Alum-aid

Hi guys. Do any of you notice differences in effectiveness between different brands of alum blocks?

Which is your favorite?

Thanks for your input.

I use Trumpers and see no reason to change. Current one is almost year old and will last probably another year. It might never run out.

Lots of cheaper ones around. See http://www.thesuperiorshave.com/alums.html

Dont drop it. Dry it and put back in its case.

I use Trumpers and see no reason to change. Current one is almost year old and will last probably another year. It might never run out.

Lots of cheaper ones around. See http://www.thesuperiorshave.com/alums.html

Dont drop it. Dry it and put back in its case.

I agree. I can't use alum any longer. But if you drop it, it shatters and you will have to purchase another one. However, keep in mind alum is a natural substance which is mined and not man made,

keep in mind alum is a natural substance which is mined and not man made,

yes, Potassium alum. However, caveat emptor. Disparity in price can be due to size. For examples, Trumpers is 100g while Osma is 75g. Razorock is 60g.

Second, some is compressed material formed into a block (reported) while others are machined from a block of the chemical. I've read lots of posts where people drop the cheaper blocks and they shatter into many pieces while others might just chip. In any case, don't drop it and dry it off.

People love to think the are getting something cheap when that's not always true. Caveat Emptor. But the stuff is pretty cheap anyway and lasts a very long time. I would avoid anything that is compressed. For example, read http://www.thesuperiorshave.com/alums.html where they explain why all alum is not equal.

It's a waste of money, in my personal opinion. When I first started using a DE, it helped to ease the sting of burn slightly and temporarily, but balm worked better. It heklps to slow the bleeding if I nick myself good, but a styptic pencil works better.

I have a block of alum that I haven't used for anything more than drying my fingers and assisting with friction to get a good stretch since about a month after I bought it. So about 10 months since I have used it for more than finger drying...

Good question and nice to know there is probably no difference in effectiveness.

Personally, I enjoy my alum block. Being new to DE shaving, I like to use it to tell me where I need to work on technique. Areas with more sting obviously require more of my attention on the next shave. And, like BadDad, I find it's a great tool to keep fingers non-slippery.

I can't use alum. anytime I've tried it, it felt like my face was literally on fire.

I never use it unless I get a minor cut.

I have not noticed a discernible difference between any of them.

I use it very rarely. I only have the Maggard's brand.

I have an inexpensive block that works very well. As grim said, some of them are compressed material. I would avoid those.

Alum is a mineral or something like a mineral and comes from a mine, where they cut it into blocks. I like it, though have to rinse it off after a couple of minutes.