On the hunt for that perfect shaving mug

[lordfink]

I ditched my multi-cartridge razor and canned shaving foam earlier this year, and have been enjoying the pleasures of wet shaving since. On this journey, I’ve found great razors, great blades, great brushes, great creams, great soaps, great pre shave treatments and great A/S/Bs. However, the one thing that still eludes me is finding that great shaving mug.

First, I tried looking around the house and tried a variety of coffee mugs. Most of them tended to be too narrow, too deep or too fragile!

Then, I turned to the online shaving stores. To date I’ve tried the EJ shaving mug, Muhle shaving bowl and the Bill Bowl from Dirty Bird Pottery.

The EJ shaving mug had a very narrow base and didn’t allow enough swirl space to generate lather.

The Muhle shaving bowl was too shallow and couldn’t soak my shaving brush properly. It was also too shallow to keep lather in and it kept spilling.

Then I decided to get the Bill Bowl from Dirty Bird Pottery. Julie as a seller is fantastic, and even did a custom colour for me. But somehow I never realized how big this bowl would be. My duke 3 slips right into it and can lie down horizontally without touching either side! Also, the amount of lather I end up producing in it could shave a woolly mammoth! Now I use it to store my large CF A/S/B, Proraso pre shave and a deodorant bottle that all fit with room to spare.

So now, I am searching for another Shaving Mug.

My requirements are:
- Should be able to soak a brush in hot water without the brush slipping into it.
- Should not be too deep OR too shallow (i know i know... demanding eh?). Essentially, something that can lather with a Duke 3 or Rooney Heritage without clanking at the sides, but should be deep enough to generate lather without the lather spilling out.
- Would ideally be able to keep water warm like the Bill Bowl does.
- Ridges at bottom of mug are good to have but not a must

Any recommendations? All suggestions are welcome, and thanks in advance.

 

[_Razor]

I would reccomend a plastic shaving mug. Or stainless steel. A Walnut shaving bowl perhaps. I've broke a couple of shaving mugs and I have a stainless steel mug now. A shaving mug scuttle will hold the soap and brush all in one mug.

http://www.alchemygothic.com/index....dge&agpage=i_AGGK6_The_Empire.html&Itemid=105


http://www.bruteforceleather.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=415 $159

The reason why its expensive is that it is made of pewter.


alchemy empire is the most expensive in my search for a quaility shaving mug. 18th century shaving mug sorta.

 

[one cut]

im just looking for a old spice shaving mug, because well its old spice.

 

[Leon]

im just looking for a old spice shaving mug, because well its old spice.

Old Spice mug is the best suited mug for lathering soap. Its dimensions are near perfect. Since we don't have OS mugs here, I found a coffee mug that was large enough to store most pucks and not too tall so you can swirl the brush freely. I believe the perfect height should be similar to the knot height of your favorite brush, this way you won't hit the brush handle in the mug wall and the lather will remain inside the mug.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[JaggerDragger]

I suggest that you start shopping at second hand stores!

 

[PugslyCat]

Then I decided to get the Bill Bowl from Dirty Bird Pottery. Julie as a seller is fantastic, and even did a custom colour for me. But somehow I never realized how big this bowl would be. My duke 3 slips right into it and can lie down horizontally without touching either side! Also, the amount of lather I end up producing in it could shave a woolly mammoth! Now I use it to store my large CF A/S/B, Proraso pre shave and a deodorant bottle that all fit with room to spare.

If you really like your Bill Bowl except for the size, why don't you ask Julie if she would consider doing a mini-Bill Bowl that is the depth and diameter you desire?

 

[blzrfn]

I suggest that you start shopping at second hand stores!

+1

I picked up bowls and mugs for around $1 a piece until I found the one that worked best for me. For the ones that didn't make the cut I just re-donated them. I have even found an old soap scuttle and apothecary mug for $3 each but don't use those for lathering as they weren't perfect.

 

[Snidely]

Not everyone likes them, but I find the apothecary type mugs that most on line shaving stores sell to be just about right for me. Deep enough to soak the brush. Narrow enough at the bottom so the brush doesn't tip. Wide enough at the top so the brush handle doesn't clank around while I'm loading up the brush. They might be a bit narrow at the bottom for many pucks, but I use Ogallala melt and pour soaps, so this isn't an issue for me.

 

[ThePatrician]

If you really like your Bill Bowl except for the size, why don't you ask Julie if she would consider doing a mini-Bill Bowl that is the depth and diameter you desire?

