What's the importance of type of lather bowl? I am just using a cereal bowl from my cupboard, but there are lots of different types of dedicated shave bowls and mugs, including wooden ones. What is the importance?
What's the importance of the type of lather bowl to use?
- Thread starter PistolSlap
- Start date
No importance, some folks like a certain look better. I usually face lather but still use a scuttle to keep the brush and lather warm.
- Thread starter
- #3
what's a scuttle?
Like Doc226 said, it's not important at all, it's all about personal choice. I prefer a rosewood apothecary mug,
it works the best for me.
it works the best for me.
Ooh that's purdy
Whatever works for you is fine. I've used a Chinese rice bowl, the lid of a proraso cup, an empty kiehls cream container, a vintage old spice mug and the palm of my hand. I don't really have a preference.
Given the purpose is to be able to whip up nice lather which is important to a good shave, perhaps better asked is what criteria makes for a good lather bowl. Personally mine are a width sufficient to allow vigorous circular whipping without smacking the sides with the brush handle. Material that will readily take and retain warmth which facilitates the generation of good lather. Among the items that I've seen that satisfy these are a Dutch gravy bowl, individual french onion crock/bowl, large wide latte mug. ~5" wide stainless prep bowl, stainless Sierra cup, salsa serving bowl. Obviously there are many others
Currently I use a Sierra cup to make lather and a small Feats of Clay scuttle to keep it warm
I like my Marvey shaving mug pretty good......
http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=YDvBT92lBoqc8gT8qf2jCw&ved=0CJoBEPMCMAM
http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=YDvBT92lBoqc8gT8qf2jCw&ved=0CJoBEPMCMAM
+1 I think it's mostly personal preference.
I think mugs, scuttles and shaving bowls are part of the tradition and ritual piece of shaving like our grandfathers did. While cereal and rice bowls do serve the purpose, there's a whole different vibe and energy using an vintage Old Spice mug.
I was going to put this in a separate thread (didn't want want to hijack this thread) but this seems like a perfect spot for it. I just picked up this bowl in a consignment shop for my son, whose lather bowl just broke. Even though it didn't look deep enough to be effective in holding any lather (1.5 "), I bought it anyway since it was only $1. So I figured I'd try it out to see if it actually worked before I gave it tot him. Well, surprisingly, it worked great. The very shallow depth actually worked to an advantage, since the brush handle didn't bang against the sides. And for some reason, it kept almost all of the lather within the bowl. So, I guess a deep bowl, like my Georgetown scuttle really isn't a requirement, as I had thought.
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I just use a big Latte Mug that I raided from the kitchen.
I started with a stainless steel shaving bowl. I've since moved on to a Dirty Bird 1.5 scuttle. I like the scuttle.
I just got one of these:
Roughed up the interior with some 100 grit sandpaper and cut some light grids into it with a knife.
Supposed to be a pretty amazing lather bowl for $1.50.
Roughed up the interior with some 100 grit sandpaper and cut some light grids into it with a knife.
Supposed to be a pretty amazing lather bowl for $1.50.
Well, having the right brush size to the dimension of a bowl is important. For example, I found that a vintage Barbershop mug was to deep and big for my Parker. On the other hand my VDH blue cup was to narrow and restricted my natural wrist movement when "spinning " lather. Thus having found this French onion soup scuttle everything seems to have freed itself up to make lather in half the time. Besides as a bonus, it comes with a not so airtight lid that it let's the soap dry out after use but also covers it from the eyes of potential guests. Also the lid serves itself well when soring it out of rotation for extended periods of time then the dust wont get to it. Many pluses to this humble bowl. Nice color too!
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Yup... The lather doesn't care. It's all about ergonomics and lather containment.
Apothecary bowls are nice because you can cradle the stem between your thumb and index finger, makes holding onto a wet soapy mug with wet soapy hands a bit easier.
Some bowls are made with a bit of a lip at the top edge that helps to contain the lather within the bowl.
Some bowls have ridges in the bottom to speed the lather building process.
Scuttles are double-walled and allow you to put hot water in the bottom to keep the brush and lather warm on those cold winter mornings.
It is 100% personal preference. They all work, from soup mugs and salsa dishes to $50+ scuttles.
Some people don't even use a bowl... just load the brush and lather on your face.
Apothecary bowls are nice because you can cradle the stem between your thumb and index finger, makes holding onto a wet soapy mug with wet soapy hands a bit easier.
Some bowls are made with a bit of a lip at the top edge that helps to contain the lather within the bowl.
Some bowls have ridges in the bottom to speed the lather building process.
Scuttles are double-walled and allow you to put hot water in the bottom to keep the brush and lather warm on those cold winter mornings.
It is 100% personal preference. They all work, from soup mugs and salsa dishes to $50+ scuttles.
Some people don't even use a bowl... just load the brush and lather on your face.
Outstanding idea!
Always felt that the 3 inch opening for most shave mugs wasn't practical.
Our stoneware cereal bowls were perfect until my wife banned me from bringing kitchen dishes into the bathroom. After that I bought a bowl from Target for $4 that worked pretty good. These days I only face lather.
