Heating up Shaving Creme/Soap

First, thanks to everyone that's contributed to all the useful information here. It's really been a big help to me as a new straight razor enthusiast. I'm happy to report that after a couple months I'm not anemic from blood loss anymore. I've actually improved so much with my technique, I don't even have to cheat and use a girly razor for touch ups.

I personally have a hard time getting the water as hot as I'd like to make nice warm lather. I'm not sure if anyone else has had this idea or not, but I've never seen it so I thought I'd share it. I just nuke a coffee cup full of water and put the bowl on top to keep it hot while I shower and get ready for it.

After dipping the brush and letting it soak up some hot water, I just slap it around inside the sink a couple times to get rid of the excess liquid, so i don't make the lather too loose or burn the hell out of myself.

Attachment 110183

I've also taken to using a cold towel after shaving.. Really makes my face feel great.

Anyway, that's my humble contribution, I hope it can make someone's shave more enjoyable and comfortable.

That's a poor man scuttle, it works! The bigger the water bowl, the longer the heat will last. If you get it too hot, it could destroy the lather. This is how people across the tracks do it!

Attachment 110186

Double O

Try a bowl with ice and water, soak the towel in it, while you shave and use it for after you are done. It's the best! Double O

I fill the sink basin with hot water and submerge my dish and brush; not the soap itself. Once out of the shower and ready to shave I load the brush with soap, or cream, remove the dish from the hot water and make my lather in a warm dish. Works well for me, YMMV

I fill the sink with hot water and submerge my head and hold my breath. After that, if I remember why I did it in the first place, I lather up and shave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Double0757

That's a poor man scuttle, it works! The bigger the water bowl, the longer the heat will last. If you get it too hot, it could destroy the lather. This is how people across the tracks do it!

Attachment 110186

Double O

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+1 Once you get yourself a nice scuttle, you won't be using yours any more. i face-lather and enjoy it very much. You could also try cold-shaving. Use cold water throughout your shave. It is fantastic!

I fill the sink with hot water, sink the bowl, brush, and razor while I shower then lather in the bowl (after removing from the water :) ). This keeps the heat in the bowl, lather, and brush. I'll sink the soap in the water but I don't leave it in the water.

I just bought a Robert Becker shaving scuttle 004 with lid and plug/cork.
works great, I just submerge it in very hot water in the sink while I get my other things ready for the shave load up my brush, and make lather in the scuttle, has a patterned bowl bottom so making lather is easy.

I also reccomend the Becker scuttle also because it is more reasonably priced than some on the market right now.
He use's molds instead of throughing it on a wheel then does the rest of the finishing proccess, more price freindly!!
Very pretty also, celestial blue was the color I chose.

IMHO, of course!! tinkersd.

Here's another vote for Robert Becker's scuttles. I bought a "small" for, I think, less than $20 shipped (?) and couldn't be happier. I use it often as a brush scuttle. A word of warning, though. Robert Becker is hard to find. Here's a link:

http://www.robertsfeatsofclay.com/shaving.html

If you do a search for "Robert Becker scuttles" all you'll get are forum comments. If you search for "feats of clay", you get hits for another service entirely. I've sent him an email telling him how hard he is to find, but I guess he has enough word of mouth business that he really doesn't care.

I recommend a scuttle as well. I fill mine with water fresh from the kettle, or hot sink water if I'm in a pinch for time. My tap water gets plenty hot enough.
I don't actually whip up the lather in the scuttle, I just park the brush there when it's not in my hand.. keeps the lather nice and warm.
I had a local (Charleston, WV) potter make me a scuttle. His price beat anyone else I could find online, and he was a pleasure to deal with. I actually went over and watched him throw the scuttle, it was really something. I'll start a thread about his scuttle when I have time. Here's a photo, and his email address if you're interested. Attachment 112671
Feel free to ask the potter, Jim Hores, for more info: jfhores@suddenlink.net
He shaves with a brush himself, and had never heard of a scuttle before I commissioned mine. He liked the idea so much he said he was going to make one for himself. I certainly love mine.

Get a dirty bird! Worth the wait, worth the price!
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...F68A3CD3DE.jpg

I wish all these highly recommended scuttles didn't look so "pottery" looking, I really want to get one! I'm just not a fan of that aesthetic at all, but I want my lather to stay warm dangit.

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Originally Posted by sixsixty

I wish all these highly recommended scuttles didn't look so "pottery" looking, I really want to get one! I'm just not a fan of that aesthetic at all, but I want my lather to stay warm dangit.

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i felt exactly the same way at first. Check out the shave den thread and look at some of the people's setups. Takes some gear creeping for it to click sometimes. I think eventually you'll be jonesing for a scuttle.

Also, the pottery scuttles work the best and consider what my first scuttle/dish looked like:
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/...nagh/photo.jpg
The way I see it; function is more important to appearance, finding something you like and looks good is a bonus.
PLUS, shaving with a straight razor is manly no matter what color the flower on your scuttle is. haha

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sixsixty

I wish all these highly recommended scuttles didn't look so "pottery" looking, I really want to get one! I'm just not a fan of that aesthetic at all, but I want my lather to stay warm dangit.

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Just so you know, Jim Hores can make you a scuttle to your exact specifications, and probably for the same price. The one in my picture was custom made, exactly how I wanted mine to look.. I'm sure if you wanted him to make you one that didn't look so "pottery"-ish, he could pull it off, he's an old pro; and if he can't, he'll certainly tell you up front. He's really good about getting back with you on emails, so if you can describe to him exactly what you want, it couldn't hurt to ask him.

There's this one:

Georgetown Pottery: G20 Shaving Scuttle Mug

Very clean lines, IMHO.