Lather mug/bowl?

[Paul10]

Hi,

I've noticed that some people may use a mug or a bowl to generate lather. What does everyone here use or if you can give me a link or 2 to some good ones. I've tried in a bowl and it was ok and I've tried in a mug and still not too bad. For reference, here is the brush I have: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/800550/422304.htm

Thanks.
Paul

[Leisureguy]

Part of the fun seems to be looking through thrift shops to find a good lathering bowl at a very low price. My preferred size and shape is a bowl that is roughly hemispherical and about 5" across and 3" deep. Some cereal bowls fit the bill exactly. I like a thick bowl, which gets hot and stays hot. I currently use a soup cup, which has the right size and shape and also has the advantage of having a handle.

[yomuppet]

I prefer a plastic bowl, as the two ceramic ones I've had shipped so far have both arrived broken, and even if they didn't I'm sure I would have dropped them sooner or later :eek:

J

[Magruder]

I prefer a bowl with the sides tapered rather than straight up and down. Currently I use a cereal bowl borrowed from the kitchen cabinet, as I keep my eyes peeled for a permanent lathering bowl.

By the way, my lather-warming apparatus is a different cereal bowl (76 cents at WalMart) which holds a coffee mug. The bowl is filled with boiling water, and my brush sits in the mug in the bowl. It works well, and I got the idea from this forum.

[gglockner]

With creams I use an old 1940-50's corningware handle-less mug. It holds the heat and works very well for me. For hard soaps its the Old Spice Mug for me.

Glen

[AVB19Peace]

Here's what I'm using for now, from Bed Bath and Beyond.

Nova Blue 24-Ounce Mug (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=12276966&RN=554&KSKU=102550)
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/1295612276966P.JPG

[olkev]

I just picked up a couple of bowls similar these at Target for about $5/ea. I put the lids up in the kitchen but, they work great. Porcelain, microwave safe, great handle. Online they come in a set of 4 but you can buy them individually in the store. Or at least I did. Mine have a smooth side, 2 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter . . . whips up a great lather

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8968/soupbowlio6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[mpisarcik]

these items were recently acquired this week. in the middle is a really nice looking and functional lather bowl from target.

http://in-stereo.net/matt/shave2.jpg

:biggrin:

[olkev]

I nearly bought that one because of the color and interior finish. It really is nice. I sucumbed to the handle on mine . . .

I keep my Proaso soap in these Currier & Ives mugs I got on eBay:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9058/currierivesna0.jpg

[rtaylor61]

No matter what I try, the stainless steel mixing bowl is still my mainstay:
http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=1063

Randy

[kennethw]

No matter what I try, the stainless steel mixing bowl is still my mainstay

What about the heat? What about heat loss? You know, inquiring minds and all. :biggrin:

I've been using a frou-frou soup bowl from Crate & Barrel with a cool internal glaze. Thick, stylish and not slippery, with a darker finish—making it easier to see the lather. It doesn't seem to hold the heat as well as I expected though. Of course, I live in San Francisco, and having the bathroom window open in late summer means that a cool breeze can easily outpace my beard warming tactics.

[rtaylor61]

Kenneth,

I fill the bowl with hot water, then dump all but about a tablespoon. The bowl is smooth, so whipping up lather is not an issue. Between each pass, I can tilt the bowl under the tap and run hot water over the bottom to re-heat the lather. Then I just re-load the brush. With the summertime temps, I prefer this to my Moss Scuttle, but come winter, it's back to the scuttle. However, I will still use the mixing bowl to build the lather.

Randy

[rikrdo]

Hey Pat !!

Howz about a quick review on that Trader Joe's Shave Cream ??
Love to hear your views on it!!

[kennethw]

Between each pass, I can tilt the bowl under the tap and run hot water over the bottom to re-heat the lather.

Intriguing...

[kennethw]

Hey Pat !!

Howz about a quick review on that Trader Joe's Shave Cream ??
Love to hear your views on it!!

No way. There is such a thing? TJ's is all kinds of amazing. They probably managed to make or distribute the best shaving cream on the planet, and just haven't bothered to tell us yet.

[Jonnybc]

I sometimes use an enamel camping bowl and float it on the water in my sink, better than a Moss Scuttle IMO!

http://mountainwarehouse.com/shop/images/var/010781.jpg

They cost anout £2.50 in the UK.

[crispy]

I'm using the exact same mug as AVB, it works great!