Right on the button. It sounds as though you have a definite idea of what you're looking for. If you could nail down the dimensions of what you want, and can accurately describe it (or better, pictures!), then you can always try sending her an email with exactly what you want. I've met and talked to Julie, and she is a peach. As my father says, the worst she can say is "no".

And to throw my hat in the ring, have you tried a hemispherical cappuccino mug?

 

[Go West Young Man]

Check the cereal bowl / latte mug aisle at your local discount store.

 

[celestino]

If you really like your Bill Bowl except for the size, why don't you ask Julie if she would consider doing a mini-Bill Bowl that is the depth and diameter you desire?

+1

 

[KindestCutofAll]

So now, I am searching for another Shaving Mug.

My requirements are:
1. - Should be able to soak a brush in hot water without the brush slipping into it.
2. - Should not be too deep OR too shallow (i know i know... demanding eh?). Essentially, something that can lather with a Duke 3 or Rooney Heritage without clanking at the sides, but should be deep enough to generate lather without the lather spilling out.
3. - Would ideally be able to keep water warm like the Bill Bowl does.
4. - Ridges at bottom of mug are good to have but not a must

Any recommendations? All suggestions are welcome, and thanks in advance.

My favorite is an Old Spice Soap Meg for these reasons (http://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/media/18613&catid=member&imageuser=4725). I us it for lathering only (no soap at the bottom).

1. About the right size to soak the bristles of the razor without sumbmerging the brush handle.
2. With no puck it is deep enough to lather in yet shallow enough that my fingers don't have to gather lather on them (neither too deep not too shallow).
3. The Milk Glass is heavy and doesn't cool down as quickly as you might expect for glass (not as good as a Bill Bowl).
4. The ridges at the botom (intended to hold a puck) assist a tad with whipping the lather.
5. With my middle finger in the handle of the mug it fits perfectly in my hand and would never be dropped while building lather or lathering the face.
6. Picked mine up on Flea Bay with a NOS Vintage Shaving Brush for less then $15 shipped.

It is my go to for building lather.

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Lordfink:
Or you could wait a little bit and purchase the 1st initial offering of our B & B Shaving Mug (see sample color in OASIS 037 below...Yeah Baby!!!).

Soon, the glazes and the B & B white etching logo's will be applied. Also, John will in the next 2-3weeks publicize the sale of our Mug as soon as his marketing team has listed our Mug on his website for sale.

Read More: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...r-should-our-B-amp-B-Shaving-Mug-be?highlight=

Read More: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...ur-B-amp-B-Shaving-Mug-Be-Part-Duex?highlight=

“Happiness is the [shaving mug]...that sweeps away the cobwebs of your heart”. Mort Walker

 

[NYShaver]

I use this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CX8V4Q/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i01
Perfect size for soaking brush and building lather (interior is about 4 1/4" w at top x 3" d); heavy stainless steel; can hold the base to lather, or leave on the counter (it will not move because of the rubber, non-skid, base and weight of the bowl); brushed interior aids in lathering; rounded interior bottom helps keep the lather on the brush; heavy stainless steel retains heat.

 

[NCJack]

If you really like your Bill Bowl except for the size, why don't you ask Julie if she would consider doing a mini-Bill Bowl that is the depth and diameter you desire?

I don't know if potters are common in Singapore, but I'm having a local lady make one for me that is basically a smaller Bill Bowl.

Also look for "soup mugs" in home goods stores; larger and heavier than coffee mugs

 

[bakerbarber]

French onion soup bowl from the thrift store. Maybe get lucky and find one with a lid.


http://www.google.com/search?q=fren...YvI0AG5jIDgBw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=966&bih=555

 

[bakerbk73]

http://www.amazon.com/Marvy-Rubber-...UTF8&qid=1350002954&sr=8-2&keywords=marvy+mug

Personally I love my Marvy mug, no worries about it ever breaking and it's the perfect size IMO.

 

[Sled Dog]

Stopped at the thrift store on the way home today and picked up a late 50's Old Spice mug
Needs a cleaning...but for 39 cents, I can live with that

 

[Vivasanti]

NICE!!

I just got a NOS old spice mug, i got it just for soaking my brush in, but just for kicks i tried to make a lather in it, man it was awesome, it must be cause of the small surface area?

 

[santamariasteve]

I suggest the perfect shaving mug does not exist, for the same reasons that the perfect razor or the perfect blade does not exist.

However, I do appreciate my Marvy and Old Spice mugs very much.