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Now I understand that this is not the first time someone has thought of this, but has anyone tried a mortar bowl... (As in mortar and pestle) as a shaving bowl. I know that many can be found in ceramic and marble. I figure that they would hold heat for quite a while and usually have a large bowl for lather, some even have handle holders for the pestle. Does anyone have experience with these or any ideas as to ceramic vs marble etc.?
The thought had crossed my mind, basically, anything I see that can hold water and soap, I've thought..Hmmmm....Maybe...?
I've actually used a mini crock pot with a scuttle that looks like a flower pot, basically a double boiler. Works great..if you can find a little potpouri crock pot. Here's a pic. I thought it was a good idea at first, turns out, timing is everything with this setup. You can make it work well; however, if you take too long, the heat can cook the lather...
I have a Mortar and Pestle, purely decorative at this point. I've been using the DB Double scuttle. My Mortar and pestle is amazingly thick and heavy, and too small, but I don't see why a larger wouldn't work.
I can tell you from personal experience that the ceramic ones work quite well. It's what I used prior to purchasing a scuttle, and holds the heat well for a nice warm lather. Marble, on the other hand, is considered a "cold" stone, and is used in pastry making to keep dough chilled as it is rolled out. I'm not so sure that it would work as well if you like a hot lather shave. Certainly worth giving it a try if that's what you have on hand, but if you are thinking of purchasing one, I'd go with ceramic.
Hi Zib, I really like the idea of the potpourri pot. :hmmm: I have one that uses a tea light candle to heat. I'll have to try that (probably later in the year when the weather cools off a bit).
Thanks for the info....The thing with the Potpourri crock is knowing when to unplug it....IIRC, it's after first pass, ymmv, I had two, and each heated differently, of course...
One small potential problem with a Mortar is the usually rough surface at the bottom of the bowl... This can cause excessive wear on the brush bristles...
Ridges etc: are fine but if you notice in real scuttles they are still glazed, the ridges as I understand them just help add air.. but a Mortar is usually designed specifically to grind compounds, and they have a rather rough surface to help facilitate that... I would be very careful with the choice myself
I've shopped around, and for 6$ I found a ceramic mortar, that I'm willing to give a try, if nothing else it's only 6$. I'll post some pics when I get a second.
Haha! I love this! Not sure if I will try it, though...
I was using a very small mortar, with textured surface, but have now swapped to a Vintage French Coffee bowl after buying a larger brush. I think I need to visiit some antique shops to find new bowl ideas.
Gentlemen:Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
I agree with my friend Glen. Swirling the brush on a rough surface such as mortar in all likelihood will eventually damage the brush.
Regards,
Obie
This has come up before about the motor bowl. I think the solution was, sand the inside down until it's smooth and then you'll be OK.
Thought I'd throw my hat into the ring:
I use a marble mortar, I made sure to get one with a glazed bottom. The process is simple, I run hot water on my bowl before I shave to heat the marble up. I fill the sink with the bowl in it, then go have a shower. Come out make my lather. Being new it takes me some time to shave. My mortar usually retains it's heat for my 3 passes (about 25-30minutes). If I don't have the shower the mortar actually is hotter longer. Just my 2¢ or my hat or whatever you wanna call that?
I use a soapstone mortar with a celtic motif carved in the outside. Keeps the heat and is nice and heavy in the hand. The inside was completely smooth so I added some cuts (soapstone carves like butter) to increase the ease of making lather. If it hurts the brush after a few years I'll get another brush.
Zacsdaddy
Great ideas! My wife is a pharmacist and collects mortars and pestles. I shave cold, so don't need the temperature-holding property of a heavy bowl... or do I? I'll try keeping one in the fridge and see.
A vintage French coffee bowl... now that'd take me back to happy memories. Cafe au lait in great big face-warming doses... after the shave I'd probably dream off and slurp down the leftovers.
My first shave bowl was a big coffee mug that I got from my sister as a present, but alas it was white lol, and alas now has a crack through it, my next after I noticed said crack was a dish that hairdressers use for mixing hair dye, my barber gave me it after I commented I couldn't find a good cheap shaving bowl. That lasted me months and still does its job as atravel shave bowl now that I have upgraded to a scuttle.
The good thing about the dye tup is that it has measuringmarks up the side wich act like little ridges.
Geek
I know I'm a little late on this thread but I use a mortar as my normal everyday lather bowl.
It does a great job, I leave it the sink half submerged in hot water while I shower. It retains its heat very well IMO. I never really thought about damaging the brush until I read Glen's post, but I just went and felt it and mine's quite smooth inside so I'm not to concerned.
I think it looks pretty cool too.
Grant
Attachment 74214
It does indeed look pretty cool. I found mine retained heat well too. Also, its weight meant it would not float in the sink, as my lighter bowls tend to do, and sometimes tip a bit and get water in, ruining the second pass lather. The only reason I swapped was that I was using a very small mortar, I may give it another whirl, though, it's always worth giving something another whirl...Quote:
Originally Posted by baldy
Thought I'd post mine as well :)
Attachment 74225
When you really think about it, what is a "shaving bowl"? Just a large enough bowl someone calls a "shaving bowl" and charges you extra for.
Yeah. I spent sometime on the weekend scouring antique shops for scuttles and old sugar/cream/coffee bowls to use. Came up empty handed. Not one person I spoke to knew what a scuttle was! What IS the world coming to!Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
What do you reckon about this one? It looks to be a good size.
New 2-in-1 Porcelain Mortar and Pestle - Herb/Herbs | eBay
$35 inc postage is too pricey in my opinion. I managed to pick up several great bowls, a scuttle and mortar bowl in recycle shops such as Vinnies, Endeavour etc. Much cheaper than antique shops. I paid between $1 and max $5. It can be fun looking in the recycle shops too. They do not see any value in these items as we may!
A big coffee mug or sugar bowl will do just fine.
Or you can ask an old relative if they have something laying around the house.
I use my Grandfather's shaving mug from about 1910, that I remember him using in the 70ies.
Love that shaving brush! You can ward off vampires with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Otto
:OT It is based on the The Windsor Series Chess Set, a favorite of mine. /End :OTQuote:
Originally Posted by roughkype
