Best Alum Block

I'm curious to hear what people's opinions are of the various brands of Alum Blocks on the market.

My first alum block was from eShave and it was a decent block of crystal - it was smooth on the face and dissolved more or less uniformly until it was a thin wafer. I've subsequently had luck with the Osma brand but recently had one with a fissure in it that caused it to break in half prematurely which was disappointing.  I bought several discounted Shavex alum blocks and haven't been very happy with them - they aren't as smooth on the face and are filled with porous voids and fissures causing premature crumbling and breaking.  

What have other DFS members used that have been either great or terrible?
Thanks,
Mark

The best for me, Osma.

I rarely use alum now, but I like the RazoRock stick one

In a Dos XX voice over:

"I rarely use alum, but when I do it is razorock" What Italian Barber was founded on way back when.

In a Dos XX voice over:

"I rarely use alum, but when I do it is razorock" What Italian Barber was founded on way back when.

I'm with you. That plastic tube set-up is great. Love tha base.

I have a Shavex alum block.
I found the sharp edges and sharp corners to be intolerable.
With a piece of sandpaper and 5 minutes I corrected the problem.

However, I do not like the dry feeling alum imparts to my face so I no longer use it as an after shave treatment.

But by rubbing it on my right hand (See caveat below) fingertips before picking up my tools of the trade it effectively prevents slippery brush and razor handles.

Caveat: I only use my right hand for wielding the brush and razor so I have no problem with the following.
If using your hand to feel the progress of the shave, and there is no other way, make sure it has no alum on it. It will destroy the slickness of your lather.

Mickey

I'm with you Mickey. I've tried the alum before as an aftershave treatment and it just dries the crap out of my skin! The only thing I use it for now is for better grip as you mentioned. If I bloom the soap, I'll use the bloom water to wet my face thus making my fingers slippery. The alum block is a great remedy for that. I have the PAA version btw.

Osma is the only one I buy. I tried another and wasn't happy, it had sharp edges and crumbled way to early.

I don't even bother with the dollar store alum from eBay and other sites...but I don't use it often. It over tightens my skin so only use it for the odd time I get a small weeper.

I'm in the minimalist post shave routine camp. Cold rinse and then balm or splash. About as complicated as I get is, I apply left over lather on my face to sit while I rinse my brush and razor.

wyzeOne,

I, too, use the bloom water. I apply it to my face as a preshave using a Body Shop Synthetic brush which will not hold a lot of liquid.
It is, therefore, not really a preshave lotion. It's merely a very weak shaving soap to get things started.

I keep it in a wide mouth jar into which I also squeeze my after shaving excess lather.

It is quite good as hot towels are not my first or any choice.
Its cost is unbeatable.

Mickey

About as complicated as I get is, I apply left over lather on my face to sit while I rinse my brush and razor.

My routine as well @bruce.