Thread: Rough surface mug question

I received a shave mug from my wife, and have a question I'm hoping folks can help me with.

This mug wasn't specifically designed for shaving, and its inside walls are rough and sandpapery in texture. My concern is that a rough surface such as this may damage my nice silver tip brush, and cause the tips of the bristles to split or become damaged in some way.

All the shave mugs I've had in the past, or seen, have been smooth inside, so I'm curious if anyone has tried a rough-sided bowl before and what the long term results on a brush have been.

Thanks everyone. I'm including a pic of the bowl for you to see too.

if its that rough you could try getting some 600-900 grit paper and try smoothing it out a little but if its rough as you say i wouldnt want to damage some crazy expensive brush if you have a cheap brush i would try that first and see what happens before sanding anything down

If its truly like sandpaper I wouldn't use it. All scuttles I've seen are either smooth or have channels in them but they are never rough. yes you could try and grind it but then you need to mind the glaze.

Originally Posted by march

I received a shave mug from my wife, and have a question I'm hoping folks can help me with.

This mug wasn't specifically designed for shaving, and its inside walls are rough and sandpapery in texture. My concern is that a rough surface such as this may damage my nice silver tip brush, and cause the tips of the bristles to split or become damaged in some way.

All the shave mugs I've had in the past, or seen, have been smooth inside, so I'm curious if anyone has tried a rough-sided bowl before and what the long term results on a brush have been.

Thanks everyone. I'm including a pic of the bowl for you to see too.

A glazed surface should be fine.
Some glazes generate bubbles and surface texture
and can be fine. Others potters add sand to the wet slip
and glaze that. That also might be just fine as the glaze
can cover the sand with smoothness.

Q: can you file down your fingernails on it?

If not it should be fine.

Try it with a ten dollar CVS boar brush!
It is possible that the uneven surface will generate
a great lather.

It looks like a fine well made bowl and thoughtful gift.

I saw a Japanese "mata" that if I had room or if it fit
my hand better I would have bought. Not this fancy but
to give you an idea of what I was looking at:

Japanese Tea Bowl Masterworks

I should note that most of these tea ceremony bowls are sized
to be held in two hands so the internet is a risk. You might see
well crafted ones at high school and college ceramics class sales.

If I was making one it might be high fired stoneware that was only
glazed on the inside and top 1/2" of the side. The outside could be
unglazed to be easy to hold on to with slippery soapy hands.

100% you should wear out a CVS brush on it if it is not safe for a $300
fuzz brush. Even if you only use it one day a year shave with it then float a gardenia in it on her birthday.