[Ashe]

I use the following bowl:

http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=3313

It's actually a cooking bowl for spaghetti etc and is designed to be placed in the oven and to retain heat as good as possible. It has a very nice weight, has excellent size and is rounded near the bottom. I do think the sides could have been better if they were just a cm or 2 higher but overal, this is a great lathering bowl! :001_smile

The can next to it is from the same material although not designed to be placed in the oven. It retains heat very well too and I use it to soak my brush in.

[Plantangent]

I picked up a small bowl from the Maine Potters Market in Portland Maine this weekend, (they do have a web site) http://www.mainepottersmarket.com, I was looking for something original, I picked a piece from Neal Loken, originally a pop-over dish it works very well with my large brush, the diameter is 2.5 x 4" it will sit in your hand or you can use the small handle, I highly recommend it for someone looking for an original piece to complement their shaving collection, and for $12.00 US its a steal (you can get 4 for $50.00)

[mpisarcik]

The Trader Joe's stuff is one of the best cream's i've used. Its is really slick, won't dry out your skin, and gets one of the closet shaves i've felt. I would really recommend picking up a tube.

[Dinder1]

This is the bowl I use.
Cheers, DJ.

[mikey]

hello paul,

i use classic old-fashioned apothecary mugs such as the following:

machine-made in china
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=31015&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1

hand-made in usa
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CC019

i find that the shape of this style of mug accommodates any and all shaving soaps. the wider bowl-style refiils will obviously sit higher in the mug. also since the mug is wider at the top, it eliminates the clinking and clanking of the brush against the mug as you whip up the lather. besides, they just look cool.

thanks,
mike

[Paul10]

Excellent ideas. Thank you all. I'll have to do some shopping this weekend and see what I can find.

Thanks again.

-Paul

[GoTeeGuy]

I simply purchased the largest coffe mug I could find at the dollar store -- it's about 4 inches across and 3 inches deep. Works great and cheap too!!! :thumbup1:

Cheers,

[OldSaw]

This is the one I use at the cottage. It was made especially for me by a friend of my wife's. At home I use an Old Spice mug for soap that I bought at the Navy Exchange over 20 years ago. I also have a shallow soup mug that works for larger soaps and creams, which I bought for 49 cents at a thrift store.

[PalmettoB]

For soaps, I use a brushed metal "cotton jar" I bought at Target. The nice thing about it is that it has a lid. I also have an "el cheapo" soup mug to mix creams and warm the water for my brush.

[htownmmm]

Let's see:

A soup mug from Wal-Mart ( large with a plastic lid so when traveling, I can put my shave supplies right inside. :thumbup1: )

A extra large shave mug from coolshaving.com- fits right on top of soup mug( when the soup mug is filled with hot water, it keeps my lather extremely warm; think of a double boiler or ye olde Moss scuttle). :thumbup:


Marty

[smoothshaver]

I generally use a bowl like Matt's and find it works well. Target does offer a lot of possibilities (great! another acquisition order. :smile: ).

They also have low, wide white coffee mugs, about 4 inch i.d. and 2.75 inches high, but the handle is a bit too small for my liking. Might work for someone else, though.

This site is a great source of information I didn't know I needed.

Ed

[sphughes]

The Target bowl ($2.99) referenced by Matt and Ed works great for me as well.

Scott

[charleton]

AVB,

I just found a mug that looks a lot like your Bed, Bath and Beyond mug. It works wonderfully. (But I'll bet I paid less for it than you did.) :biggrin:

Gene.

[Jim]

This is what I use build it then park it!:thumbup:
http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=3314

[dszpiro]

I found this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4359639236&sspagename=ADME:B:AAQ:US:1) listing for a soapstone bowl on eBay. Isn't this graphic great! This fellow certainly looks like he needs a shave. :biggrin: I think it would be a fun way to wake up each morning with him staring back at you from the bottom of a shaving bowl.

BTW, I wrote to the vendor: the bowl is 5" across and 3" deep at its deepest.

Cheers,

[TimmyBoston]

Hi,

I've noticed that some people may use a mug or a bowl to generate lather. What does everyone here use or if you can give me a link or 2 to some good ones. I've tried in a bowl and it was ok and I've tried in a mug and still not too bad. For reference, here is the brush I have: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/800550/422304.htm

Thanks.
Paul

I use a cereal bowl I got at Target, I find about 5 inches in diameter is a good size. A mug of similar size is nice as well. But I'd avoid the coffee mugs and look for a latte mug, something wider. They will both work great and you can get one for like 2 bucks a lot cheaper than ClassicShaving or another specially designed lather bowl. I'm very picky about a lot of things, but to me a bowl's a bowl. Save your money for other shaving gear.

