Thanks so much Marcelle. I'm more than happy that the rounding jack is working out well for you and appreciate the recommendations. Rock those hats!
I’ve been thinking of something similar myself as I’m getting all of my gear set up. I’m thinking of using an iron used for covering remote controlled planes with a heat sensitive film. They are heat adjustable, and have a non-stick coating. And they are light, so wouldn’t be hard to handle.
Would this do the job,Rick?
Sweet! I look forward to seeing how it works out for you. These do get very hot from what I recall. Something like 275° or so. I think they were originally designed for another use before the RC coverings.
I am very much interested in how this goes for you. A crown iron is on my list since I just received my brim plating machine.
I priced out a crown ironing machine and cost vs production savings would have had me upside down for years to come which is okay because I don't have room in my little shop for the big iron. That doesn't keep me from lusting after it in my heart (subtle Jimmy Carter reference).
The one I purchased heats to 350 so I'm hoping it will be sufficient. I really don't mind hand ironing, but I hate messing around with the pressing cloth.
I think that should be sufficient. I picked up a copy of the Scientific Hatmaker (I think that’s the title) and the author actually recommends using a bare iron and ironing until you get a shine. I’ve been doing that way, and it seems to work nicely to let me know I have the felt nice and compressed.
That’s awesome! I’m glad it works. I also plan on setting up a makeshift crown ironing machine and it’s good to know that those irons will work as well as I’d hoped they would.
Very cool, I may have to copy you on this. The large non-steam iron I use currently is a bit cumbersome and this solution looks great. Nice work.
It's great for my purposes anyway Dave and thanks again for the tip. I used the iron for almost an hour on that 50/50 rabbit-beaver blend hat body from Winchester and the result is much better than I have achieved with hand ironing. Plus, it's an easier process. Hold iron with right hand, drink coffee with left hand.
Thanks and copy away CWV! One of the things I love about the Lounge and this thread in particular is the sharing of ideas on how to make a better hat. Btw, I'd be interested in seeing a pic of your plating machine.
I was just reminded of your post about this. I just recently got one off ebay, and plan to have it running soon. There are a few videos on YouTube of people sewing hats with these, and there is a sewing machine company in NYC that services and has parts for them. They also have a few videos on using and adjusting them. The place is called City Sewing. Figured I’d pass along the info in case you hadn’t found much info on resources.
Thanks for the info DS. Robin at City Sewing is an invaluable source of parts and information for these machines and I actually purchased one of my machines from him. Pricey, but completely rebuilt, painted, and in perfect working order. I've also had a local machinist make a few parts that are so good they are difficult to tell from the original. I watched all the videos I could find before I made my first straw braid hat, but those videos aren't really too instructional as to the intricacies of the process. Lots of trial and error involved (for me at least) and, as I indicated in the previous post, lots of profanity.
