Proper Scuttle Use

[Slohand]

I thought I posted this yesterday...but I'll be damned if I can find it.

Any how, I think I would like to get a scuttle - love the idea of warm lather. But I have questions on how to use it.

Do you use a regular soap puck? Would seem like that would sit in the bottom and stop the transfer of heat. Do you start the later in a bowl then move to the scuttle? Seems like one more step I don't want. Do you us a shave cream instead of soap?

So many questions...looking for answers.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Go West Young Man]

There are 2 kinds of scuttles - traditional and modern.

Traditional scuttles hold a puck of soap over hot water, and have a spot for your brush to rest in the water. These date back to before indoor running hot water - you would fill them in the kitchen then carry it to the bathroom to shave with.

Modern scuttles are just lathering bowls that sit inside a slightly larger bowl filled with hot water. You load your brush with the soap or cream of your choice, then bowl lather in the scuttle. The outer hot water chamber keeps your lather nice and warm throughout the shave.

 

[Rivguy]

I use a Robert Becker scuttle, which is in my view an outstanding value. It has great heat retention properties and Robert is a great vendor who is open to doing custom colors. There are other fine scuttles as well. I am primarily face lather and use the scuttle to soak my brush while I shower. I then dump out the water in the inner bowl and sometimes refill the lower section with fresh hot water. I then use the bowl to park my brush between passes. I really like warm lather for each pass.

If you bowl lather, just load your brush with soap or cream and build the lather in the upper bowl. You will soon wonder how you got along without a scuttle.

Regards,

Doug

 

[Slohand]

Thanks for the info. While I've been at this wet shaving for about a year I still don't understand the difference between face lathering and bowl lathering. Currently I soak my brush, stir it around my puck in a bowl, work up a nice later, then apply that to my face, further lathering it as I go to ensure that it is really worked on to the skin...so, am I employing a hybrid method?

 

[Go West Young Man]

That's usually called 'lathering on the puck', and although it works well uses a LOT more product than is necessary. If you just load the brush up for 30 or so seconds than move either to your face or another bowl, you'll get just as good results without wasting so much soap.

Mantic has a good video on youtube showing the different lathering methods.

 

[inspectoring]

I just prefer that the soaps are not exposed to open air unnecessarily - as I don't want to miss out on the scent....
wonder if there are any thoughts on the soaps loosing their scent with continuous use of scuttle...

 

[Slohand]

Hmm -- okay, this might explain why my soaps loose their aroma so quickly.

 

[snookdog]

I use a small brush scuttle from Georgetown Pottery. It's too small to really whip up a lather in but that's ok as I'm a face latherer.

Here's what works best for me:
- Fill the outer bowl to the top and the inner bowl half way
- Nuke for 1:45 minutes on high (2 minutes is just too hot for me)
- Carefully (especially if naked) dip water out of the inner bowl w/brush.
- Keep brush thoroughly soaked and whip up a good lather from your choice of soap in it's respective container (Cella works marvelously).
- Placed loaded brush in the now empty inner bowl and jump in shower.
- After shower the brush loaded w/lather is piping hot. Apply to face to whip up a good lather.
- Shave, repeat as necessary.

This gives me more than enough hot lather for several passes if needed. I've found that this method works much better for me than letting my brush soak in the hot water while showering but like everything else YMMV.

 

[Markh3rd]

I just used my new Becker scuttle and it was a great experience. Really nice to feel warm lather on every pass.

 

[fidjit]

This may be of assistance if you're talking about a "modern" scuttle

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=133985

 

[kg0mz]

And, I thought I responded to this post yesterday. Odd.

I think I said I have a G5 and like the way the inner rim on top keeps the lather from over flowing the scuttle.

We have all been here before...

I love my scuttle. I always use it. It is part of the ritual. You mentioned the extra step. Yeah, for me the more steps the better the ritual. Deja vu.

 

[cnnc97]

G5 is made by Georgetown Pottery. You should be able to find their website with a Google search.

 

[mr. s]

I LOVE scuttles. Good choice. They feel great and are a piece of art for the shave den.

PS:

I thought I posted this yesterday...but I'll be damned if I can find it.

On the upper left, about an inch below the badger head on any page, there is a title "User CP". Click.
Right below, about half an inch, will appear "Your Profile". Click.
Find the "Statistics" to the right of "About me". Click
You can then choose to see all your posts or all your threads.