Scuttle, Scuttle, Toil & Trouble

I have a brand new Dovo Micarta in white and almost all of the rest of the gear needed for a quality straight razor shave. I just received a Rooney S3S2 faux ivory shaving brush in the mail and am itching to find a suitable scuttle. I'd like to find one that is good for spinning up warm lather in, using the Proraso shaving cream I have on order.

I'm itching to start learning. Let the nicks begin!

I'm strongly considering pulling the trigger on this Steve Woodhead:
Large Wet Shaving Scuttle #2 Ivory - Shaving Mug / Bowl / Scuttle

It is competitively priced and appears to be very well-made.

Questions-
1. Is the #2 a good size? I've never made lather like this, but feel like a wide opening is good thing. He has a bigger one, but I wondered if it would be too large.
2. Am I going to regret not having that little "sidecar" like I see on an Oskar?
3. Why not just immerse a shaving mug/bowl in hot water, take a shower, empty the mug/bowl and the sink, refill the sink a bit less and sit the mug/bowl in the water to keep it warm? I'm guessing that isn't as convenient as I sounds, splashing, wet hands, etc...
4. Am I correct in assuming that the scuttles with a smaller diameter are mainly for brush warming as opposed to building lather in?

Look at the dirty bird scuttles ..

For keeping the lather warm, it is pretty much dependant upon its water reservoir size. Living in cold Norway, I enjoy a warm shave, especially in the cold of the winter. I have a 250ml scuttle, and one that holds 450 ml. I find the 250ml doesn't see much use during the colder months.

Best of luck.

i have a steve woodhead scuttle and its absolutely fantastic. i have tried pouring boiling water straight from the kettle into it but i found that dried the lather up in seconds.

what i find best now is to fill it up with hot water from the tap, soak my brush and go for shower. when i come out the shower i will refresh the hot water inside. its invaluable during the winter months!

Try looking on eBay for Robert Becker scuttles. I got one a few months back and love it! He only has one posted (I believe he only sells them on eBay anymore). The price is great at $50.

I have a Robert Becker scuttle with very similar dimensions and it serves well so I think you are OK in that department. That is a handsome looking scuttle you linked to.

Bob

I lived in Finland for a couple years. I never tried warm lather there, but I did enjoy sauna!

I looked at Becker.

Good news: He has his own website.

Bad news: It looks like he is reworking it and isn't even taking orders for several weeks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YakHerder

I lived in Finland for a couple years. I never tried warm lather there, but I did enjoy sauna!

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Did you do for a roll in the snow or a jump into the lake after?

Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YakHerder

I looked at Becker.

Good news: He has his own website.

Bad news: It looks like he is reworking it and isn't even taking orders for several weeks.

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The website was like that when I got mine too. If you see something on his site you could probably msg him on eBay to get it made.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobH

Did you do for a roll in the snow or a jump into the lake after?

Bob

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Oh, yes! I got to do it once. Ordinarily we just took sauna in our building with a cold shower afterwards.

Once, however, some friends invited us out to their cabin in the dead of winter. We hiked in and chopped a hole in the ice (a huge amount of work) while the wood stove warmed the sauna.

Finns seem to enjoy testing us Americans to see what kind of heat we can take. That sauna was one of the hottest I ever took. It was so hot, you didn't want to move. Any movement would stir the air and make it burn all the more. I wasn't even contemplating using the birch leaves to get the blood pumping.

Anyway, once we were properly drooping with heat, we walked out through the snow to the hole we had cut in the ice on the lake. The steam was just rolling off of us. The right way to enter the water is to just jump in, which we did.

The next 20-30 second were some of the most exhilarating in my life. It was spectacular.

I couldn't even feel the cold. My skin, on the other hand, knew what was going on and tightened up instantly. It must have had an effect on the blood vessels throughout my body, because I distinctly remember my heart beginning to race and getting a surge of adrenalin like I had never felt before. For a few short seconds, I was Superman.

Just as the cold began to register, I drew on the attendant rush of energy to leap out of the hole and wall marched back to the sauna for a repeat performance. This time, we put a couple of sausages on the rocks while we bathed and benefitted from the wonderful smell.

A massive appetite and a little of that Finnish brown mustard (which I have never found here in the States) made that simple sausage seem like a meal fit or a king.

What a delightfully memorable day. Thank you for jogging my memory.

You are a braver man than I in that case. We have a large Finnish population in the area and saunas a very common but was never tempted to try that.

Bob

The mention of Finnish brown mustard got me thinking. Did you mean this mustard http://www.finntrade.com/Turun-Sinap...ed-p/15250.htm . We can that brand in 3 different strengths locally. Yes, it is very good.

Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobH

The mention of Finnish brown mustard got me thinking. Did you mean this mustard Turun Sinappi Finnish Mustard 125 g, Red, Strong (Vakeva), Red label . We can that brand in 3 different strengths locally. Yes, it is very good.

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Holy crap, Yes! You're a genius. I'm ordering some immediately.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YakHerder

Holy crap, Yes! You're a genius. I'm ordering some immediately.

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Ah, finally in my twilight years some just recognition. :D Seriously though, glad I could help scratch that itch.

Bob

Robert Becker takes orders if you email him directly. I ordered his large scuttle with brush holder and it is marvelous. I believed I paid $42 (shipping included). Took him about a month to deliver it because they are custom made to your specifications. I also own a SRD scuttle and it is OK but the Becker outperforms it, particularly in its ability to sty warm.