Thread: Shaving Mugs

How do the mugs work, or how are they different from the bowls? Do you find that the soap gets dirty with no cover? The mugs that have the two openings, one for the soap and one for the brush; do these damage the brushes? Is the brush supposed to dry while in the mug? In essence is this a replacement for a stand?

The mugs with two openings are actually called scuttles and are a throwback froma bygone era when gentlemen didn't always have hot running water available. Boiled water was kept in the lower chamber to soak the brush and make warm lather while the soap was kept in the upper chamber. A brush stand is still needed to hang your brush to dry properly.

X

I keep most of my soaps in a ZipLoc storage container. Check them out at your local grocer. They make a size that is almost perfect for soaps. And they come with a lid. I cut out or paste a label from the soap on the lid. It's not elegant, but a workable solution.

RT

Does anyone know of a mug that also serves to hold the brush. I saw one example on ebay and thought it very clever. I would like to find one in a different color and possibly with a lid to cover the soap.

Maybe I should be considering a bowl instead...

Concerning a brush stand, let me offer a dissenting opinion (no offense X). They are unnecessary from the perspective of drying your brush. Capillary action will wick water along from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration. The drying action is through evaporation--again water moves from high to low concentration (think entropy). Capillary action works because water has a high coefficient of adsorbtion (not absorbtion); it sticks to itself very well. The force required to pull a small diameter column of water apart is extreme. Consider trees that are 100 (up to 300) feet tall. The columns of water in the wood vessels are not being pushed up from the roots, but pulled up from the leaves. As long as the column of water is continuous, water continues to flow with the motive force being evaporation/transpiration from the leaves (again, water moving from a high to a low concentration). Long story short...water will wick up between the closely packed bristles in the brush and evaporate from the surface thus continuing to draw more water up from below. So feel comfortable storing your brush badger side up sitting on the handle.

Just another data point,
Ed

Blnee,

ForestryProf is quite correct on a shaving brush stand
not being necessary. But the small wall mounted ones
at www.classicshaving.com are quite nice just to reduce
clutter on the bathroom sink. The brush now has a home
in an out of the way place.

If you do check out the stands, click on the Vulfix Brush
link.


Terry

Originally Posted by ForestryProf

... Long story short...water will wick up between the closely packed bristles in the brush and evaporate from the surface thus continuing to draw more water up from below.

Hmph. Mr science fella's got the 'know-it-all' syndrome jus 'cuz he's about biolomogy an' gots a PHD hangin' on 'is walls.

So, no denying the capillary action, but outside a tree, like on the brush, as you point out, there is evaporation. My thinking is that evaporation has the opportunity in a hung brush to evaporate from all points along the bristles which should keep it from the glued knots wheras in the stood brush, both gravity and capillary action are working against keeping the knots safe. What do you say, Ed ... in your opinion is there no way that hanging a brush may impart some benefit to its lifespan?

X

I really like the classic looks of the Old Spice mug. Some have ribs inside of the mug to hold the soap in place better. My thoughts on a brush stand is that the more you pay for a brush the more you will pay for a stand.

Glen

X

Hanging the brush should extend the life...it keeps the handle from being damaged!

RT

I stoped using my brush stand. My Vulfix is standing on it's handle on top of my shaving creams, and it dries fine...

Nenad