Why are shaving soap bowls often wooden?

**PaulL** · 02-20-2010, 07:36 AM

I wonder why shaving soap bowls are often made of wood?

Also, is it ok to use them again once I have used up the soap? Do they last a while?

**Blondie** · 02-20-2010, 07:37 AM

You can use them over and over. Just take care of them like you would any wood product, and they should last awhile.

**thirdeye** · 02-20-2010, 07:42 AM

I think wood adds a bit of class. Many companies use the wooden bowls as does ours. The can be used over and over. Most companies offer a refill puck that will fit perfectly in their bowls.

We at Gentlemen's Best are doing a fundraiser for B&B, Buy a wooden bowl, have engraved with your initials and 5.00 of the cost goes to support B&B.

**Drubbing** · 02-20-2010, 07:43 AM

Because they look nice.

I don't buy them because it trebles the cost of buying soap. If they were only a few $ more than the soap itself, like the Tabac jar, then I'd be sold.

**Storm** · 02-27-2010, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by pcullens

You can use them over and over. Just take care of them like you would any wood product, and they should last awhile.

Of course, with most wood products, you'd care for them by keeping them away from water!

**Mr. Scruffy** · 02-27-2010, 06:14 AM

Originally Posted by thirdeye

I think wood adds a bit of class. Many companies use the wooden bowls as does ours. The can be used over and over. Most companies offer a refill puck that will fit perfectly in their bowls.

We at Gentlemen's Best are doing a fundraiser for B&B, Buy a wooden bowl, have engraved with your initials and 5.00 of the cost goes to support B&B.

+1

This is a great deal. I love my bowl!

**mparker762** · 02-27-2010, 06:26 AM

Originally Posted by Storm

Of course, with most wood products, you'd care for them by keeping them away from water!

Unless it's a boat...

The wooden bowls are sealed and will last through many pucks. If you use it every day the lids may warp a little bit, but that's it.

**muzl0dr** · 02-27-2010, 09:54 AM

I'm actually wondering about the bowls. I have my first wooden bowl coming and want it to last. How does one normally handle them? Rinse them and the soap out after using? Take the soap out to air dry? Just cover it again without rinsing/drying? I'm very curious about all this. Thanks for any input!

**Uncle Erik** · 02-27-2010, 12:13 PM

Wooden bowls are also usually inexpensive to produce, much less than an equally nice bowl in stainless or aluminum. Wood usually gets a higher consumer preference than plastic, as well. Plastic is always seen as "cheap" while wood is associated with luxury.

**PappyD** · 03-01-2010, 04:20 AM

New here, but my guess is that they won't shatter into a bazillion pieces (like a really cool ceramic scuttle I USED to have) when accidently dropped into the sink....

**mparker762** · 03-01-2010, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by muzl0dr

I'm actually wondering about the bowls. I have my first wooden bowl coming and want it to last. How does one normally handle them?

Like this:

Originally Posted by muzl0dr

Just cover it again without rinsing/drying

You want the soap to stay damp and soft so it's still ready to use the next morning. There are guys that carefully dry their soaps out between uses, and there are guys that soak their pucks before each use in order to ensure a good lather. Unsurprisingly there is a great deal of overlap between these two groups.

If you keep the soap covered up between uses, then over the first few weeks the soap will gradually absorb water from your brush and get softer and softer, working better and better. It'll eventually become fully softened and will work superbly until it is nearly gone. I've had pucks of Gold Dachs become so soft and waterlogged that they became translucent, and in this state were some of the best performing soaps I've ever used.

**BlackBard** · 03-01-2010, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by mparker762

Like this:

You want the soap to stay damp and soft so it's still ready to use the next morning. There are guys that carefully dry their soaps out between uses, and there are guys that soak their pucks before each use in order to ensure a good lather. Unsurprisingly there is a great deal of overlap between these two groups.

If you keep the soap covered up between uses, then over the first few weeks the soap will gradually absorb water from your brush and get softer and softer, working better and better. It'll eventually become fully softened and will work superbly until it is nearly gone. I've had pucks of Gold Dachs become so soft and waterlogged that they became translucent, and in this state were some of the best performing soaps I've ever used.

Exactly!