Captains Choice Copper Shave Bowl

[Acmemfg]

After many months of routine use I can say without hesitation, this bowl is the best and most efficient vessel I've ever put a brush to.
Question is....why do soaps (shown here Truefitt & Hill Trafalger) turn everything this weird blue color? Is it harmful in anyway? Still makes a great lather, little blue specks notwithstanding.

 

[Fordfather]

After many months of routine use I can say without hesitation, this bowl is the best and most efficient vessel I've ever put a brush to.
Question is....why do soaps (shown here Truefitt & Hill Trafalger) turn everything this weird blue color? Is it harmful in anyway? Still makes a great lather, little blue specks notwithstanding.
View attachment 1869959

It's patina, which is a natural chemical reaction. Nothing to worry about, unless you have OCD.

 

[DesertIguana]

I have been eyeing one of those Bowls. It’s on my want list.

 

[Bobbers]

I have had mine for a long time and it is still the same color it was when I got it. If anything a little darker. I use mostly soap but also use cream. I use mine for over 90% of my shaves and do nothing special to clean it, just rinse it after use. If I remember correctly the lather bowl is made using the same process that they use for copper sinks. Here is mine.

 

[VerbaVolant]

...Question is....why do soaps (shown here Truefitt & Hill Trafalger) turn everything this weird blue color? Is it harmful in anyway? Still makes a great lather, little blue specks notwithstanding.

That is, in my opinion, copper oxide. As far as I know it is highly toxic.
Do your own research before making a decision. Use it at your own risk.

 

[VerbaVolant]

And if you believe in such things as science, give this a try
Toxicity of copper oxide nanoparticles: a review study

Again, do your own research before making a decision.

 

[VerbaVolant]

... this weird blue color? Is it harmful in anyway?...

And you are from Copper Basin, TN.

 

[VerbaVolant]

It could be from the water and unrelated to the soap you are using. Just a thought. Worth exploring further.

Ok, I admit, I have a mild form of OCD. Mild to moderate, at the most.

 

[NorthernSoul]

After many months of routine use I can say without hesitation, this bowl is the best and most efficient vessel I've ever put a brush to.
Question is....why do soaps (shown here Truefitt & Hill Trafalger) turn everything this weird blue color? Is it harmful in anyway? Still makes a great lather, little blue specks notwithstanding.
View attachment 1869959

The Statue of Liberty is covered with thin sheets of copper. When it was originally built, it had a shiny appearance. Over time, with exposure to weather, it developed a layer of patina, sometimes called verdigris.

That is, in my opinion, copper oxide. As far as I know it is highly toxic.
Do your own research before making a decision. Use it at your own risk.

Copper does form oxides on the surface, but copper oxides usually have a brown or black color. Verdigris forms from further chemical reactions of the copper oxide, usually to carbonate or acetate compounds. It would not be healthy to ingest it, as for instance eating food from a cooking pot with a layer of verdigris.

It can be cleaned away with a mild acid like vinegar or lemon juice and a little salt using a scrubbing pad.

 

[NorthernSoul]

I have had mine for a long time and it is still the same color it was when I got it. If anything a little darker. I use mostly soap but also use cream. I use mine for over 90% of my shaves and do nothing special to clean it, just rinse it after use. If I remember correctly the lather bowl is made using the same process that they use for copper sinks. Here is mine.
View attachment 1870079

I think the Captain used to put a layer of lacquer on these bowls to keep them looking shiny. I'm not sure if he still uses that or not.

 

[Jay21]

After many months of routine use I can say without hesitation, this bowl is the best and most efficient vessel I've ever put a brush to.
Question is....why do soaps (shown here Truefitt & Hill Trafalger) turn everything this weird blue color? Is it harmful in anyway? Still makes a great lather, little blue specks notwithstanding.
View attachment 1869959

Why not ask @Captain Pre-Capsize himself?

 

[Acmemfg]

Ok….
@Captain Pre-Capsize
What say ye to the issue at hand?

 

[Virgil Sollozzo]

I have had mine for a long time and it is still the same color it was when I got it. If anything a little darker. I use mostly soap but also use cream. I use mine for over 90% of my shaves and do nothing special to clean it, just rinse it after use. If I remember correctly the lather bowl is made using the same process that they use for copper sinks. Here is mine.
View attachment 1870079

Copper oxide reacts to CO2 and water and turns an iconic blue-green. I assume that's what it is.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Ok….
@Captain Pre-Capsize
What say ye to the issue at hand?

Well, in fourteen years that is a first. The best solution would be to dispose of the one you have and purchase a dozen or so more from me to hold you over.

KIDDING!!!!

Actually, what you have there is not a function of any particular brand of soap but rather it being left damp. It may be that you are leaving the leftover suds and soap in the bowl and letting them dry. Then you may be whipping up your lather the following day adding more soap as needed. In time you will end up with that patina that is only possible over time. In fact, that patina is so popular one of our offerings has a faux patina the same color applied to the exterior. Guys love it.

If you like what you have I would embrace it as only being possible after a fair amount of time. If you want to remove it your local hardware store will have a copper polishing compound that will have it looking like a bright new penny. Customers have done that. It all comes down to personal taste.

@NorthernSoul was inquiring about a lacquer coating. At the very beginning we did use one and it proved unable to sustain as well as we had hoped. So it was back to the drawing board and the finish we have is a forced antique finish only possible under extreme heat. There are pictures on the site of this very thing.

 

[catchacoolbreeze]

I used to have that bowl and every once in awhile I would get a hint of that. I just used a wash cloth and soap to get it off. Curious if you are not cleaning your bowl after each use?

That bowl makes lathering a breeze! Awesome product - wish it was taller though!

 

[Acmemfg]

Guess I’ll wind up as one of the pro-patina crew. @catchacoolbreeze no I just rinse mine after using. Sometimes not even that. I’ll keep a wad of soap in the bottom of the bowl until it gets to where it needs an addition. Works well for me

 

[Roedeer]

Copper is (mildly) anti-bacterial, like silver in the same column of the Periodic Table. I doubt if you could absorb much of it through your skin by shaving anyway.

You need a small amount of it for enzymes — and we make water-pipes out of it these days, instead of lead.

 

[VerbaVolant]

Copper is (mildly) anti-bacterial, like silver in the same column of the Periodic Table. I doubt if you could absorb much of it through your skin by shaving anyway.

You need a small amount of it for enzymes — and we make water-pipes out of it these days, instead of lead.

You are absolutely right.
For some odd reason I thought we are discussing the copper oxide/verdigris/black weird blue color stuff. I need to work on my reading comprehension skills.

 

[Brian H Shaves]

I have had a Captain's Choice copper shave bowl for years and no patina. I simply rinse it and dry it off after every shave. That patina won't hurt you at all. In fact, I think that looks amazing. I never bought another lather bowl after purchasing my Captain's Choice bowl, it is simply the best lather bowl I have ever owned. IMO, it is perfection.