Shaving notes of the MaineYooper

Best Wishes of the Season to you all, and in no particular order
Fluffy 
Dave in KY 
Stubble Daddy 
mrdoug 
HighSpeed 
MilkCrate 
Old Sarge 
AlanH81 
keto 
ewk 
dmshaver 
Marko 
Freddy 
andrewjs18 

And to all at DFS! I know I have probably forgotten someone, but it wasn't intentional, just old-timers!

Thank you, Eric. I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday, as well, my friend!

HighSpeed! I found it, the testing was done here, at DFS!

And here is the result post, I hope!

HighSpeed! I found it, the testing was done here, at DFS!

And here is the result post, I hope!

Thanks very much Eric.  I read Michelle's results post with great interest.  As you mentioned, she said her main takeaway from the research you participated in was to add citric acid to her base to improve chelation.  I was glad to hear that because our water is very hard.  Then I noticed that her post was made in July 2016, over five years ago.  Two of my MWS soaps, which were purchased 2019, were on her "already migrated" list in 2016, and they did not lather at all well for me in 2019.  So any citric acid in them didn't do the job for me.

At this point my curiosity was piqued, so I did a little more digging.  A google search of both MWS sites (mystic4men and mysticwatersoap) turned up one match for "citric" - a reference here to the fact that she began adding citric acid in 2016.  But now, five years later, I cannot find any reference to "citric" in her ingredients.  There is plenty of ingredient info mind you, some on this FAQ page and some on the "BUY" page, but no "citric" that I could see.

I started writing Michelle an email as a last effort to inquire about the citric acid, but then thought the better of it.  It is great that her soap works so well for you Eric, and there is certainly MWS love on the forums, but there are so many choices that I decided to pass on MWS.

HighSpeed! I found it, the testing was done here, at DFS!

And here is the result post, I hope!

Thanks very much Eric.  I read Michelle's results post with great interest.  As you mentioned, she said her main takeaway from the research you participated in was to add citric acid to her base to improve chelation.  I was glad to hear that because our water is very hard.  Then I noticed that her post was made in July 2016, over five years ago.  Two of my MWS soaps, which were purchased 2019, were on her "already migrated" list in 2016, and they did not lather at all well for me in 2019.  So any citric acid in them didn't do the job for me.

At this point my curiosity was piqued, so I did a little more digging.  A google search of both MWS sites (mystic4men and mysticwatersoap) turned up one match for "citric" - a reference here to the fact that she began adding citric acid in 2016.  But now, five years later, I cannot find any reference to "citric" in her ingredients.  There is plenty of ingredient info mind you, some on this FAQ page and some on the "BUY" page, but no "citric" that I could see.

I started writing Michelle an email as a last effort to inquire about the citric acid, but then thought the better of it.  It is great that her soap works so well for you Eric, and there is certainly MWS love on the forums, but there are so many choices that I decided to pass on MWS.

Hey Mike,

the chelating agent she added was citric acid, but I don't think the amount was ever mentioned. My water isn't super hard, but many soaps made a lot of "scum" in the basin, indicating to me that my water is more hard than soft. I little looking and I found citric acid added as a "pinch" would prevent soap scum build up in a tub or basin. So I purchased some and found that 1/8 tsp or less works very well. Some of my soaps lathered more easily and the soap scum build up was dramatically reduced! I am still adding that pinch (actually, I found a 1/8 tsp measuring spoon) and don't even think about it now.

As for Michelle's soaps, I was troubled for several months but loved the post shave feel it gives. I eventually unlocked it and now it just seems "normal" to me. My secret was no secret but mentioned in several places. Since I was only using synthetics, I started with an almost dry brush, just dipping the tips and slowly adding as I build up. My load times were 45-60 seconds, as this method was working. From there I must have gotten more familiar with what was happening, because today I can start with a fairly damp brush (like the boars) and get a good lather!

I hear you on the soaps, with so many great soaps (and scents for those that can use them) out there, why bother? As I said, for me it is one of the best if not The Best for me, so I wanted to make it work. I have read of others fighting to get a good lather from Mithchell's Wool Fat. In the end, as Dave says, it's just shaving! Find whatever works best for me, and I will try not to worry about what others are raving about! (I'm looking at my short fling with Fatips. Never got along with any of them!).

Mail Call!

After a jaunt to northeastern Maine, my APLuxury badger/boar made it to my mailbox! This is a 24mm and is about to get set in the Fluffy Industuries 86 S handle. Per Andrew Palumbo, this is a 70/30 badger/boar mix that he found tested "miles ahead of the rest!"

Note that one hair "doing its own thing!"

HighSpeed! I found it, the testing was done here, at DFS!

