Mug or Scuttle - Do I need one?

I have been wet shaving for more years than I care to count, and in all that time I have never used either a mug or scuttle.

I used a stick soap, and lathered directly off that, then moved to creams. Over the last few years I have been using cake soap in a plastic tub (Wilkinson Sword).

I am going to be trying some of Colleens samples in the next few days, and was wondering how I am going to lather them up, hence the question.

The fact is, I have never really been shown how to use a mug or scuttle and wouldnt know what to do with one anyway:o

Here ya go: http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6096

No you don't need one, any small bowl or coffee mug will be just fine for lathering up soaps/creams in. The Moss Scuttle is just one of those 'nice to have' items, as it keeps your lather warm throughout sucessive passes.

I don't use mine very often but I generally break it out once a week for a change.

Edit: If you buy one it costs as much in shipping to the UK as the value of the scuttle, which makes it pretty expensive at almost £45 total. That said it's hand made and is a very nice piece, I don't regret buying mine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/Iwan_P1/moss.jpg

Btw Mantic from B&B has made several shaving videos and put them on Youtube, here's the lathering one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXVxXvv_8yk

Mantic's videos: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=mantic59

I took a large coffee cup I purchased for $1.69US, a small 4 oz desert crock that can be picked up at Wal-Mart (2 for aprox. $4.50US) and took it to a hardware store to fit it for a rubber O-ring (.78US). The crock fits perfectly inside the large coffee cup.

I fill both up with hot water and jump in the shower, get out and empty the small crock, dry it out and put it back into the coffee cup. Lather up and enjoy nice warm lather for at least 3 latherings. (I use it with Colleen's lavender shaving cream)

If interested in making your own scuttle, Idaho Mike posted a great thread some time back.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=8014

Check it out. He's the one I got my idea from.

Thats a neat idea, thanks!

If you just want to go the mug way, there's nothing special about shaving mugs. Just go to a department store or the UK equivalent of a dollar store and get a mug/cup/guacamole dish that will fit your soap for about 50 pence.

I have bought a nice soap from C + E thats in a nice wooden bowl. Do you keep it in the bowl to use?

Keep it. I bought mine without a bowl b/c I already had a matching one. Didn't like the soap though. Dried out too quickly. However, I love their creams.

Generally, the soaps sold in their own bowl are sold in bowls too shallow to get a good lather.

But you don't need a custom shaving mug (though I do intend to someday buy one with my initials on it!). I have a big cereal bowl that I use, and a few coffee mugs. An oversized coffee mug, as people have already said, works just fine.

Thanks guys. Looks like I'm going to be cruisin' the 'Homeware' departments:D

i always leave my soaps that come in a bowl or tub in that bowl or tub. the soaps that come plain as a puck i put into a plastic or glass small dish the same diameter as the soap.

little hot water, your wet brush and about 15 or so turns on the soap and your brush is now loaded with soap.

move to your small bowl, coffee mug, whatever item you are using to create lather and add a touch of hot water and spin away in that dish to make your fantastic lather. thats my style.

*******
1 bowl to hold the soap permenantly which i use to load the brush with some spins
1 bowl in which to create lather, bit of hot water and your loaded brush
*******

~J

I put my pucks of soap in little plastic pots. Here's one with a refill of Trumpers Sandalwood inside.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/Iwan_P1/bowl.jpg

I buy mine from here. :)

http://www.cookability.biz/pureseal-...ner/b_1309.htm

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Effigy

Thanks guys. Looks like I'm going to be cruisin' the 'Homeware' departments:D

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You're actually looking for shaving equipment, so there is no need to feel less manly about the whole thing. :D

I bought a whole bunch of dip dishes at Zellers that fit Colleen's soaps perfectly and even the C&E soap's looking good in'em :y

So long as you have a container to hold the cake of soap, you're in business.

If you want to lather on your face, you just load the brush up by swirling it on the soap and then spread the soap on your face and lather as you would your stick or cream.

I believe Colleen's soaps are glycerine based - in which case, they may actually be soft enough to be applied like a shave stick.

The key benefit to using a scuttle is that it keeps your lather warm, which is very nice. I actually use a metal bowl that I float in the hot water in my sink while I'm shaving - crude but effective. The other benefit of a metal vs. ceramic bowl is that I don't have to worry about dropping it!

I lather soaps and creams on my face and in a bowl depending on my mood and how much time I have.

As with much of this shaving business, much of this is personal preference.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Iwan

Btw Mantic from B&B has made several shaving videos and put them on Youtube, here's the lathering one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXVxXvv_8yk

Mantic's videos: http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=mantic59

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Someone has been watching Alton Brown :-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by steve

I took a large coffee cup I purchased for $1.69US, a small 4 oz desert crock that can be picked up at Wal-Mart (2 for aprox. $4.50US) and took it to a hardware store to fit it for a rubber O-ring (.78US). The crock fits perfectly inside the large coffee cup.

I fill both up with hot water and jump in the shower, get out and empty the small crock, dry it out and put it back into the coffee cup. Lather up and enjoy nice warm lather for at least 3 latherings. (I use it with Colleen's lavender shaving cream)

If interested in making your own scuttle, Idaho Mike posted a great thread some time back.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=8014

Check it out. He's the one I got my idea from.

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Totally cool! I've been wondering how to have warm lather--- Wal-mart here i come.
Vinny

Go get 'em!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Effigy

I have been wet shaving for more years than I care to count, and in all that time I have never used either a mug or scuttle.

I used a stick soap, and lathered directly off that, then moved to creams. Over the last few years I have been using cake soap in a plastic tub (Wilkinson Sword).

I am going to be trying some of Colleens samples in the next few days, and was wondering how I am going to lather them up, hence the question.

The fact is, I have never really been shown how to use a mug or scuttle and wouldnt know what to do with one anyway:o

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I use a scuttle on the weekends when I have more time. Hot lathers feels real good on your face. During the week I don't have as much time so I just put a dab of the cream on my brush and lather on my face..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Feng_Li

Someone has been watching Alton Brown :-)

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Greetings--

I just joined the site and did a quick "ego-surf" on my handle. Yes, Alton Brown is definitely one of my inspirations!
:bow

--Mark

Mark,

Welcome aboard. I learned DE shaving from your videos--good stuff. You'll probably pick up a few things around here that'll help with any straight razor videos you have planned...

Josh

If you don't mind my asking, Mantic, where do you find all the cool vintage video footage?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mantic

Greetings--

I just joined the site and did a quick "ego-surf" on my handle. Yes, Alton Brown is definitely one of my inspirations!
:bow

--Mark

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Good to see you here.

X

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Feng_Li

If you don't mind my asking, Mantic, where do you find all the cool vintage video footage?

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Mostly from Archive.org. The Prelinger Archives are public domain so I don't have to worry about copyright problems. :)

--Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Effigy

I have been wet shaving for more years than I care to count, and in all that time I have never used either a mug or scuttle.

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Unless you have a beard coming down to your knees, it would seem like you've answered your own question!!

I got a nice mug from Wilkonsons here in the UK. I was a tanket tea mug that I just through was really strange thing to drink tea out of, but it looked really good as a shaving mug. It works really well and Colleen's soap fits perfectly into it (it's too small for Kent soap.

Cost me about £1 and now have three of them :) Work's great for both soap and creame.

Steven