Do you have difficulty with your lather drying out for your 2nd & 3rd passes? I'm using an improvised scuttle, ceramic bowl atop a 2qt boiler, and my lather drys out before I start my second pass. Is this normal, or an anomaly. 
Question for Scuttle Users
- Thread starter Falstaff
- Start date
I use the G5 scuttle and I don't have any problem with my lather drying out before I'm finished shaving. I heat the scuttle up while I shower, then empty and refill it with the hottest water the faucet will give me, and get on with my shave. I have heard of people having problems with lather drying out if using boiling water. I don't know if that's what you're doing or not but it could be a problem.
I use a large Becker scuttle and occasionally i my lather does get just a little drier but not so much that it damages my lather. If i am going to have a longer than normal shave i make the lather a little wetter than i would usually. I also use hot tap water.
Sometimes, yes.
For me it depends on how humid the bathroom is, and if the door is open enough to cause a draft. To keep the lather where I want it (density/temperature) I keep the lid on the scuttle, or if I'm using an open-top bowl I'll just refresh the brush with a little bit of hot water from the tap. I've been thinking about making a lid for that one bowl.. my ability to cut wood is limited so I've been scouring around trying to figure out something else that would work as a lid and won't cause other issues. I could use a small plate on top I guess.
For me it depends on how humid the bathroom is, and if the door is open enough to cause a draft. To keep the lather where I want it (density/temperature) I keep the lid on the scuttle, or if I'm using an open-top bowl I'll just refresh the brush with a little bit of hot water from the tap. I've been thinking about making a lid for that one bowl.. my ability to cut wood is limited so I've been scouring around trying to figure out something else that would work as a lid and won't cause other issues. I could use a small plate on top I guess.
I have the mid DB - IMO you have to add enough water to the mix and then don't spend too much time shaving - by trial and error I found the right amount of water so that the lather is slippery but not too watered down - and shaving 15 minutes tops - have had no problem with the lather drying - sometimes I don't clean the scuttle right away and yes after sitting there for a couple hours it's dried out.
I guess it's also possible to dry out the lather if the scuttle water is too hot - i use tap water and it can be very hot but not that hot to where it's a threat to the lather.
I guess it's also possible to dry out the lather if the scuttle water is too hot - i use tap water and it can be very hot but not that hot to where it's a threat to the lather.
Yes, overheated water in the bottom of a scuttle will keep the lather too warm and tend to dry it out. Try using slightly cooler (less warm?) water in the scuttle and see if that doesn't help. I use water out of the tap, which is plenty warm enough for me and doesn't cause dried out lather.
It's also possible you're simply not using wet enough lather.
It's also possible you're simply not using wet enough lather.
I use an antique, traditional scuttle (the kind that takes hard, puck-soap). If the lather dries up, I just remoisten my brush and whip up some more lather. The extra water lathers up the dried up stuff as well as creating more.
Same here, I put the puck or the spot of cream in the scuttle and lather away. There are small holes in the top soap holder but it never seems to bother or loose the cream. Bought mine on BnB and it is a Burleigh made in Staffordshire England
Dave,
Do you use hot tap water for the initial heat as well? I have heard that the Georgetown scuttles are too thick to transfer heat well at all especially with the use of tap water rather than boiling water. As far as esthetics go, I like the G5 best of all scuttles that I have seen, but I ended up getting a Dirty Bird which I should receive Wednesday. The consensus seems to be that the DB performs best.
I use a Robert Becker scuttle and enjoy it very much for a host of reasons but very much appreciate its heat transfer qualities. I fill both the upper and lower areas with the hottest tap water I can get and soak my brush while showering. I then dump it out and fill the bottom area with hot water and park my brush in the bowl for nice warm lather for three to four passes. This is very pleasurable.
Enjoy your shaves,
Doug
Enjoy your shaves,
Doug
I`m using a Schwarzweisskeramik XL scuttle, and that scuttle holds a lot of hot water. If I use very hot water it is not unusual that the lather breaks down or drying out a bit. Not a big problem using a Schwarzweiss scuttle, I`m just dipping the tip of the brush in the "brush-water department" and swirl around a few more times. Then the lather is in prima and warm condition again!
Do you have difficulty with your lather drying out for your 2nd & 3rd passes? I'm using an improvised scuttle, ceramic bowl atop a 2qt boiler, and my lather drys out before I start my second pass. Is this normal, or an anomaly.
Sometimes. It seems to vary with different soaps and creams, how fast I shave on a particular day. No problem. Just wet your brush. Your scuttle set-up should keep the lather warm.
I think the lather drying could be more closely related to the soap you use than the scuttle. You might try a different soap or cream or both. Heat can be a factor when using a scuttle, but some soaps withstand heat better than others.
I find that the holes help. They prevent the soap or cream from being drowned in hot water and this produces better lather.
Probably why I've always been hopeless at lathering in a bowl.
+1
When I was new it happened more frequently just because passes took me longer.
Long live the scuttle.