And here is the result post, I hope!

Thanks very much Eric.  I read Michelle's results post with great interest.  As you mentioned, she said her main takeaway from the research you participated in was to add citric acid to her base to improve chelation.  I was glad to hear that because our water is very hard.  Then I noticed that her post was made in July 2016, over five years ago.  Two of my MWS soaps, which were purchased 2019, were on her "already migrated" list in 2016, and they did not lather at all well for me in 2019.  So any citric acid in them didn't do the job for me.

At this point my curiosity was piqued, so I did a little more digging.  A google search of both MWS sites (mystic4men and mysticwatersoap) turned up one match for "citric" - a reference here to the fact that she began adding citric acid in 2016.  But now, five years later, I cannot find any reference to "citric" in her ingredients.  There is plenty of ingredient info mind you, some on this FAQ page and some on the "BUY" page, but no "citric" that I could see.

I started writing Michelle an email as a last effort to inquire about the citric acid, but then thought the better of it.  It is great that her soap works so well for you Eric, and there is certainly MWS love on the forums, but there are so many choices that I decided to pass on MWS.

Hey Mike,

the chelating agent she added was citric acid, but I don't think the amount was ever mentioned. My water isn't super hard, but many soaps made a lot of "scum" in the basin, indicating to me that my water is more hard than soft. I little looking and I found citric acid added as a "pinch" would prevent soap scum build up in a tub or basin. So I purchased some and found that 1/8 tsp or less works very well. Some of my soaps lathered more easily and the soap scum build up was dramatically reduced! I am still adding that pinch (actually, I found a 1/8 tsp measuring spoon) and don't even think about it now.

As for Michelle's soaps, I was troubled for several months but loved the post shave feel it gives. I eventually unlocked it and now it just seems "normal" to me. My secret was no secret but mentioned in several places. Since I was only using synthetics, I started with an almost dry brush, just dipping the tips and slowly adding as I build up. My load times were 45-60 seconds, as this method was working. From there I must have gotten more familiar with what was happening, because today I can start with a fairly damp brush (like the boars) and get a good lather!

I hear you on the soaps, with so many great soaps (and scents for those that can use them) out there, why bother? As I said, for me it is one of the best if not The Best for me, so I wanted to make it work. I have read of others fighting to get a good lather from Mithchell's Wool Fat. In the end, as Dave says, it's just shaving! Find whatever works best for me, and I will try not to worry about what others are raving about! (I'm looking at my short fling with Fatips. Never got along with any of them!).

Thanks very much for this reply Eric.  I remember attempting to follow that advice, but I had forgotten some of the details.  I did stick with the MWS for a while because I liked the scents, so it was tempting to give MWS another go.  But Dave Dave in KY is right, plus I have long since PIF'd or tossed my jars.

As for the citric acid, until reading your post, I had no idea that so little was required.  I just picked up a 2 pound resealable on Amazon.  It cost me 3¢/gram.  If it works - and I expect it will - I will use it up and then buy the 5 pound bag, reducing the cost to 1¢/gram.  Even if I need 5 or 10 times what you require, it would still well worth it.

Where's the post on how you cleaned your knot etc Eric? I got tired of scanning pages here

Where's the post on how you cleaned your knot etc Eric? I got tired of scanning pages here 

It’s here on page 6. John Rose suggested hydrogen peroxide on page 5.

I removed the knot and soaked it in the 3% solution drug stores sell. I can't find any mention of time, but I am still looking.

Where's the post on how you cleaned your knot etc Eric? I got tired of scanning pages here 

It’s here on page 6. John Rose suggested hydrogen peroxide on page 5.

I removed the knot and soaked it in the 3% solution drug stores sell. I can't find any mention of time, but I am still looking.

Thanks

Behold the Fluffy Industries 86S with an APLuxury mixed badger/boar knot (24mm, 70% badger, 30% boar).




This is after 24 hrs setting up, a 40-minute soak, and a hand lather.
And wow, does this knot live up to its name: Luxury!

I put a Maggard 70/30 mixed badger/boar into Quasar. While it feels good, it is not at the point the AP knot is at without an overnight soak! And the Maggard is a 26mm knot, AP is 24mm. Here are a couple of snaps from this afternoon's lathering session in the workshop/laundry room.



But I realized I had a problem. I forgot to coat the socket with that CA stuff I bought. So, I had to pull the knot. And what did my wondering eyes behold? Patina on the copper! So I buffed it with some fine grit sandpaper, cleaned it as best I could, and coated with CA. Now, once dry, I'll set the knot again. I cannot wait to use this brush! It fits the hand so well, and the knot just pushed it over the top for me!