Keeping Lather Warm

[steven1979]

Hello everyone,

I have been wet shaving for a little over a month now partially because I thought I'd save money on DE blades. Well a month later and I am having too much fun experimenting, so I have spent quite a bit!

Anyhow, I lather in a bowl, which I find easier to do. But my problem is the lather cools down rather quickly. Any recommendations?

 

[Greglam]

Welcome!

Fill bowl with hot water and let bowl rest in sink full of hot water while you shower.

Or

Buy a scuttle.

Hope that helps!

Cheers!
-Greg

 

[mr. s]

Yes, sit the bowl in hot water. I did that for a long time until I saw the light.....which is THE SCUTTLE! mmmmmm......scuuuutttllllllllle. Hot lather to a forth pass.
That made me want to get out of bed and go shave.

 

[binowatch]

If you look around the site you will find alot of discussion about using a scuttle and even how to improvise one with various kitchen bowls. It is basically like a bain marie or double boiler, a bowl within a bowl, often with a side pouch for the brush to sit while shaving. Hot water is in the bottom compartment, you lather in the top part so the rising heat keeps the lather warm. If you face lather this is less of an issue. It is worth trying if only as excuse to get more shaving gear!! I suspect this is really an atavism to homes without central heating and water heated on a stove rather that runnng hot from a tap. Therein lies a certain charm as well.

 

[Marco]

Welcome!

Fill bowl with hot water and let bowl rest in sink full of hot water while you shower.

Or

Buy a scuttle.

Hope that helps!

Cheers!
-Greg

+1
Exactly what Greg said.

 

[Greglam]

+1
Exactly what Greg said.

Thank you, Marco.

 

[steven1979]

So another piece of equipment it is then. I've read that the Moss Scuttles are really nice. Maybe I'll send for one.

 

[john parker]

Another possible solution is to set your lathering bowl in a larger bowl that is filled with hot water. While I face lather, what I do is fill my sink with hot water, and set a bowl and a cup in it along with my brush to soak/heat while I shower. Then I empty the cup but leave the bowl full of new fresh water, lather, then set my brush back into the cup. Stays nice and warm. Cost was probably around $5. Perhaps worth an experiment with things you already have in the kitchen.

 

[Rivguy]

Yes, the scuttle is the way to go in my view. As mentioned, there are many scuttle options and each has loyal fans. I have a Robert Becker scuttle and like it very much. I gave one to my son as well. He is an excellent vendor who is an excellent communicator and will work with you on your color selection.

I like his scuttles because of their heat retention properties. I use mine to soak my brush while I shower. I then drain it and refill it with fresh hot water and park my brush in the bowl for the luxury of warm lather for each pass.

Enjoy your shaves,

Doug

 

[TenorClef]

I decided to but a Steve Woodhead Scuttle for warm lather and it really works! However I'm quite lazy and a lot of the time i just face lather, 2 passes and away. It does the trick but for extra comfort you can't beat warm lather.

 

[DonN]

the ceramic scuttle is Ok - I have a Dirty Bird mid-size - and I pre-heat the inner chamber as well as the outer bowl with very hot tap water while showering - but the lather isn't real warm - if I were designing a scuttle to be used for bowl lathering, I think I'd make the top bowl out of a thin metal maybe - the heat from the inner bowl just doesn't conduct out enough through the ceramic - my honest 2 cents worth.

 

[BurkDarkpatches]

Another possible solution is to set your lathering bowl in a larger bowl that is filled with hot water. While I face lather, what I do is fill my sink with hot water, and set a bowl and a cup in it along with my brush to soak/heat while I shower. Then I empty the cup but leave the bowl full of new fresh water, lather, then set my brush back into the cup. Stays nice and warm. Cost was probably around $5. Perhaps worth an experiment with things you already have in the kitchen.

+1 This is almost exactly what I do. Was almost going to fork out cash for a scuttle when this occurred to me. I think I spent $3 at the good will for 2 identical hard porcelain Japanese rice bowls (gorgeous, by the way) and 1 ceramic bowl. The former are taller than the latter, thin-walled (transfers heat) and fit inside it. The ceramic bowl is low and thick, retaining heat well.

Steve

 

[Up And Down]

DonN,
If it is any hotter than warm, your lather will dry out and lose its effectiveness between passes.

 

[Greglam]

the ceramic scuttle is Ok - I have a Dirty Bird mid-size - and I pre-heat the inner chamber as well as the outer bowl with very hot tap water while showering - but the lather isn't real warm - if I were designing a scuttle to be used for bowl lathering, I think I'd make the top bowl out of a thin metal maybe - the heat from the inner bowl just doesn't conduct out enough through the ceramic - my honest 2 cents worth.

You bring up an interesting point. I have pretty consistently read from DB scuttle owners that their lather isn't that warm but that the scuttle itself is very heavy duty. While on the other hand, I've read from Becker scuttle owners that their lather is very warm yet the scuttle isn't quite as sturdy as the DB. Which leads me to wonder if perhaps the DB isn't a bit "too" sturdy and the heat is being lost somewhere within the depths of the walls of the bowl and not actually making it thru into the bowl proper to heat the lather.

While the DBs are undoubtedly handsome pieces, I think the price and the aforementioned heating issues will steer me towards a Becker.

 

[dpmtherrien]

Good answers already given. The scuttle is indeed the way to go. I've had, and used both the Georgetown and the Dirty Bird. With my knowledge limited to just those two, I'd say the Dirty Bird 1.5 is the one to get, not too big or too small, and the warm lather it holds is the perfect touch for a great shave.

 

[steven1979]

Thanks for the discussion. From this and doing a little research, I think I'll get a Becker Scuttle off his Ebay store. They are priced really well and have gotten great reviews.

 

[DaveNJ74]

Who here has and likes their Georgetown scuttle? Im thinking of getting one.

 

[dougr]

Who here has and likes their Georgetown scuttle? Im thinking of getting one.

I got this one from a B&B friend for around $40; it was listed on an antique site for $160 and works great. Also, it is marked Burleigh Ironstone, Staffordshire England on the bottom. It just adds a touch of class to the bath area as a bonus.

 

[RF1963]

I have a thick bowl, cast by a friend. I fill the bowl with hot water and drop my brush in there whilst I shave. The walls of the bowl hold the heat and the lather is nice and warm. So I recommend a thick walled bowl.

 

[LarryAndro]

A bowl within a bowl is my method. Every time I went to a flea market or antique store, I would buy bowls for 50 cents or $1. Some were too big or little or too shallow or too deep. After buying a few throwaways, I eventually found the right combination.