Thread: What exactly is a scuttle

So I noticed that, peculiarly enough, there's no wiki for scuttles (or at least that I could find). I'm semi-new (about 2 months) but I still don't really understand how scuttles work. I know they're meant to keep lather warm, right? but how do they work? Can you use cream in them or just soap? Are certain materials better than others? Are they worth the money?

There are two cavities in a scuttle. The lather bowl and below it, a hot water bowl. The steam from the hot water keeps the lather bowl and the lather inside it warm. There are many designs, but that is the essence of them.

Originally Posted by GaiusValeriusPulcher

So I noticed that, peculiarly enough, there's no wiki for scuttles (or at least that I could find). I'm semi-new (about 2 months) but I still don't really understand how scuttles work. I know they're meant to keep lather warm, right? but how do they work? Can you use cream in them or just soap? Are certain materials better than others? Are they worth the money?

This link will take you to some reviews where members have evaluated scuttles and you can also see some pictures.

Miscellaneous Reviews - Straight Razor Place Forums

Basically it is one bowl on top of another, molded together. You put hot water in the bottom bowl through the spout so that the lather you mix in the top bowl will be warm on your face.

Whether or not they are useful is up to the individual. How important is toasty warm lather to you while you shave?

You can load up your damp brush on your puck of soap and then add 5 drops of water into the bowl of your scuttle and whip it good,also adding more drops of water as needed.Also you can do the same as above with a little twist and add 1/2 inch of shave cream that comes in a tube into the scuttle and you will have cool whip!!! Lots of suds, my fav. good luck

I noticed when looking at the usual web shops that a lot of them seem to have holes in the bowl part, which I don't really understand. Do they all have something like this? Is it useful? (example: Shaving Lather Mugs and Bowls) Seems like it would just let your lather water fall through the cracks before you managed to whip it up.

Of course the hole is where you fill the scuttle with hot tap water and that hot water heats up the inner bowl where you make your lather. Hope this helps

Actually the holes I believe he is referring to are the drainage holes or I've also seen them (inacurrately) referred to as steam holes. The idea is to build the lather on top of a puck of soap which was placed in the tiny lather bowl. This style of scuttle utilized this way has been basically pointless IME. I have found that the newer style scuttles work better.

Ok now what I was originally going to type:
A scuttle is the chosen form of transportation for any decapod crustacean of the suborder Brachyura as well as many other crustaceans that resemble the true crab. The term originated in 1400-1450 from the late M.E. scottlynge.

Sorry for the silliness.

so i looked at the reviewed scuttles and I can't quite figure out where to find any of them

Use what works for you, if a suttle works great. If a glass mixing bowl works, fine. If you can use your hand to make lather, go for it.... OK, maybe the hand is a bit too much...

In the old days, there was no running water, and you shaved in your bedroom.

The scuttle mug was a combination cup to hold hot water, a spout to dip your brush in to wet it, and a soap/lather bowl. The holes in the lather bowl were for drainage.

I think the idea of heating the lather bowl was a "feature" you got along with the basic solution to porting water to use in shaving. The mug worked equally well with cold water.