Thread: Dirty Bird 1.5 Scuttle

I love my Dirty Bird 1.5 with the cross hatches. I fill both the scuttle and inside the bowl with hot water and cover with a town to retain heat. After the shower, I empty it and fill the inner scuttle with hot water again. Then I build my nice warm lather with my Mitchell's Wool Fat. Nothing beats a warm lather on a cold Wisconsin morning.

The scuttle takes up no room at all. It is right at home setting next to "my" sink.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

This slowly raises the temperature of the scuttle so it does not crack from a quick change in temperature.

That's probably a good idea. The instructions for the scuttle from Julie specifically say boiling water won't hurt the scuttle but it will be too hot for the lather. That's why I pour in so much cold water and then boiling water, for the consistency in resulting water temperatures.

With the shaving cup, I doubt the boiling water will crack it because I pour the hot water into colder water, so the colder water simply heats up but is never near scalding temperatures.

When I wash out the scuttle, I use warm water and leave the hot water in the outer bowl as I rinse. I only pour it all out once I'm finished cleaning. I think this helps to stabilize the temperature of the scuttle as well as minimizing the amount of lather that might make its way into the outer bowl.

So I have a method to my madness. Is it scientific? Nope. I may even crack my equipment. If I do, I'll offer my failure up on the altar of experience and share that feast with SRP.

I just ordered the orginal DB scuttle (not the 1.5). The 1.5 seemed a little big for my liking. I also ordered the standard ridges and opted not to get the webbing. I'm sure the standard ridges will greatly help my lathering compared to a simple coffe mug. I placed my order last week and it won't be ready until mid-late January. Small price to pay for a really nice hand made scuttle.

Wife got me the DB 1.5 with the swirl ridges for my birthday and I am so spoiled now. I'm on vacation here in WA state and using my travel bowl, plastic from Walmart, and miss that warm lather so much. Oh well.

It did take me a little bit to figure out the difference in lathering. I primarily use Mama Bear's Autumn Lodge and it definitely lathered differently with the hot bowl. I don't use boiling water, only tap hot but that seems to be more than enough for 3 passes plus touch up.

I fill both bowels with hot tap water and soak the brush while in the shower. When getting ready to shave I pour the water from the scuttle into a stopped sink and refill the inner chamber with hot tap water and start to build my lather. Have a great shave then rinse out both the inner and lathering bowls, dry the outside and drain the insice very well and call it good.

I did add some little stick on rubber feet to the bottom as my scuttle didn't sit exactly level.

Love it.

Charlie

Originally Posted by jskiles

Just emailed Julie and asked to add the webbing. Did I mention the whole "crack cocaine" aspect to this stuff? I'm going to need a bigger bathroom at this rate!

I already have plans for some shelves and the bottom of my sink is clean from developing chemicals ( left from my son school project 2003) and it's been filled with soaps and creams! Yes, worst than crack! Double O

P.S. My dirty bird is also on the way. It's going to be easier with the scuttle than the way I do it now!

Originally Posted by jskiles

Just emailed Julie and asked to add the webbing. Did I mention the whole "crack cocaine" aspect to this stuff? I'm going to need a bigger bathroom at this rate!

Just commandeer another bathroom like I did.

Originally Posted by BigTerp

I just ordered the orginal DB scuttle (not the 1.5). The 1.5 seemed a little big for my liking. I also ordered the standard ridges and opted not to get the webbing. I'm sure the standard ridges will greatly help my lathering compared to a simple coffe mug. I placed my order last week and it won't be ready until mid-late January. Small price to pay for a really nice hand made scuttle.

I am waiting on a BD Scuttle. I ordered the webbing since it seemed to be a good idea for making lather.

I have three suggestions for using your Dirty Bird:

1) Put a thermal pad of some sort under your scuttle. Anything to keep the scuttle off the cold counter will help it stay warmer longer. I cut a circle out of a padded thermal shipping bag (bubble wrap on one side, silver material on the other)
2) Pre-warm your scuttle. I keep a hot water kettle in the bathroom to pre-heat the scuttle. Boiling water will make the scuttle WAY too hot to make good lather, but it will pre heat the scuttle beautifully while you shower. When you get out of the shower, dump the water and add hottest water from your tap...then you're ready to go.
3) Get DB's "Brush Scuttle". Even if you don't face lather, the brush scuttle is an excellent tool to soak your brush. Sure, you could just soak your brush in the sink, but the brush scuttle allows you to do so while keeping the sink clear. This makes it easier to splash hot water on your face just before lathering...and the brush scuttle ensures your brush will be saturated and warm. Very nice little extra, IMO.

Lastly, I actually went without the webbing in the shaving scuttle. I had no problem whipping up nice lather in my old smooth-faced lather bowl, so my "swirl" pattern is plenty, IMO. Less brush wear too.

However you do it, good call on the Dirty Bird...



*Edit-Actually, I don't put boiling water in the scuttle, I give it a few minuets to cool after a boil...too hot for lather, good for a pre heat.