Thread: Help me pick a scuttle... or two... or three...

So, gents. Here's my agenda. I want a scuttle, because floating a coffee cup in the sink really isn't cutting it anymore... I want to get 1-3 scuttles, and my logic will be explained soon.

If possible, I want a scuttle to do all of these, but I am fine with getting a scuttle suited best for each purpose. My criteria are:

The scuttle must keep my brush warm or hot (and my lather)

The scuttle must be large enough for me to lather cream WITHIN THE SCUTTLE (I know this isn't recommended, it allows heat dissipation, but, hey, these are my criteria)

The scuttle must be large enough to hold a puck of soap (I know, this is where I will probably have to go with a second scuttle, one for cream, and, one for soap).

That's about it...The one's I'm lookign at are:

The Classic Shaving Victorian Scuttle ( Shaving Lather Mugs and Bowls ) This one looks like one that would succeed in the must hold a puck of soap. not sure about heat retention on brush

The Georgetown Pottery Scuttle G5 ( New G5 Shaving Scuttle Design ) This one looks good for being able to successfully build a lather in it with cream... not sure about heat retention on brush

The Small Schwarzweisskeramik Super Scuttle ( SCHWARZWEISSKERAMIK ) Which looks good for both soaps, and creams (although, if I intend to do both and alternate every few days, I know I'll need a Cream and a Soap scuttle.) and would keep the brush nice and warm.)

and lastly, The Sara Bonnyman Moss Scuttle, in either small, or large ( Sara Bonnyman Pottery: Moss Scuttle) I believe the large would better allow me to create a lather inside, so I'll probably go with that, if I get a moss... But the small would have better heat retention... Although lathering within is a MUST.

So, the way I see it now, is I'm probably better off getting a Schwarz for my soap puck, because it is large enough to accomodate, and would also allow for the brush inside to heat, while letting me lather on my puck (I lather half way on top of my puck, then face lather the rest), and also a Georgetown Pottery scuttle for my creams, so I could lather within... However, if anyone has experience with the Classic Shaving one, or with the Large Moss scuttle, please fill in my gaps... Being the Completist I am -and working extra hours, so I can afford my spending wishes - I will probably end up getting those two, and a Small Moss scuttrle (since soaps that come IN containers [SRD for example] are usually best left in their native housing, I could lather off that, then move to a tight fitting Moss Scuttle for the best lather warmth, or use the Schwarz with a puck inside, or lather inside of the Georgetown Pottery one... that way, whatever I wanted to do that day, I could.

Like I said, I have extra cash (43 hours work a week, while still in school) so the extra is just for my comfort/fun. I may not always need it, but I like to be pampered in this, at least.

Thanks for all your time, guys!

Cheers,
Jeremy

What a nice problem to have! Before buying those scuttles, you really ought to try using a mug warmer, which you can get for $10 and will work with any shaving mug or bowl. What I like about using them is that they keep your lather quite warm, regardless of how long it takes you to shave. The reason I started using the mug warmer is that it takes me roughly 30 minutes to shave -- I really enjoy my morning shaves to the fullest -- and scuttles tended to start cooling off before I finished. But any of the scuttles you mentioned will serve you well and I hope you're very pleased with your acquisitions.

Maybe you should look at this one too..... I don't have one but may order one in the future. Are you really sure you need a scuttle for a soap puck?

Smaller Round Royal Fantasy Ceramic Shaving Scuttle - eBay (item 350282488134 end time Dec-03-09 08:32:51 PST)

This is my current setup.... Works well.

Thanks, guys, Bjanzen, the brush looks really nice .

I think, unless anyone has had a bad experience with those scuttles, I'll end up going with that set up... I only take about a half hour to shave, and enjoy the whole thing, but if I slow down -and I've tried- I usually cut myself... The mug warmer is what I used to do, but I feel ready to 'graduate' to scuttledom... I think I'll start with the schwarz since it can fit soaps and creams, and try it out, see if scuttles are for me... then go from there..

These types of scuttles aren't really designed to hold soap or cream for any storage if that's what you are thinking. I have the georgetown G5 and while its nice it won't keep the lather/brush warm for an entire shave unless you use a DE and its a 5 minute job. I've heard the Moss scuttle will hold heat longer.

Zomb,

I want the large Moss, too. It seems to have the best attention to detail: room enough to whip up a lather and a large enough reservoir to hold ample hot water.

Of course, I won't know more until I've spent some money.

Why haven't you included the Dirty Bird scuttle in your list?

BigSpendur, I know they aren't good for holding, but that's my requirements, and I know there are SOME people who do it like I do and get good results... I've never been able to "load" soap to a brush from a puck, so I lather on top of the soap, and I've never been good at face lathering, so I need to whip my creams and soaps... Therefore, I want to get a small Moss so I can practice facelathering, and keep the soap/cream laden brush warm between passes, I want a GTP for when I'm using creams, or trying to load a brush off of soap, and need to whip it inside the scuttle, and I want a Schwarz for it's ability to hold a puck.

Like I said, I make decent money, and have fairly few things to spend it on, so I pamper the shaver in me... However, I work seasonally, so I'll be needing a new job soon .. Oh well. I can wait... I think I'll get the Georgetown first, since it will be most utilitarian...

here's the problem

-to make lather in it, you want the container to be wide
-to keep lather warm you want the container to be narrow

the small moss scuttle, or something similar, is the one to keep your lather warm but that's too small to make lather into. the idea is to make the lather elsewhere and just keep your brush with it in the scuttle.

i think a wide vessel may work too, but you'll have to find a lid that covers most of the open surface to put on once you're done lathering. and switch to shaving mode. i'm not sure why none of the scuttle makers hasn't offered such thing, worth asking them, may be it doesn't really work well (i may be wrong about the dominant mechanism of cooling since i'm too lazy now to run few numbers).

Originally Posted by gugi

here's the problem

-to make lather in it, you want the container to be wide
-to keep lather warm you want the container to be narrow

the small moss scuttle, or something similar, is the one to keep your lather warm but that's too small to make lather into. the idea is to make the lather elsewhere and just keep your brush with it in the scuttle.

i think a wide vessel may work too, but you'll have to find a lid that covers most of the open surface to put on once you're done lathering. and switch to shaving mode. i'm not sure why none of the scuttle makers hasn't offered such thing, worth asking them, may be it doesn't really work well (i may be wrong about the dominant mechanism of cooling since i'm too lazy now to run few numbers).

I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head... I think I'm going to get the GTP one first, and try that, because the bowl shape seems to (bearing in mind I'm an english major... my brush with science was Physics 101.) be more conducive to keeping heat in... I use a fairly large brush, so it should have good contact with the heated edge....

But I figure, if I get a GTP and work on "brush loading" with soap, which I just cant seem to get (could it be because I have a 20$ amazon badger brush?) I can then get a Small Moss Scuttle, once I learn how to lather better, and use that for keeping the brush really warm... And use the GTP for lathering in/refreshing the lather... I'll figure something out... I just want something better than floating a mug in lukewarm sink water... That's the amount of heat dissipation I'm used to >.>

Also, I think using VERY hot water might counteract some of the "obig bowl" problems