The Scuttlebutt: Robert's Ceramics Feats of Clay small scuttle

[California Cajun]

Part 1 of 5 in evaluating scuttles. They all work well, and the final decision should be a matter of personal taste. I heated 3 cups of water in my microwave oven for 4 minutes for a temperature of 165 degrees F. The water is then poured into the scuttle to test heat retention.

Fast Facts:

• Purchase Price: $13.00
• Purchased from: Robert Becker's ebay store
• Special features: lid (to keep soaps moist between shaves)
• Reservoir capacity: 7 3/4 ounces
• Primary strength: performs as well as much more expensive scuttles
• Primary weakness: inside diameter of lathering area restricts you to a brush of 22mm or smaller

Heat retention (165-degree water initially introduced into scuttle):

• After 5 minutes: 145 degrees F
• After 10 minutes: 140 degrees F
• After 15 minutes: 134 degrees F
• After 20 minutes: 130 degrees F
• After 25 minutes: 130 degrees F

Dimensions of scuttle:

• Height: 4" (without lid)
• Base width: 2 1/8"
• Width on top: 3 1/2" (4 1/2 with spout)
• Inside diameter of lathering area: 2 13/16"
• Depth of lathering area: 3 1/8"
• Texture of lathering surface: cross hatched

 

[bran]

Thanks for posting the heat retention information. With this being part one of five, I assume you are going to review four more scuttles (or is this a five part on this particular scuttle?)? I look forward to your reviews. I have been looking for one and not sure which direction to go. Thanks!

 

[California Cajun]

Thanks for posting the heat retention information. With this being part one of five, I assume you are going to review four more scuttles (or is this a five part on this particular scuttle?)? I look forward to your reviews. I have been looking for one and not sure which direction to go. Thanks!

Yes, the other four have now been posted.

• Small Robert Becker scuttle (this one)
• Georgetown G5 scuttle
• Large Moss scuttle
• Small Schwarzweisskeramik scuttle
• Dirty Bird 1.5 scuttle

 

[K.T.]

Thanks for the heads up on this one. It looks like a fantastic value. It seems that this small one would make a great brush scuttle. Maybe his larger models are better suited to bowl lathering?

K.T.

 

[ilinimud]

I was about to buy one of his medium sized scuttles, but he is away on ebay right now. Thanks for posting this!

 

[Xezmer]

This guy lives in the same town as me. I'm gonna pick one up from him soon.

 

[mdevine]

I have one of his large scuttles which works great for bowl lathering. However, for the past 3-4 months, I have really taken to face lathering with soaps. The smaller scuttle seems more suited to this.

 

[Greybeard]

If you're going to face lather, then the best scuttle is the Dirty Bird brush scuttle. Next would be the small Moss scuttle followed by the small Robert Becker.
The Dirty Bird retains the heat in the brush best. The small Moss is almost as good. The Robert Becker is good, but loses a bit of heat in the brush due to more space between the walls of the scuttle and the bristles of the brush.
The Becker is quite good if you drop a puck of soap into it and use it as a combination scuttle and mug since it's large enough to comfortably load the brush.

If you bowl lather, then the medium Robert Becker is hard to beat for the price.