Quote Originally Posted by Wfaist View Post
Obie: How come you tired of your Georgetown scuttle?

I've been getting really excited about these Thater brushes reading the various threads.
Hello, Wfaist:

The scuttle failed to maintain consistent warmth and I found myself filling it with hot water several times. Consequently I went from high heat, which broke down the lather, to barely warm — only to repeat the process again. In the end I found the routine not worth the trouble.

I had intended to replace it with a Moss scuttle, but that, too, I decided would not be worth the hassle. I devised my own variation of a scuttle and it worked. What's more, I discovered I preferred my lather just warm enough rather than hot. (I am not referring to cold water shaving here. I had enough of that in Vietnam.) When the heat is kept mild, I found the lather works better.

I also found the scuttle big and clunky.

Currently I rotate about a dozen soaps in various shave mugs. I also rotate three creams. I have a separate pewter mug strictly for making lather. I load the brush with the soap of the day and then make lather in the pre-heated pewter mug. A small terrine filled with hot water keeps the mug and the lather warm enough. With creams, I put a dollop in the pewter mug and create lather.

In the end, what matters is what the shaver prefers. That's how it should be, whether one uses scuttles or not. For me, for now, anyway, I find scuttles not worth the money and the trouble. I like my mugs, some of which are replicas of the old classics.

Regards,
Obie