Thread: Someone explain 'scuttles' to me please?

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

There's the old type and the new type. The old were designed to have hot water in the bottom and the soap on top and you made the lather or loaded the soap on top and the hole in the side gave you access to the water and kept the lather and brush warm. The new types are much larger and keep the brush and lather warm and give you room to build lather right in the scuttle.

You'll see numerous posts for modern day scuttle makers here so read through the reviews to start with.

+1
Especially the history on old type, new type.

,,,,
There have been some discussions on poor man scuttles too.

Take a pair of nesting bowls such that the smaller one
is a good size for lathering and a second one that the
first fits in.

Run hot water in both and when the bowls are
warm to hot dump the water from the inner one
and begin building a lather. When the lather
is ready keep the small bowl in the bigger bowl
full of hot water.

If the scuttle cools you can replace the water
with hotter water.

I have a pewter mug that I run hot water over
to warm up the lather. That works well except
on cold winter mornings.

Lately I have been taken by a pint storage container
by Rubbermaid (TakeAlongs 3 Pc. Twist & Seal Medium,
2 cup size). It has a smooth round inner surface
and easy to grip ribs on the outside. I tried it
because my new monster Thater brush felt
cramped in a normal shave mug. One of the
thing I discovered is that it keeps the lather warm
and with a splash of fresh hot water it is
warm again.

I have my eye on a small crock mixing bowl in
the kitchen. There is one that fits in
my off hand nearly perfectly. I wonder if
my other half would miss it. It is one of
a nesting set

The fun point I learned is that a bowl that is sized
to your brush and hand is as important
as any specification.

Try the Rubbermaid TakeAlongs 3 Pc. Twist & Seal Medium
if you stumble on them. If nothing else you
can keep trail mix in them.

If someone has a classic "sierra cup" handy try
it for building a lather. I lost mine 30 years
ago and it seems to be almost perfect in profile
for lathering.

Gentlemen:

I had an earlier model Georgetown scuttle and could not wait to get rid of it. The scuttle was lovely to look at, but it fell way short in keeping the lather warm. My Dirty Bird 1.5 scuttle was fine in every way, but a friend saw it, fell in love with it, so I made a gift of it to him. Now I have the Schwarzweisskeramik, the white and black XL or L, I can't keep track of which size, and love it. It's an awkward looking scuttle. The large water head resembles a man with a drooping lower lip, pouting. It took me a while to get adjusted to it, but now I love it. I have ample room to swirl the brush, and the scuttle keeps my lather nice and warm.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Now I have the Schwarzweisskeramik, the white and black XL or L, I can't keep track of which size, and love it.
Obie

I fully agree. The Schwarzweisskeramik is a great scuttle, I use mine every day!!

Just to clarify, Obie:
The L and the XL are exactly the same size. The only difference is that the XL has a bigger handle pointing upwards, the L has a smaller handle facing downwards. One is for putting the whole hand in the handle, the other is a traditional thumb grip

Originally Posted by Birnando

I fully agree. The Schwarzweisskeramik is a great scuttle, I use mine every day!!

Just to clarify, Obie:
The L and the XL are exactly the same size. The only difference is that the XL has a bigger handle pointing upwards, the L has a smaller handle facing downwards. One is for putting the whole hand in the handle, the other is a traditional thumb grip

Hello, Birnando:

Thanks for explaining the difference in the Schwarzweisskeramik designs. Mine, then, seems to be the L version, since the handle points downward. Great scuttle, I'd say. Mine also has a tiny chip on the lip — I knocked something against it — and that gives it even more character, especially since I have covered the spot with a black marker. Class all the way, my good friend. Oh, yes.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen:

I had an earlier model Georgetown scuttle and could not wait to get rid of it. The scuttle was lovely to look at, but it fell way short in keeping the lather warm. My Dirty Bird 1.5 scuttle was fine in every way, but a friend saw it, fell in love with it, so I made a gift of it to him. Now I have the Schwarzweisskeramik, the white and black XL or L, I can't keep track of which size, and love it. It's an awkward looking scuttle. The large water head resembles a man with a drooping lower lip, pouting. It took me a while to get adjusted to it, but now I love it. I have ample room to swirl the brush, and the scuttle keeps my lather nice and warm.

Regards,

Obie

I've got their G5 scuttle. It was/is my first scuttle, and as such, works 'ok'. I've found that if I pour boiling water in both chambers and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then pour all that out and refill the lower chamber with more boiling water, it feels absolutely wonderful. That alot of prep, though, much more than I'm willing to sacrifice in the mornings. I feel that a Schwarzweisskeramik or Dirty Bird 1.5 is in my near future. Now all I have to do is decide which one I want.

Originally Posted by DerekC

I've got their G5 scuttle. It was/is my first scuttle, and as such, works 'ok'. I've found that if I pour boiling water in both chambers and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then pour all that out and refill the lower chamber with more boiling water, it feels absolutely wonderful. That alot of prep, though, much more than I'm willing to sacrifice in the mornings. I feel that a Schwarzweisskeramik or Dirty Bird 1.5 is in my near future. Now all I have to do is decide which one I want.

Derek, my good man, you will do well with either, as they both add to the pleasure of wet shaving.

Regards,

Obie

I picked up the last of the LE editions Oskar made up. It's a bit smaller than his regular size but still plenty big and the ideal design in my book.

I have a dirty bird 1.5 and it is great, since I got it my poor mug just on the counter starting at me with those sad puppy dog eyes, I highly recommend a scuttle, I'm planning on getting an old fashion type in the future, you know just to try it out.

-dan-

I received my Schwarzwesskeramik XL yesterday, it's quite awesome!


By blix72 at 2011-07-10


By blix72 at 2011-07-10


By blix72 at 2011-07-10
(DE for scale)

Blix, my dear friend, now that is a scuttle. Yes, indeed, it's about as majestic a scuttle can get. Good show.

Regards,

Obie