Scratching ceramic

**leighroy** · 07-29-2012, 03:28 PM

I have this liquid logic shaving bowl and its ceramic, its a perfect size for a lather bowl but the inside seems too smooth to build a decent lather.

Ive tried scoring it with everything i can think of but it just doesnt touch it. I was thinking of trying a cutting blade on a dremel by lightly scoring it.

Any ideas guys?

**dpm802** · 07-29-2012, 04:00 PM

I think if you score it you would crack the glazing and seriously weaken the material.

My advice would be to leave it the way it is. If you must have a rough-surfaced bowl,
seek out another that was designed that way from the beginning.

Having a smooth surface is not a deterrent to building good lather. I used my VdH bowl and just pumped the brush and up and down and it made gobs and gobs of rich, creamy lather in no time flat.

**leighroy** · 07-29-2012, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by dpm802

I think if you score it you would crack the glazing and seriously weaken the material.

My advice would be to leave it the way it is. If you must have a rough-surfaced bowl,
seek out another that was designed that way from the beginning.

Having a smooth surface is not a deterrent to building good lather. I used my VdH bowl and just pumped the brush and up and down and it made gobs and gobs of rich, creamy lather in no time flat.

Thanks ill try that, thought id better ask someone before i done something stupid!

**cb91710** · 07-29-2012, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by dpm802

Having a smooth surface is not a deterrent to building good lather. I used my VdH bowl and just pumped the brush and up and down and it made gobs and gobs of rich, creamy lather in no time flat.

+1

I've lathered in soup bowls, cereal bowls, "shaving" bowls that were smooth inside... doesn't matter. It's the flexing of the brush hairs that aerate the soap and create lather.

**leighroy** · 07-29-2012, 04:22 PM

Think ill have another go at it, technique must be off.

**mctmatt** · 07-29-2012, 05:04 PM

leighroy, I understand what your talking about. It is hard to build great lather when there is very little surface friction. Another member here named bnalley made me a custom shave bowl that was glazed on the outside, but non glazed on the inside. It has been the best lather making bowl I have every used. I have always been good at making luxurious lather but with some bowls the soap/lather seemed to slide around more making it difficult to build. The bowl that bnalley made for me has solved all my issues. Try and locate a non glazed stone ware or terra cotta plant bowl maybe at your local Garden Center.

**Teabag** · 07-29-2012, 05:35 PM

Could you squeeze out a few lines of hard setting glue on the inside of the bowl?

**groovyd** · 07-29-2012, 05:38 PM

Is it expensive? Try the dremel... if it doesn't work gives you an excuse to get a scuttle the way you want it.

**OzoneAz** · 07-29-2012, 05:47 PM

Someone on the site (forgot who) used epoxy and BB's in his lathering bowl... He said it worked pretty good in creating additional agitation when mixing.

**groovyd** · 07-29-2012, 05:51 PM

how about a light brushing of epoxy and then dust it with fine white sand, I bet that would work wonders but you might need to replace your brush every year or so.

**KcHighLife** · 07-29-2012, 06:10 PM

IMHO, your technique is the issue. It could possibly be the soap or cream as some just do not lather well. My favorite lathering bowl, other than my scuttle, is an old soup bowl. Smooth as can be. All of these other ideas will just wear your brushes out. I say leave it only and work on technique....just my .02 worth.

**Doppelgaenger** · 07-29-2012, 06:36 PM

Hard materials that resist being scratched are usually extremely brittle. It won't score, it'll just chip up and you'll end up lathering on top of porous clay. Glaze usually contributes a lot to the physical integrity of a mug or cup.

I'm with everyone else, I make lather in a glazed cup and I have no problems making tons of lather with proraso

**RobAtSGH** · 07-29-2012, 06:44 PM

Agreed - a rough or smooth surface makes little difference in the quality of the lather. I've used rice bowls, small soup bowls, and a dedicated rough-surface shave bowl. Can't say that the smoothness or roughness of the surface improved or hurt its ability to create good lather. Size, however, can be important. Too small, and it's hard to get enough air whipped in because there's not a lot of room to move the bristles/hairs around.

**mftoms59** · 07-30-2012, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by mctmatt

leighroy, ... Try and locate a non glazed stone ware or terra cotta plant bowl maybe at your local Garden Center.

A Spice Mortar Bowl has a textured inner surface.

**musicman1951** · 07-30-2012, 05:28 AM

My first reaction was to purchase a different bowl - but it's very nice to have one the size you like. There must be quite a few materials with witch you can "paint" a spiderweb on the inside. I don't know if Home Depot or a craft store is in order. Since you're not eating the lather I should think anything permanent would be fine.

You can make the same lather with a smooth bowl - it will just take a little longer.

**mctmatt** · 07-30-2012, 06:51 AM

This can be bought on ebay for $9.95. It is Helen's Asian Kitchen 5 1/2 inch Ceramic Suribachi Bowl.

Click image for larger version.

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**barrycv** · 07-30-2012, 07:40 AM

There was a thread very similar to this some time back. IIRC, the general consensus was: don't score the ceramic, you'll most likely chip & break it, plus you'll be exposing an area that might not be sealed (i.e. extremely porous). Many suggested adding some glue/epoxy to create ridges, others said to add a kind of rubber mat to the bottom to achieve the same.

Others also said why bother, just face lather. YMMV.

**Vanman** · 07-30-2012, 11:53 AM

If a rough surface is introduced would it not damage the brush? I would think that a bowl with a swirl in the bottom and glazed over in a satin finish would be best. Just my .02 :D

**cb91710** · 07-30-2012, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Vanman

If a rough surface is introduced would it not damage the brush? I would think that a bowl with a swirl in the bottom and glazed over in a satin finish would be best. Just my .02 :D

Yes, it would reduce the life of the brush.
The surface on that Suribachi bowl would likely destroy a brush in a few months.

It doesn't take much... honestly, it doesn't take anything... I have extremely hard water and can lather in a cereal bowl, and yes, some brushes lather better than others.
But if one feels that something is needed, take a look at the bottom of a typical scuttle.
It's just a simple spiderweb drawn into the clay prior to glazing. The indentations are less than 1/8th inch... more likely around 1/16 or less, and there are no harsh edges. It's just a simple 3/16" line drawn in the clay, then glazed and fired.

Anything with any kind of edge will indeed shorten the life of the brush.

**KcHighLife** · 07-30-2012, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by cb91710

Yes, it would reduce the life of the brush.
The surface on that Suribachi bowl would likely destroy a brush in a few months.

It doesn't take much... honestly, it doesn't take anything... I have extremely hard water and can lather in a cereal bowl, and yes, some brushes lather better than others.
But if one feels that something is needed, take a look at the bottom of a typical scuttle.
It's just a simple spiderweb drawn into the clay prior to glazing. The indentations are less than 1/8th inch... more likely around 1/16 or less, and there are no harsh edges. It's just a simple 3/16" line drawn in the clay, then glazed and fired.

Anything with any kind of edge will indeed shorten the life of the brush.

+1