Which Scuttle?

Milton Man · 07-29-2008, 07:47 PM

Hi Gents,
So I've recently become very interested in getting a proper scuttle - the GP Scuttle really had piqued my interest, but the Moss scuttle is also gorgeous, and very near where I'm going vacationing in August.

I want the scuttle to be big enough to lather in, keep the heat relatively well, and be comfortable in the hand and not too heavy.

From what I can gather, the small Moss scuttle is really just to "park" the brush once you have lathered in a bowl or on your face. But what about the large Moss Scuttle or the GP Scuttle.

Any and all thoughts, opinions, comments etc. are welcome - I'm only going to get one crack at getting a scuttle, so I have to make sure it meets my needs the first time 'round!

Thanks for the advice -

Mark

Brother Jeeter · 07-29-2008, 08:50 PM

I wanted a Scuttle large enough to actually drop a cake of soap in and do the whole thing in it. I decided on the Georgetown Pottery Scuttle. I am not disappointed! I find it is easier to wet my face, load up the brush with a very stiff load of Shaving soap (Colleen's) in a separate mug and build the lather on my face. I leave the brush in the Scuttle while I'm not actually using it and the warm lather all through my shave is GREAT! The Small Moss, might do that just as well, but I sometimes use the Scuttle to hold the soap, make lather in and hold the brush too. The Georgetown is large enough for all of that. I can't say how the Moss might work.
Then too, there is the cost PLUS shipping, of the respective Scuttles. I found the Georgetown to be very reasonable. I am completely satisfied with the GP Scuttle.

Regards,

Jeeter

thebigspendur · 07-30-2008, 02:13 AM

Well, I'll give you my opinion.

I have been shaving for years making the lather directly on my face and that's really fine by me. My opinion has always been that going after warm lather is like a dog chasing his tail. It's something you can't really attain without considerable inconvenience. So after all this time I bought a GP scuttle. Yes its very nice. So I first fill it in and out with hot tap water and then when I'm ready to start shaving empty it and fill the jacket with boiling water. I find it keeps the lather warm for about 5 minutes and then it rapidly starts to cool. However, what I have found is that the quality of lather is much finer and better quality than I get doing it directly on my face and that alone makes the scuttle worthwhile. As far as the hot lather issue goes you can just hit the brush under the hot tap every now and then and you have hot lather.

JimmyHAD · 07-30-2008, 06:01 AM

I have a small Moss. As you may know it was not designed by Dr. Moss to lather in but to keep the lather warm after it is created in a separate bowl or on the face. I used to be a face latherer but like thebigspendur and thanks to Topher showing me the advantages I discovered that I make much better lather in a bowl. So I cast a vote for the small. I haven't owned the large but if someone were to put up a large two tone Moss on the selling forum I would probably be on it.

icedog · 07-30-2008, 11:31 PM

I use the Georgetown Pottery scuttles for the shaving sets I design and fabricate. No complaints yet. I also use one myself and it is very nice.

sidneykidney · 07-30-2008, 11:43 PM

icedog makes a nice scuttle.... dont you icedog?

rsrick · 07-30-2008, 11:46 PM

Large Moss .... only cause that's what I have and like! If you are in the Tatamagouche area stop in to see Sara. If you get there before noon you may have the chance to see her making one (I on the other hand missed this by one day ... she had 4 or 5 in the initial drying stage when I was in).

JohnP · 07-31-2008, 01:42 AM

Go with the Moss scuttle.
It is the original, the one that started all this mess (cream scuttles) in the first place. Admittedly however it is designed for face latherers (the inner bowl is designed to be in contact with your lather-laden brush, keeping it hot for the next pass) and works great for that, but if you insist on lathering in a bowl...get the large one or look elsewhere.
Personally I see bowl lathering as wasting lather that could have been working on my face, but each man has his own methods to shave his own beard, after all.

John P.

holli4pirating · 07-31-2008, 06:59 AM

I have a GP scuttle, and I love it. I fill up the bowl and the jacket with hot tap water and then let my brush soak in the bowl while I strop. I then pour it all out, refill the jacket, and build up lather in the bowl. I find the size to be just right to build my lather. The lather stays nice and warm, but should I ever feel that it's not quite warm enough, I just pour out the water in the jacket and refill with hot water. Then a few swirls of the brush and everything is toasty.

For the record, I do not have the current generation of the GP scuttles, so the jacket on mine does not extend under the bowl. The new ones have a full jacket, so they should do an even better job of keeping lather warm. Also, I'm pretty sure the handle was adjusted to make in more comfortable to hold; they suggest putting your thumb through the handle with your palm under the scuttle. I couldn't comment, since I don't have the new one, but I've not had any problems gripping mine.

Milton Man · 08-01-2008, 01:43 AM

Thanks for all the great information and opinions, gents - very much appreciated.

After seeing Jacque's GP scuttle in the recent "My new GP Scuttle" thread, and how you can actually lather in it comfortably, I think I've pretty well decided on that one.

Thanks again,

Mark

Update: I broke down and did get the GP scuttle - Hamada & Persimmon - it's just too beautiful to pass up!