Are scuttles worth it?

[Mbuckwash]

I am sorry if I have repeated what's been said in the past, but I did do a search prior to posting this but really didn't find an answer to my question:

Are shaving scuttles worth their price? I typically use a glass bowl to lather and it keeps my lather "somewhat" warm...but I imagine it pales on comparison to a Dirty Bird scuttle made of clay.

For those that have switch to scuttles, do they truly keep the lather THAT warm? Is it as warm as the hot lather that comes from a hot lather machine, like at the barber? I am trying to rationalize the $71 price tag that a DB scuttle dawns. I just would be truly upset if the cost wasn't worth it, where my lather was kept very warm for the entirety of my three pass shave.

Thank you all in advance for your words of wisdom!

 

[Raven312]

It's been years since I've had lather from a hot lather machine but based on memory, I'd say the machine is (consistently) warmer. However, the scuttle gets the lather warm enough where it feels like a luxurious experience. I truly feel pampered when I shave (and I used to HATE shaving - for most of my shaving life). I'm on the way out the door to pick up my 2nd one now...


View attachment 353498

 

[Nomad1600]

I sure hope so, as my Robert Becker is done and I get to pick it up in San Antonio next week.

 

[Doc226]

I face lather and put my brush in a scuttle between passes, keeps the lather nice and warm.

 

[mwhitcraft]

I face lather and put my brush in a scuttle between passes, keeps the lather nice and warm.

I do the same and love it. However, I do not get lather nearly as hot as what comes out of a hot lather machine.

 

[Acmemfg]

I float the bowl in the sink which is filled with hot water. Works fine......bowl has to be a heavy-ish pottery sort of affair though.

 

[Raven312]

I am sorry if I have repeated what's been said in the past, but I did do a search prior to posting this but really didn't find an answer to my question:

Are shaving scuttles worth their price? I typically use a glass bowl to lather and it keeps my lather "somewhat" warm...but I imagine it pales on comparison to a Dirty Bird scuttle made of clay.

For those that have switch to scuttles, do they truly keep the lather THAT warm? Is it as warm as the hot lather that comes from a hot lather machine, like at the barber? I am trying to rationalize the $71 price tag that a DB scuttle dawns. I just would be truly upset if the cost wasn't worth it, where my lather was kept very warm for the entirety of my three pass shave.

Thank you all in advance for your words of wisdom!

Just a thought - check out Robert Becker. He does great work and his prices do not belie his quality. Should you decide you don't like it, you'll most likely get most of your money back if you sell it.

 

[Raven312]

I sure hope so, as my Robert Becker is done and I get to pick it up in San Antonio next week.

I have a Becker and I love it. I just got SAD and wanted another... a lot of them are so beautiful. LOL

 

[ysbg]

Just wondering, does it give you a better shave if you are able to keep the lather nice and warm between passes? Or is it just for the enjoyment of the feeling of hot lather?

 

[deoxy4]

I don't have much counter top. After breaking my scuttle on the tiled floor I decided to try an aluminum bowl floated in the sink. For me it works as well as a scuttle, is simpler and won't break. If you use a small to medium brush the link below provides a cost effective alternative.

http://www.dansk.com/your-home/ente...minum-small-bowl-by-dansk-174?R=2134&kf=e1413

 

[JCinPA]

I face lather and put my brush in a scuttle between passes, keeps the lather nice and warm.

This. No it is not hot lather, it is warm lather. But for three quarters of the year, that is mighty comfy! I wouldn't be without one.

 

[celestino]

If you want warm lather, they do a fine job, especially, the Dirty Birds that Julie makes. Good luck.

 

[Black Adder]

I like my scuttle. It's become such a part of the ritual that I think I'd miss it if it wasn't there. For me, it's "worth" it.

If you're asking me, a scuttle user, if a scuttle purchase is worth it based on your criteria, I'd have to say no. I don't think the shave is any better than what you can achieve by using good technique. The warm lather is nice, but it loses heat rapidly when you apply it to the beard area. I really think the big change for you as a shaver happened when you got rid of the dry goo in a can and the multi-blade razor to shave the way people ought to. A nice, functional soap or cream, a brush, and a DE blade or straight... that was the pivot point for me. Anything else after that tends to be a luxury.

Don

 

[Mick]

scuttle in winter for a warm lather, bowl or face lather in summer for a cold water shave.

 

[gwgrooms]

I envy some of the beautiful hand-thrown scuttles I see here, but as a newbie on a limited budget, I have to maximize my wet shaving dollars.
I can't make my own razors, blades, brushes, soaps, or aftershaves, but I can macgyver a brush scuttle (I'm a face latherer) from a cappuccino mug and a bowl small enough to fit inside it.
Just fill the mug with hot water and place the pre-warmed bowl inside. If your have an electric coffee mug-warmer-coaster thingy laying around put the whole thing on that to keep everything warm even during cold weather.
All these things are probably available at your local Goodwill for about $5.
Not an elegant solution, but it works for me.

I'm off to order a bottle of Cat 'O Nine Tails...

But I might ask for a scuttle for Christmas

 

[shevek]

Keep in mind that adding a scuttle adds another variable to the lather making process. You may find that some soaps (e.g. Mystic Waters, etc) do not respond well to the added heat. That said, I'm happy with my scuttle purchase. I'm a bowl latherer and I use my G5 heated in the fall/winter or just as a bowl in the spring/summer.

 

[oldtrout]

For me they are worth it. I have a DB 1.5 for bowl lathering and a DB brush scuttle for face lathering.

I get the feeling that I'm pampering myself when I employ the scuttle. Warm lather is a luxury.

 

[Shutterbug57]

I love my G20 when it is cold out. If you can afford it, it is worth the expense. I put mine away for the summer however.

 

[FonGu]

I own a GP scuttle. It has turned into a place to soak my brush while showing and a place to rest my brush while shaving as I've moved onto face lathering. Back when I bothered to build my lather in the scuttle, it was warm-ish; no where near the heat of lather that comes out of a barbershop machine. At the time of purchase, I thought it was well worth the price. Given how I use it now, it is not worth the price.

 

[gmgaj]

Just wondering, does it give you a better shave if you are able to keep the lather nice and warm between passes? Or is it just for the enjoyment of the feeling of hot lather?

Just for the feeling of warm lather. Also, it can also knock down your lather if it is too warm. I will be the voice of dissent and say that it isn't worth it. I tried one, and sold it. Took up more space than it was worth to me. I ended up with a pottery lathering bowl from a buddy, and it does everything I need.