Thread: Question on which size Moss scuttle would suit me.

Hi all,

as I'm taking a trip across Canada, starting tomorrow, and I'm going to be in Nova Scotia at some point, I'm thinking I might treat myself to a Moss scuttle. I'm currently using a latte cup that I rest in a sink of hot water and the scuttle looks a neat way to combine that.

I use a Kent BK4 and creams generally (although I plan to try soaps too) and would like to make up the lather in the scuttle rather than have a separate dish/mug for that. GIven the size of the brush I use and the desire to lather up in the scuttle, would I be better going for the small or the large in your opinion.

Pictures of the small make it look as though there's not much room to actually swirl a brush around, but maybe that's a wrong impression. Be interested to hear what you all think.

Cheers.

If your actually going there.just pick the one you like. I would do large personally.

If you plan to use the Moss Scuttle as it is designed, then the small scuttle will be perfect. The Scuttle was designed to be a "parking" place for your brush between latherings. Not as a vessel in which to create the lather. If you want to use the scuttle to build lather, I wish you the best. I find it too small for that use (and I have the large scuttle).

RT

I use the small scuttle for my brushes up to 30mm knot. I use the extra small for brushes under 24mm. I don't use them for building lather though. I do that on the face or in my palm first.

Good luck. I haven't not used my scuttle since the first day I got it. Now I have a ton of cake soaps just sitting there as I have gone to the creams more, but the scuttle works fine on both......lol.

Have fun,

Lynn

I agree with the above posters, the smaller Moss is perfect if being used as advertised as a "parking place" for your brush. I'd buy a matching bowl or something to build lather. (BTW, you can get the same effect the Moss scuttle creates by floating a small pyrex custard dish in a coffee mug filled with piping hot water, but it's awkward and much less aesthetic than Sarah's beautiful pottery work).

I've a regular soap scuttle as well, and personally have found that I prefer creams to the cakes, but the scuttle is an elegant addition to your shaving accoutrements if you are a soap user. So, in hindsight I would have picked a Moss scuttle and matching lather bowl rather than paired the Moss scuttle with an antique soap scuttle.

Live and learn. The soaps are still good for quick morning shaves before I head out the door for work, but my preference is for Vulfix, Taylor or Salter creams.

are there any benefits to using a scuttle? I've become a little interested in scuttles lately and read that shaving scuttles were designed a while back when running hot water wasn't as readily available. This is pretty interesting but these days does it serve as anything more the a parking spot for my brush?

The scuttles as they used to be and the "moss scuttle" which people on the forums just call scuttle aren't all that similar. The old scuttles had a lower compartment filled with hot water with a relatively large opening so you could dip your brush into the water. On top you'd have a small shallow where you would rest your soap. Once you had lather you'd rest the brush on top of the soap.

These days it's all about keeping the lather (and brush) warm. I think the old type might have warmed the brush some, but wouldn't really have kept the brush or lather warm.

so the moss scuttle just uses the hot water in the bottom to keep the lather warm right? where do I look at or buy these things?

Yeah, that's the way it works as far as I know (I don't have a scuttle). You make your lather and then park your brush and lather in the scuttle to keep them warm.

You can get them either from Sara Bonnyman Pottery, or if you want a larger one which doubles as a lathering bowl (or just because you want a big one) Schwarzweisskeramik. The latter might be pricey because of shipping from Germany, although you might still be able to get one though Mama Bear for $73. You can see a Sara Bonnyman and a Schwarzweisskeramik scuttle next to each other here.

Alternatively you could go look for a local pottery and see if they can do a custom job for you

I use my large Moss scuttle very rarely. It's too big for the smaller brushes that I like - there's too much space left open around the brush when I use mine and the heat is lost

It's too small if I want a bowl, btw - but I mostly lather on face.

Cheers
Ivo