There has been much debate on how to use the Moss Scuttle. Many complain it's too small to lather in, and it's best just to use it as a brush warmer in between passes, while others do lather directly in it. Really it all depends on how large your brush is, how much space you like to work with, and how many different bowls you want to use in your shaving process. Below is the method that I find works well for those who like to lather in the scuttle.
1. Make sure you're using a smaller brush, as the Large scuttle does not give you much room to work with. I'd imagine between 20 and 23mm knot brushes work best. In this case, I have the simpson's PJ2.
As you can see, it takes up about half the space in the scuttle, leaving you a small working area (but still large enough to work up a good lather).
In comparison, this is what a 30mm shavemac looks like inside the scuttle
needless to say, this gives you no room to work up a good lather. For larger brushes you'll need to lather in a separate bowl.
2. If you have hot tap water, it should work fine with the scuttle. I don't, so I use a hotpot for about 45 seconds to get the water uncomfortably hot, but not burning. Pour hot water in inside chamber, and on brush inside the scuttle.
At, this point, I hop in the shower, cleanse my horrific sins from the previous night, and throw some proraso pre/post on. When I get out, I take out the brush and sop up the water in the inner bowl with a wash cloth.
Now I have a steaming hot (not burning) towel to put over my face for about a minute to really get the beard soft and help the proraso pre/post sink in.
3. Now (if I'm using a cream), I'll take a dab on the brush (in this, case Salter's Citrus)
and go to work, swirling around the edges and occasionally pumping the brush on the bottom of the scuttle. It may take a few seconds longer than using a bigger bowl, but after 45 seconds you've got this.
Plenty of lather for a good shave. And if you need more, you can always hit the scuttle again, swirling and pumping between passes, without worrying about the lather getting cold in a separate bowl.
4. For soaps, you can either start a small lather in the soap container and then lather in the scuttle just like you do with the cream, OR, all the soaps I've used can drop right into the scuttle itself. As an example
As you can see, the soap fits perfectly in the scuttle and you can generate all the lather you would need. With the soap, it's really a YMMV thing. You're going to use much more soap if you actually put it in the scuttle, so it's a tad wasteful, but you also can keep generating new "warm" lather throughout the process. NOTE: If putting soap in the scuttle, make sure it is not too hot, or you could risk melting the soap.
The scuttle works well as a brush warmer for those larger more luxurious brushes as well. Always make sure the water is not too hot or you will end up having the water evaporate from your lather inbetween passes, and you'll have to go back to your larger, cold bowl of lather to get more.
The working space in the scuttle is definitely a little cramped, but still sufficient for the end purpose (4+ passes), so if you don't mind a tight working space, and have a smaller knot brush, I'd highly recommend lathering in the scuttle itself. Having warm lather throughout the process really adds a lot to the shaving experience, and keeps those whiskers nice and soft.
1. Make sure you're using a smaller brush, as the Large scuttle does not give you much room to work with. I'd imagine between 20 and 23mm knot brushes work best. In this case, I have the simpson's PJ2.
As you can see, it takes up about half the space in the scuttle, leaving you a small working area (but still large enough to work up a good lather).
In comparison, this is what a 30mm shavemac looks like inside the scuttle
needless to say, this gives you no room to work up a good lather. For larger brushes you'll need to lather in a separate bowl.
2. If you have hot tap water, it should work fine with the scuttle. I don't, so I use a hotpot for about 45 seconds to get the water uncomfortably hot, but not burning. Pour hot water in inside chamber, and on brush inside the scuttle.
At, this point, I hop in the shower, cleanse my horrific sins from the previous night, and throw some proraso pre/post on. When I get out, I take out the brush and sop up the water in the inner bowl with a wash cloth.
Now I have a steaming hot (not burning) towel to put over my face for about a minute to really get the beard soft and help the proraso pre/post sink in.
3. Now (if I'm using a cream), I'll take a dab on the brush (in this, case Salter's Citrus)
and go to work, swirling around the edges and occasionally pumping the brush on the bottom of the scuttle. It may take a few seconds longer than using a bigger bowl, but after 45 seconds you've got this.
Plenty of lather for a good shave. And if you need more, you can always hit the scuttle again, swirling and pumping between passes, without worrying about the lather getting cold in a separate bowl.
4. For soaps, you can either start a small lather in the soap container and then lather in the scuttle just like you do with the cream, OR, all the soaps I've used can drop right into the scuttle itself. As an example
As you can see, the soap fits perfectly in the scuttle and you can generate all the lather you would need. With the soap, it's really a YMMV thing. You're going to use much more soap if you actually put it in the scuttle, so it's a tad wasteful, but you also can keep generating new "warm" lather throughout the process. NOTE: If putting soap in the scuttle, make sure it is not too hot, or you could risk melting the soap.
The scuttle works well as a brush warmer for those larger more luxurious brushes as well. Always make sure the water is not too hot or you will end up having the water evaporate from your lather inbetween passes, and you'll have to go back to your larger, cold bowl of lather to get more.
The working space in the scuttle is definitely a little cramped, but still sufficient for the end purpose (4+ passes), so if you don't mind a tight working space, and have a smaller knot brush, I'd highly recommend lathering in the scuttle itself. Having warm lather throughout the process really adds a lot to the shaving experience, and keeps those whiskers nice and soft.
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