[Kees]

Every so often I read about scuttles and I cannot stop wondering what the point is of a such a thing.

If I use cream in a tube I just squeeze some on my brush and whip up a lather on my face. If I have a tablet of shaving soap I "wipe"" some soap on a wet brush and whip up a lather on my fiace.

I find that while I create a lather on my face the process of softening the whiskers is set in motion.

Or are scuttles only there to satisfy a scuttle acquisition disorder?

[Navaja]

Originally Posted by Kees

Or are scuttles only there to satisfy a scuttle acquisition disorder?

Bingo, you just found out the answer. It's a fancy and expensive mug that doesn't do anything necessary for shaving.

[netsurfr]

Some folks build up a lather in a bowl vice on the face. So you have a bowl that is quite warm and keeps the lather warm while you are getting it to the right consistency. In addition, in between passes, your lathered brush lays against a warm ceramic dish and keeps the lather warm.
For those that prefer building a lather on the face, the silly warming bowl would seem pretty pointless.
Finally, it could be an acquisition disorder, but I can't figure out a reason to have more than one...

[gssixgun]

Do we actually have to have a reason?????

Ohhhh man don't say that!!!!!!!

[Soopercat]

Pray you never have to shave your head! The best feeling is warm lather after putting a warm towel on your head and face and keeping it that way. What is not so nice is cool lather on a warm head or face "after you have become accustom to warm soothing lather". Only after I got my scuttle did I know what I was missing. Better you never get one, ignorance "was bliss" in my case. Now I want it warmer and warmer without breaking down the cream which happens from time to time. Glad the wife has her own indulgences or I'd be living on the street with my razors and the kit that accompany them.

Kind regards,

[Silver]

Well for me it was initially a case of mistaken identity in my relative newbie state.

But it is going to be just what I need to build a mound of lather for shaving my legs, lots more surface to cover than the face.

[oskar]

Noone needs a scuttle, really. What does help is warm lather. The theory behind it is that when the skin is kept warm and relaxed, the hairs do not retract and can be cut off at a lower point.
A scuttle is just the most convenient way of achieving this.
Greetings
oskar

[thebigspendur]

Its a luxury thing really. Like you don't need a custom razor, you want one. But once you have it you're glad you do.

[hoglahoo]

Originally Posted by Kees

What's th point of having a scuttle?

enjoyment I like my mug but I don't really need it. Gives me a place to set my brush while I'm shaving too

[AFDavis11]

Good question. I've wondered this myself.

[Kenrup]

I really like my Victorian era scuttle. I relather frequently during my shave. It is very nice to have the warm lather on each relather.

Okay, so what? I like it. I've shaved out of a canteen cup while I was in a desert, while I was in a frozen rice patty, and even at 12,000 ft. To get water, I have had to crack ice out of a frozen stream and shaved with it. I've done this using my Gerber (look here if you are curious what I'm talking about. Click here.) Oh my, that isn't even a razor. I have made lather without a brush. Oh wait, I guess you could call a brush a luxury too? Shucks, I've had to dry shave too. I've paid my "dues", I like the cush now.

What's the point? I like, try it you might like it.

[foundlingofdollar]

I must ask:
Currently I fill a mug with water, microwave for 3 minutes, fill the sink with hot water from the tap, then drain the water from the mug, make lather and set it in the hot water in the sink. Would a scuttle really give me warmer lather than this technique?

[Kenrup]

Originally Posted by foundlingofdollar

I must ask:
Currently I fill a mug with water, microwave for 3 minutes, fill the sink with hot water from the tap, then drain the water from the mug, make lather and set it in the hot water in the sink. Would a scuttle really give me warmer lather than this technique?

You are doing the same thing a scuttle does. I don't think you could improve much as the greater amount of water will actually keep the temperature higher longer.

[sicboater]

From the shaveblog on the subject of shaving mugs and scuttles:

"They served a purpose and served it admirably back when lather meant whipping a wet brush over a cake of hard soap, but it's 2006, and most men, even hardcore shavegeeks, use soft shaving cream. And if you shave with cream, you don't need a mug. What you do need is hot lather. Oh man do you need hot lather! Hot lather is why men fight wars, son. Not for democracy. Not for oil. We fight wars to decide who gets to shave with hot lather and who doesn't. If you've never shaved with hot lather you won't understand, and if you have, you do."

Here is the full blog entry


That really sums up how I feel. Hot lather, gentlemen, is absolutely one of life's supreme pleasures.

[hoglahoo]

Thanks Rob, I enjoyed reading that

[Bruno]

I hold my brush under running hot water, swirl it on the shaving cream and then build the lather on my face.
It's warm, easy, and means I have 1 less girly item in the bathroom.

[Joelski78]

What I like is warm/hot lather, and preferably pre swirled before working it on my face. I do this by soaking a smaller bowl into a larger bowl filled with hot water (i.e. au-bain-marie style).
A Moss-type scuttle could be a little bit easyer but will more or less achieve the same thing.

It really depends on your personal preference and lather building method if you will benefit of using a scuttle.