more. It's a thirsty soap and needs a good bit of water, but if you add too much at once it goes watery and disappears. Really whip the brush and work some air into it along with the water.
