Thread: Mugs,Scuttles and Lather Bowls?

As a new member here, I'm really getting an education. You seasoned folks have really got this stuff down to a science to say the least! As one who uses an old coffee cup with a puck of shaving soap and hot water, I was wondering if there might be a spot on YouTube that might show the differences between these items and how they're used. After all, a good video is worth a thousand words. The reason for my interest is that I ran across a thread concerning some nice German Scuttles that acted on the principle of a double boiler to keep your shaving cream hot. One of the members, Oskar, seemed to be very knowledgeable on there use. Then there was talk of using a lathering bowl to transfer your lather to the scuttle. So now I'm a bit confused on how many of these items I really need to have. I do like the idea of the double boiler concept though. So if someone feels up to explaining the differences, I'd greatly appreciate the help.

I really like the Moss type scuttles the best. The bowl is not overly large which is better for keeping the brush with lather warm. I feel the larger bowls let more heat escape. I usually fill the lower bowl with steaming hot water. I also fill the upper bowl and soak my brush while showering. After the shower, I empty both, make a great lather up and then just fill the lower bowl. After lathering the face, I place the brush into the scuttle where the lather stays warm for for additional applications during the shave.

Have fun,

Lynn

The first thing to keep in mind, is that there are two types of scuttles.

One is useful ONLY for shave SOAP and not creme, and requires that you lather directly on your face, or in another lathering bowl.

The other, which is what most 'modern' scuttles are, is usable for soap or creme, but most useful with creme, or as a separate lathering bowl.

Both types act as a sort of "double boiler" as you put it. The lower chamber is filled with hot water; boiling if you want.

In the older type of scuttle, boiling water is best. The upper chamber, which is completely above the water line, has drain holes in it. This allows excess water to drain away from your soap. Also, the pour spout on these scuttles is large enough for you to put your brush in.

The idea, is that you fill the lower chamber with boiling water from a kettle. This heats the bar of soap just slightly. Then, you dip your brush into the boiling hot water, load it up with soap, and then lather directly on your face. Because you're using extremely hot water, the lather will always be hot. This is what I do every day.



The more "modern" type of scuttle is used best with creme, or as a lathering bowl separate from your soap dish.

The bottom section is filled with hot water, and the upper section rests at least part way (almost all the way with many scuttles).

This keeps the top dish nice and warm. If you create lather in this type of scuttle, all of the lather in the lathering bowl will stay as hot as the water you fill the scuttle with. Generally, the spouts on modern scuttles are too small to di your brush in, so you'll have to use hot water from another source to wet your brush.

These are the more popular type of scuttle these days, although personally, I don't care for them in the slightest.


EDIT* As you can see, Lynn beat me to a response while I was still typing, and he prefers the modern type of scuttle, usually called a "moss scuttle." By saying I don't care for them, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with them, I just prefer the old school scuttles and the way that they work; and I know that I'm in the minority.

Many thanks you guys for your time and answers! I was almost ready to go to the Fels Naptha soap and a dull ax in search of a better shave!

this may be a good video to watch, he uses a violet planter as his double boiler http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...er-lather.html
I have use both a scuttles and a lather bowl, To get a really thick lather I think the lather bowl is better, but I usually use both the scuttle to warm my puck of soap and then use a drop of glycerin and cream to get a killer lather like jockey shows in his video.

The bottom line use what you like

Crom

Lynn is one our vendors (SRD) so perhaps he doesn't feel comfortable pushing his own products. So I will. I purchased one of their lather bowls and love it. It's quite large so you can keep the lather in the bowl, not dropping into the drain. Just as important it's quite thick and heavy. Because of this it does a great job of retaining heat. I would keep that product in mind as you determine your choice...

Originally Posted by rick54

So now I'm a bit confused on how many of these items I really need to have.

A lot of the fun with straight / wet shaving is accessories... But you certainly don't need these items. I just use a mug with a puck of soap in it, and I lather directly on my face. I keep my lather warm by drizzling a bit of hot water into the base of my brush for additional applications. For this to work well you need to develop a good feel on what the right hydration point is so the lather does not get too wet.

I hear the best scuttles are narrow so it is hard to use them to lather, so your options are to lather on face, then park the brush in the scuttle, or use your mug to generate lather, or a bowl. I'd say if you like to use a variety of soaps or like to mix soap and cream, then the bowl probably comes in handy.

-Chief

+2 on the lather bowl love mine and everyone who tried it at the national gathering loved it as well. Ask Glen he used it quite a bit.

I like what jockeys calls the "redneck scuttle" which is a self-watering African Violet pot. I got one a little larger than the one in his video, at Wal-Mart for about $8. I fill up the bottom and top with very hot (135 F) water and let set submerged in the sink full of hot water while I shower. Remove from sink, empty the water out of the small bowl and replace it. Lather. Enjoy!

I've looked very closely at everything printed about the moss, the dirty bird and the Schwarzweisskeramik. They all look great and different members seem to swear by each one. I just can't bring myself to pay the cost of one (yet) so in the meantime to help me decide whether it was worthwhile I've picked up one of these dip chillers at any kitchen store found at any local mall. They retail for about $7-$10 and it works fantastic. If you wash it out really well you could even still serve dip in it I suppose.