cheap Alum

[deruitem]

I have been wanting to try alum. Where is the cheapiest place to get some with shipping? I cant seem to find it local.

[Heespharm]

You can get odorless deodorant from Cvs but it's not exactly the right type of alum... It'll work but it'll burn a little more... I think mama bears sells a good alum bar also west coast shaving sells the 60g razzorock (what I use) for 6 dollars or something like that

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/webkit-fake-url://4E4CEB0A-7C80-43C1-B78E-8CB8BBF4611D/imagejpeg

[itsmedave]

The RazoRock Alum stick is great and quite a bargain.

[markewallace]

Even "expensive" alum, when you consider $/use, is dirt cheap. I have the $6 RazoRock alum. It will last me so long that I honestly could care less that it cost $6 when I probably could have found the same basic thing for $2.

- Mark

[Krona Kruiser]

Check your Asian and Indian stores if you have any around. I found a small bag with 2 large chunks of alum. Some people use it for creating concoctions for pickling. I found mine for about $.69 and got a few. I love it and it's been great as an aftershave and to get my grip on things when my hand gets slippery. I've been using a chunk for close to a year now and have this one below as reserve.

231222

[garyg]

yeah, what Mark said - If I don't drop it I get a year or more out of one of Mama Bear's alum bars - on the other hand, I found a $3 (I think) bar at the Indian market on Grand River in Farmington a couple years back ... smaller size than MB's but still ..

Might also try ZMC Pharmacy in Royal Oak, it was recommended here but I haven't been there yet

[Dooliano1969]

You can find it at indian markets. But the cheap alums sting like hell and make your face red. be careful. they are made of harsher materials.

[Matt555]

Ordering one with a base like the Razorock one is the way to go. Far less likely to drop it.

[brucered]

i use the OSMA (http://www.italianbarber.com/osma-75g-alum-block)from IB. $8/75g.

it's apparently softer to use the other alum blocks (ask joseph for an exact explanation, he gave me one, it made sense, but if forget the exact terms), but 1 block did last me a full year.

i generally use mine now for slippery fingers, rather then for rubbing on my face. i'm on my 2nd year of DE and my 2nd Osma block :balloon:

[Krona Kruiser]

I've never had problems with mine. I've used the Osma alum and it felt exactly the same as the one I use now. However, the reputation for harsh alum comes from ammonium alum compared (used in some deodorants) to potassium alum (used for culinary and medical purposes).

[Zipvex143258]

Bobbled mine the other day for about 3 seconds. Close call.

[brucered]

I've never had problems with mine. I've used the Osma alum and it felt exactly the same as the one I use now. However, the reputation for harsh alum comes from ammonium alum compared (used in some deodorants) to potassium alum (used for culinary and medical purposes).

apparently the OSMA is milled or grated differently then others making it finer as it starts to get use (not jagged edges etc)...but who knows. it's the only one i've tried and it works.

[Krona Kruiser]

I rubbed mine with some 120 grit sandpaper and after a good rinse, it took care of all the edges. Oh yeah, I shattered my Osma block leading me to find a local source.

[jcwit]

BestShave.com 70 G Alum Block $2.50 plus shipping.

Add some more stuff and make it more than worthwhile.

[turtle]

You can find it at indian markets. But the cheap alums sting like hell and make your face red. be careful. they are made of harsher materials.

I looked at an alum deodorant "marble" a week ago in a store and the first ingredient was salt (yea... stick that on your face baby).

Make sure you are getting 100% alum and not a deodorant made from a number of ingredients

[Crog]

+1 on Indian market. Small block for 1.50, should last a very long time. Interesting that culinary alum is the mild potassium variety, used for solidifying the soybean purees, right?

[Coda_]

I rubbed mine with some 120 grit sandpaper and after a good rinse, it took care of all the edges. Oh yeah, I shattered my Osma block leading me to find a local source.

Thats the same one I bought, only I got mine off of Amazon. Cost me about $5 total with shipping. It was smaller than I thought it would be, but Ive had it for 3 months now, and its hardly eroded at all...

[Rjack]

got 100mg at my Indian market for $1.00 --- works just as well as the more expensive bar, though you can see impurities (dark spots) in it.

[jcwit]

+1 on Indian market. Small block for 1.50, should last a very long time. Interesting that culinary alum is the mild potassium variety, used for solidifying the soybean purees, right?


Also used to make pickles crisp.

[mftoms59]

BestShave.com 70 G Alum Block $2.50 plus shipping.

Add some more stuff and make it more than worthwhile.

+1, throw in an Arko SC (Ice Mint, Maximum or Extra Sensitive) and it's exactly $9.89 to you Matt.

http://shop.bestshave.net/

[GreekGuy]

I realize some will balk at this, but I have the AOS alum for $18. I've had it for over 2 years and it looks like its brand new. I don't use it everyday, but it works fantastically

[Theprofessor]

Check your Asian and Indian stores if you have any around. I found a small bag with 2 large chunks of alum. Some people use it for creating concoctions for pickling. I found mine for about $.69 and got a few. I love it and it's been great as an aftershave and to get my grip on things when my hand gets slippery. I've been using a chunk for close to a year now and have this one below as reserve.

231222
1+
I too use the same.I rubbed mine with some sandpaper and after a good rinse it took care of all the sharp edges.Cheap and widely available here in Pakistan.

[Malcolm Grundy]

Bestshave.com - use the alum and stuff to beef up your purchase to qualify for free shipping.

[mftoms59]

Nick, my Bestshave Alum came in two 35gr cubes, one cube lasted ~14 months of daily use, I'm working on #2.

[brucered]

isn't all alum cheap? :whistling: it's like asking for a cheap dollar store item.

$2-18, lasts a 1-2years, doesn't get any cheaper.

[ateace]

I just got this one:

http://www.tulumba.com/storeItem.asp?ic=BB547960UD875

Interesting stuff here. They also have Derby and Tweex shave sticks.

[Mandina]

Connaught Shaving (http://connaughtshaving.com/alumblocks.html ) has an excellent range of alum block options. Doctor Plus (100g) and Sal (120g) are particularly good budget options--even when taking into account the UK currency exchange rate and the (very minimal) shipping fee. The site also offers the pricier options (Osama, Muhle, and Taylor). Bestshave.net also offers an excellent buy (70g) at $2.50 (but there's a higher shipping fee from Turkey unless you bundle the alum block with other purchases to equal $50 or more, and shipping takes much longer than from Connaught). Frankly, there's no reason to buy pricier alum block. I have the Bestshave.net product, which I keep in a small sealable Dollar Store plastic container. It works great, is very cheap, and seemingly lasts forever.

[Mendel]

Shavex alum block with plastic case 110gram, $12.95 on Amazon

[Wingnut]

For local (and also probably cheap), go to your local health food store. Go to the deodorant aisle, and look for "Crystal Deodorant". You'll probably find quite a few brands. Read the fine print on the label: you're looking for Potassium Alum, not Ammonium Alum. Shouldn't be more than about $5.00, and it comes in a neat screw-top container. Done.

[the_dude]

I just got 3, 100g bars of Doctors Plus potassium alum at http://www.connaughtshaving.com/alumblocks.html. They were the cheapest 100g bars I could find online, even with shipping taken into account.

[cryhavoc]

BestShave.com 70 G Alum Block $2.50 plus shipping.

Add some more stuff and make it more than worthwhile.
+1