Dirty Bird scuttle just arrived!!

[xivex]

Hi Everyone,

Got a package from USPS today waiting on my doorstep when I got home from work. I was very excited to open it! Inside the carefully packed box was a beautiful piece of art, the Dirty Bird 1.5 shaving scuttle in green made by Julie at Dirty Bird Pottery:

http://www.dirtybirdpottery.com/shavinggear.html

I'm stoked to try it out tonight and post back regarding my thoughts of it after the initial use! Will let you know!

Pictures:

Thanks Julie, it looks wonderful!

 

[Rev. Nathan]

Looks great in green! I'm redoing my bathroom in green paint, I think this just sold me on that color!

 

[pauls51]

Nice looking scuttle!!! A DB 1.5 was on my wish-list but unfortunately the cost of postage is equal to the actual cost of the scuttle.. You guys in the US are very lucky!

 

[Moe]

Julie's shaving gear is the perfect union of form and function! That's a great color you have there and it will look even better warming a big bowl of lather meringue.

 

[TheScalpel]

that's a great looking scuttle, when I drop my current scuttle (again) it will probably be my next purchase

 

[dpmtherrien]

Congrats, looks great. I have the DB in brown to match our bath re-do. I had the Georgetown, which was good, but it couldn't match the DB.

 

[SpartanFan]

I got a 1.5 in green back in January. I have been in love ever since. It is just a joy to use and works wonderfully. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

 

[Laser]

That's the color I have. You're going to love it. Congrats and enjoy!

 

[jdeville]

That thing is beautiful.... and it might make me want one

 

[JPM]

Congrats! I have the 1.5X in blue, it works great.

 

[xivex]

So I just finished my 4 pass shave with touchup using my Merkur 38c with a Crystal blade. I used the Mama Bear's Dublin Tweed soap with the dirty bird. I managed to get through everything fine, with great warm lather, but it seemed that maybe I got the water used in the DB 1.5 too hot to begin with (2 mins on 1500 watt microwave while full). I say this because my lather seemed to get large amounts of bubbles and dissipate rather quickly when being stirred, applied to my face...so much so that I had to keep re-filling the brush with additional soap on each pass. Normally I was able to get 3-4 passes without doing this using just a plain bowl.

I'm thinking perhaps I shouldn't have made the water so hot and that it was potentially "breaking down" the lather, and will try for 1 min in the microwave next time. Anyone else have similar experiences with lather air bubbles, disspiating lather and the DB 1.5? I'd like to hear about it..

Thanks,

X

 

[mwhals]

So I just finished my 4 pass shave with touchup using my Merkur 38c with a Crystal blade. I used the Mama Bear's Dublin Tweed soap with the dirty bird. I managed to get through everything fine, with great warm lather, but it seemed that maybe I got the water used in the DB 1.5 too hot to begin with (2 mins on 1500 watt microwave while full). I say this because my lather seemed to get large amounts of bubbles and dissipate rather quickly when being stirred, applied to my face...so much so that I had to keep re-filling the brush with additional soap on each pass. Normally I was able to get 3-4 passes without doing this using just a plain bowl.

I'm thinking perhaps I shouldn't have made the water so hot and that it was potentially "breaking down" the lather, and will try for 1 min in the microwave next time. Anyone else have similar experiences with lather air bubbles, disspiating lather and the DB 1.5? I'd like to hear about it..

Thanks,

X

I have seen where many people put hot tap water in both sides and let it set while taking a shower. They then dump it all out and put more hot water from the tap in the outer bowl and start lathering. They claim it is warm for 3 to 4 passes. Unfortunately, I don't have one that I can test, but thought you might give this a try.

 

[Defend Tacoma]

That is a thing o beauty! Been dropping not so suttle hints that I require a 1.5 for my birthday. Hopefully I can hold out for 2 more months!

 

[mwhals]

I love the scuttle that you bought. I am holding off ordering one until I finalize my technique since I am just a little more experienced newbie. I don't want to get a scuttle now in case I find that cold wet shaving is the best technique for me.

 

[Darth Lather]

I have seen where many people put hot tap water in both sides and let it set while taking a shower. They then dump it all out and .......

Why are you watching people take a shower?

 

[Uncle Erik]

Hey, that looks really familiar - I have green 1.5, too!

I fill mine with hot tapwater and get great results. Give it a try for your next shave.

Julie is absolutely wonderful and I love mine - hope you feel the same way!

 

[Keir]

I finally gave in and ordered one of these! In blue though.
Can't wait now...

 

[Barbash]

Nice looking Scuttle.

I have the Brush Scuttle and Soap Bowl in green, but I have been looking at the 1.5 or the double to add to my collection...

Is there a term for Scuttle Addiction? Because I might have it.

 

[Moe]

Is there a term for Scuttle Addiction? Because I might have it.

see my .signature below

I don't have very hot water (120ºF) because for decades I've kept it set low for energy savings (and child safety). My last water heater came set for this. I also have a cool ambient temperature in the bathroom, and a four-foot wide vanity/sink solid material that sucks heat out water in the sink.

Before I shower (and sometimes when I don't shower), I fill the scuttle inner compartment and the scuttle bowl, and then sit them, with my brush, sponge, and wash cloth, in the sink which I fill to the brim. After stropping the razor, I drain the sink and scuttle, then refill the latter's inner compartment, after letting the cooled water in the pipe flow through. So I'm looking at maybe 110-115ºF water in a scuttle pre-warmed to about that temperature. This seems to be the ideal temperature to prevent lather from breaking down due to heat, and even in the cool bathroom, the scuttle keeps the water to at least body temperature (98ºF or so) for a half-hour or more. It helps to have a trivet below the scuttle to slow the sink/vanity countertop from sucking heat from it.

After loading the shaken out brush up well with soap, I start whipping up lather in the scuttle bowl, which is still wet from just pouring water out. This is usually enough to make lather explode in the bowl, but sometimes it's worth adding a few more drops of water on the brush to get the lather perfect. Note that this is folding in relatively cool ambient air, so push the lather to the bottom of the bowl and give it and the brush time to warm back up.

Finally, this is the time of year when the relative humidity in our house is around 30%. That means that if I shave slowly, and I do as a new straight razor shaver, the jaw and neck may need relathering by the time I'm done with the cheeks and lips. It also means I may need to add a few drops of water on the brush and re-whip the bowl between passes. I expect that to be less of a problem as the seasons change.

I hope this helps you because it works outstandingly for me.

 

[xivex]

Thanks for the responses everyone! So it seems that my problem with the lather "breaking down" was most likely from too hot of water in the scuttle. That sound right? Next time, I'll try hot tap water rather than steaming microwaved water.. I'll keep you informed of my progress!

Thanks,

X