[ouch]

Guess I'm the only one who uses a 4 1/2 quart Le Creuset dutch oven as a shave mug.

[fuerein]

My mind was wandering as I read this thread... I wonder how a morter (as in from a morter and pestle) would work, I wonder if the rough surface would help/hinder building a lather. The one benefit you could get a very hefty marble/granite/stone bowl for building a lather. Warm the bowl once and the natural heat retention would last the entire shave.

You could even get a pig shaped bowl! Pig Molcajete (http://www.surlatable.com/common/products/product_large_details.cfm?prrfnbr=6517)

[olkev]

My mind was wandering as I read this thread... I wonder how a morter (as in from a morter and pestle) would work, I wonder if the rough surface would help/hinder building a lather. The one benefit you could get a very hefty marble/granite/stone bowl for building a lather. Warm the bowl once and the natural heat retention would last the entire shave.
I've wondered about the rough surface idea too, but, my question to that would be how well the brushes would hold up.

Do you think a marble/granite/stone bowl for building a lather would retain heat that much longer that porcelain or other pottery forms?

[fuerein]

I've wondered about the rough surface idea too, but, my question to that would be how well the brushes would hold up.

Do you think a marble/granite/stone bowl for building a lather would retain heat that much longer that porcelain or other pottery forms?

The only reason I think it would hold heat longer is most bowls are less than in inch thick, most morters are much thicker. Thus (now if I could only remember enough thermodynamics I could do the mathematical proof of this) the morter, being thicker, would hold and retain the heat longer than the thinner bowl.

[180pilot]

I like 12 oz. Squishy bowl for my travel kit:

http://www.guyotdesigns.com/squishybowls

[Unit 91]

A bowl I picked up at Target really cheap. Love the color. This isn't the same bowl, but same maker and color. Couldn't find the actual bowl.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MwzPAtnmL._SS384_.jpg

I've got a few others as well.

[phronq]

I use a generic oversize cappuccino mug that's not dissimilar to the one in Mantic's videos. It was a housewarming gift ten years or so ago, and it was being used to hold batteries and other loose utility stuff in the cupboard above the stove.

It's fairly thick, but doesn't really hold the heat unless floated in a sink full of hot water. It seems about the right size for making lather, though.

[Mr. Todd]

I use a ceramic rice bowl... perfect size... and I float it in a slighty bigger soup bowl to keep the lather warm. Ddn't by them... they were already in my house!

[uk_HBer]

A coffee cup I bought from Costa coffee.......good thick cup, just right for my BLK4. :thumbup1:

[SlipDigby]

I use a regular ceramic cereal bowl bought from a supermarket. cost me £2. bargain.

[weargle]

My mind was wandering as I read this thread... I wonder how a morter (as in from a morter and pestle) would work, I wonder if the rough surface would help/hinder building a lather. The one benefit you could get a very hefty marble/granite/stone bowl for building a lather. Warm the bowl once and the natural heat retention would last the entire shave.

You could even get a pig shaped bowl! Pig Molcajete (http://www.surlatable.com/common/products/product_large_details.cfm?prrfnbr=6517)

This is the only post that I found relevant for "molcajete". I found something similar to this (http://www.mexgrocer.com/10073.html) in a local grocery store. For under $5, I'll try it. Not 100% sure how the plastic is going to work out, so if it fails, I have a picnic salsa dish. :w00t:

[sangman]

I use a mortar that look the same as this http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/showimage.aspx?gid=265780&image=285748504&images=285748504&formats=0&format=0 I picked it up for just £2.00 in cooking shop. I had been using a small plastic bowl that was about the same size, but decided to try wooden bowl what a difference. Just did a small test to see what difference there is I used both plastic bowl and wooden bowl. Put hot water in then tipped it out after about a minute. Put tobs shaving shop cream in both about the size of small finger nail and gave each 25 swirls the result was about a third more cream in the wooden one . Must say i really like the scent of the tobs shaving shop cream and the cologne. :001_smile

[pal]

Here's what I'm using for now, from Bed Bath and Beyond.

Nova Blue 24-Ounce Mug (http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=12276966&RN=554&KSKU=102550)
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/230/1295612276966P.JPG

+1 All that is needed and works very well.