Thread: Scuttle vs bowl for creating a lather and keeping it warm

Originally Posted by Jack0458

Thanks Ed. I'm going to get the G20. Then all my concerns will be covered. I want to make sure about one thing. I want to get soap on my brush then create the lather in the bowl on the scuttle. I have a small bowl I use just for soaking my brush in hot water. It's only about 2" in diameter so it's not for lather. since I started looking at scuttles I always figured the lather is created in the bowl on the scuttle. I've seen a couple of videos recently where they face lather and only use the scuttle bowl for sitting the brush in while shaving. So in your post when you say soap cup you are referring to the bowl on top of the scuttle aren't you? Not the cup beside your scuttle.

You mentioned different temperatures. I don't know if we have a cooking thermometer. Will ask wife. At what temp. does it become too hot for your face? So far I have used a big big coffee cup for lather and I sit it in a larger glass bowl with water in it. I sit that on a wet towel in the microwave and heat it all for 2.5 minutes. When I get a scuttle I'll need to play with the microwave time some to get an idea of how long to heat it. I've also thought about bowling a small pan of water to take into the bathroom for extra water (if I need it). I might look at small coffee makers for heating the water. Then I could start it and it will keep water hot for and hour or two.

I've always considered shaving a pain, a necessary evil. I normally overthink things but this straight razor shaving has become a task that requires more thought than I ever thought I'd need to shave. Jack

Yes exactly you have it. I lather in the scuttle's own bowl. The scuttle bowl (soap cup -- there are two reservoirs: one for hot water and one to mix the lather in -- I wasn't sure how to describe them individually), anyway; the scuttle bowl has bumps on the bottom and ridges on the side. A side benefit of the scuttle is soap lathers up really easily in the scuttle. You can make a big mountain of shiny foamy lather easily. You just have to add a little splash of water for each pass if you are a slow as I am. A very little perhaps two teaspoons or so...

The black mug is where I keep Col Conk. I load the brush in the mug and then make the lather in the scuttle. So far I have a permanent container to load the soap for each type of soap I own; except for the creams which come with their own containers.

And I agree with you, getting a routine down makes a huge difference. I have mapped my beard about three times now. And I've been doing what you are doing -- figuring out the best way to go after beard removal. What kind of strokes, grips, and order of facial regions which work best... Today actually I figured out a little subtlety in razor grip for my left hand. By shifting my thumb on the jimps to mirror what I do with my right hand I get a better and more controlled razor angle to shave sideways on my neck. Seems really small but it worked great!

On the surface of the brush, 145 degrees is about as high as I want to go on my face. I know with the microwave I can get the temperature higher, but some of the soaps break down. Also it is uncomfortable on my face, good news you can hold the brush with lather in the air for just a few seconds and the temperature drops quickly.

And before starting the straight razor, I felt exactly how you do about shaving. Now I look forward to shaving! This is a great sport.


Best,

Ed

Originally Posted by EdHutton

And before starting the straight razor, I felt exactly how you do about shaving. Now I look forward to shaving! This is a great sport.


Best,

Ed

I look forward to shaving now too. I wish my beard would grow faster so I could shave more. Now that I getting better edges on my razor and some really nice shaves it's more exciting. My poor styptic pencis feels neglected. I'm sure after the newness wears off I'll be glad my beard doesn't grow faster.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If the lather even approaches too hot for your face you won't have much lather because the heat will cause it to break down.

So far I've only had that problem when I got too aggressive with the microwave heating. And you are right it isn't comfortable on your face so why bother...

Since I've been using the Bunn to heat water for the scuttle that has never been an issue. I am a new SR shaver however and I am slow. So lather will dry out in the scuttle if I don't add a little water (not much a couple of teaspoons will do) between passes.

I've seen a graphic on the back of Synergy soaps which gives a temperature range of 95-140 degrees Fahrenheit. I'm curious if this might be a characteristic of glycerin soaps in general? Anyone know?

My experiments are crude and subjective. I've tried hot tap water and the Bunn for heating the scuttle. The soap seemed to work the same other than the temperature. But it seems I'm in the range at least from the synergy soap information...

Any soap people or chemist out there who can fill in details I'd love to hear it...

Best,

Ed

I bought a G20 and also a Dirty Bird. I preferred the Dirty Bird and gave the G20 to a family member.

CaySea,

I'd love to hear the comparison between the two products. I also looked at the Dirty Bird and thought it looked rather good. I just didn't have a lot of information between the two of them. Ultimately I picked the G20 because I could get one in black that matched my soap mug and brush handle.

Love to hear more!

Best,

Ed

Originally Posted by CaySea

I bought a G20 and also a Dirty Bird. I preferred the Dirty Bird and gave the G20 to a family member.

What is it about the Dirty Bird you liked more? Anything specific?

I use a scuttle. I keep a kettle in the rest room for a almost sculling hot shave. I have noticed some of the shaving produces out there do not react well to it being so hot. Those produce end up at other peoples houses.

LOL! Another hot lather addict, is that a new acronym? HLA -- Hot Lather Addict. I haven't got there yet, but I am not far away. So far all of the glycerin soaps I've tried work at 145 degrees. I've only had one problem with a cream that just broke down.

I'm still chuckling. Just get rid of the product, fabulous, well at least I know how my HLA will end up :-). Heck the hot lather and hot towel beard preparation for me are as good as the actual shave results. My shave den is at my office. I have a big leather chair that tips back at my desk. I apply hot lather, and the hot towel, and kick back in the nice chair until the towel cools off. It feels exactly like a barbershop experience.

Love your attitude, if the soap breaks down, I need another soap!

I was hesitant to offer an unsolicited comparison in that this thread seems to be a predominantly Georgetown Pottery crowd, but since you asked I will offer my observations. Let me preface this by saying that I think the GP product was excellent, I simply preferred the Dirty Bird. When I made the purchase (internet) I found the GP product first and bought one. Within an hour I came across the Dirty Bird and it caught my eye and I bought it with the intent of comparing the two. The DB arrived first so I used it first. Being this is my first foray in to the world of scuttles, the fact that I tried one first may have jaded my opinion of the other.

So that we are clear I had purchased a G-20 and an Original Dirty Bird (not the 1.5). This has bearing on my opinion that the G-20 was a bit more cumbersome while handling with wet soapy hands. I did come close to dropping it a couple of times, where as I did not have any issue holding the DB. I like the configuration of the rim on the DB that has sort of a lip to it, where as the GP has no lip at all. It may be that I am a bit sloppy in working my lather in the bowl, but I seem to have an easier time keeping the lather in the bowl with the lip.

Another thing I preferred was that the design of the DB placed the water fill on a lower plane than the rim of the bowl. I did have, but found that I sometimes did not use, the stopper for the G-20. I found that without the stopper it was easy to slosh water out and into the bowl.

The DB I purchased, while a different color than the one above, had the same spider-web type ridges in the bowl. I think they do a really good job when working up a lather. Another advantage I find with the lip on the bowl rim, is that when using soap I can work my brush on the soap and then use the lip to pull the brush over to leave the lather in the bowl before going back to the soap for more. Raking the lather off the brush on the G-20 didn't seem as efficient.

Please understand that all of the above is my opinion based on the observations of someone new to scuttles. If you disagree with any of this I would love to hear why. Maybe I can learn something in the process.

Oh ........ Scuttles Rock