Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 31
Like Tree2Likes

Thread: scuttle vs bowl bs mug

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10
    Thanked: 0

    Default scuttle vs bowl bs mug

    I haven't even had my first razor yet but I wanna be prepared before I get it this christmas. I've been doing a lot of research and I need to know something. What exactly is a scuttle? and how does it compare to bowls and mugs?

    As a side question: How can I get a cheap mug, bowl, or scuttle? most of the ones for shaving are fairly expensive (for the budget of a 15 year old).

  2. #2
    Senior Member hornm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Portland, Oregon, United States
    Posts
    518
    Thanked: 125

    Default

    The "old school" scuttles and the newer "Moss" style scuttles are a little different. The old school scuttles were similar to a coffee mug with a large mouth teapot type spout and an additional strainer platform on top. You would put your shave soap on the top of the strainer with hot water in the cup bottom. Wet your brush through the spout opening then build your hot lather. The newer "Moss" style scuttles are similar to a teapot with a closed dish on the top (no strain holes). You'd fill with hot water like the old school but you could use creams, soaps, or a combination of the two in order to build you lather. The enclosed bottom portion with the hot water would in turn keep your lather hot longer. The old school style has more water area exposed to room temp and will cool off quicker. Cant say anything about bowls since I haven't used one yet. If you go on e-bay and search for shaving scuttle a pretty good variety of the old school will pop up and there's a guy who makes and sells the newer "Moss" style for between 15-20 bucks (that's where I got my first 2 scuttles).

    Hope this helps,

    Michael

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to hornm For This Useful Post:

    jillybooty (11-20-2009)

  4. #3
    CRR
    CRR is offline
    Whisker Wacker
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Aptos, CA
    Posts
    208
    Thanked: 15

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jillybooty View Post
    I haven't even had my first razor yet but I wanna be prepared before I get it this christmas. I've been doing a lot of research and I need to know something. What exactly is a scuttle? and how does it compare to bowls and mugs?

    As a side question: How can I get a cheap mug, bowl, or scuttle? most of the ones for shaving are fairly expensive (for the budget of a 15 year old).
    A scuttle is an old-fashioned shave mug that was commonly used where you did not have running hot water. You boil water and pour it in to heat/wet the brush and soap. You can view one here:

    Shaving Lather Mugs and Bowls

    Lots of people enjoy "warm" lather and others don't care so much. Chances are you will have a few different options once you are hooked into the habit of shaving with a striaght or old Double Edge (DE).

    I'd start with just a plain mug of your choice from Walmart, etc. No need to spend a lot on anything. Get a few different soaps and a bowl and a shave cream or two and then go from there. Use any ceramic bowl you have, it will work just fine.

    You can also just make lather on your face or hand as well. Check out the Wiki page and you'll find lots of information about all of these types of things. (The Wiki button at the top of the site...)

    Hope this helps.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to CRR For This Useful Post:

    jillybooty (11-20-2009)

  6. #4
    < Banned User >
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    591
    Thanked: 96

    Default

    Scuttle is IMHO, a vessel with a spout big enough to insert your brush into (thus soaking the bristles) with the handle resting on the spout, with a small dish atop (fixed or seperate) to whisk lather in.


    I've yet to use a scuttle, but it looks to me like the superior method if you have the room for it.

    I've used a mug and a dish.

    Mug stays warm better, but is a little big and high-walled for me (have to kind of stick my fingers holding the brush into it to whisk). Bowl makes faster lather and is better size, but doesn't hold heat nearly as well.

    If cost is an issue, get a dish, otherwise get a scuttle. Mug is kind of in between by my estimation and doesn't get enough benefits of the scuttle to counter the weaknesses.

    I'm hoping to pick up a small scuttle in the near future.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to IanS For This Useful Post:

    jillybooty (11-20-2009)

  8. #5
    Hones/Honing/Master Barber avatar1999's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Waynesboro, PA
    Posts
    997
    Thanked: 199
    Blog Entries
    6

    Default

    Like said above, the scuttle has a lower part like a double boiler to hold hot water, and keep the top "bowl" part warm so the lather stays warm while you shave.

    Here is one of the "old school" scuttles:


    And this is one of the newer "moss" scuttles:


    If you're on a budget and don't mind it being a little "redneck" you can go to the garden center at Walmart and pick up a "self-watering" planter. This is what I have and it works great. And the water won't seep through into your lather. I did a test and let it sit overnight, and only a few drops of water came through. The bottom part of the "bowl" isn't glazed, so it has a little texture to it, great for whipping up suds Cost me about $3.

  9. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to avatar1999 For This Useful Post:

    jillybooty (11-20-2009), squarerigg (11-21-2009), STRAIGHTRAZOR13 (11-21-2009)

  10. #6
    Senior Member cyclelu's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Miami, Florida
    Posts
    618
    Thanked: 1068

    Default

    +1 to the redneck scuttle.

    I got one about 3 weeks ago and the lather has stayed plenty warm for 3 passes plus touch ups. At $3 how can you go wrong.



    Lu

  11. #7
    v76
    v76 is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    186
    Thanked: 20

    Default

    I used to use a vintage glass barber mug and just recently switched to a (not so plain) big ceramic mug my sister made me (pottery + painted), with a mug warmer: made all the difference. Stays hot and etc... cost me about 15$ all in all.

    When you start out, beware of the overly specialized "barber/shaving" apparel... most of it is over priced IMO. 40-70$ shaving mug? Gimme a break!
    Last edited by v76; 11-20-2009 at 01:41 AM.
    Christel likes this.

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to v76 For This Useful Post:

    dave5225 (11-20-2009)

  13. #8
    Senior Member dward's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Germantown, MD
    Posts
    1,686
    Thanked: 245

    Default

    A little imagination can go along way. The dollar store will contain items you can use as a soap bowl, or a bowl as a lather bowl. Or you can spend obscene amounts of money to get the same result.

  14. #9
    Straight Shaver Apprentice DPflaumer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Boone, NC
    Posts
    1,093
    Thanked: 168

    Default

    I used to just use a colorful glazed cereal bowl from Walmart but I saved up some money (college student) and bought a pretty Edwin Jagger bowl. When I am home I use a bowl an ex girlfriend made me at a paint your own pottery place. Anything works.

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to DPflaumer For This Useful Post:

    jillybooty (11-20-2009)

  16. #10
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    great idea for the paint your own pottery type stuff. We have one of those here in spartanburg and I think im going to whip up a nice shaving bowl/mug. Thanks all around for the help. I agree with all of you about not worrying about getting something too shaving specialized. I'm not in this for the nostalgia so having pictures of brushes, strops, or ships is stupid to me.

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •