block?

[Wil Tam]

I been trying to get a hat block in my size off eBay for a little while now but it usually goes to high for my liking. Some of you have been following my hat fixing/shaping craziness ... what can I say, I dig the challenge & it's fun plus I get the satisfaction of wearing my finished project. I appreciate the great tips from the gurus on here, you guys are the best.

I found this huge mason jar in the back of the kitchen closet yesterday when I was cleaning, the widest circumference is 21 1/2 inches .. the measurement around my noggin is 22 1/4 .. so it works. I also have a lens from an old photo enlarger, that I use as a paper weight, for the crown.

The first on the block was the Stetson Sovereign I traded my NOS Resistol 990 Kitten Finish for.

The second on the block was the Resistol Saddler that was controversial .. I worked on it a bit more to relax the front pinch & gave it a bit more height.

I'll get a proper block in my size .. but till then I think that this McGyver setup will work just fine!

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[Owney_Madden]

wow thats pretty sweet! looks like you did a great job. and I'm lovin that stetson sovereign

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Pretty crafty there, Wil. In the past, I've used a surplus coffee pot in much the same way. I figured it could take the heat from ironing from the other side and it filled out the crown enough to allow me to smooth areas in need.

 

[Spats McGee]

VERY MacGyver, Wil Tam! Well done. :eusa_clap I've been looking at these, just because I'm not all that crafty, but your solution definitely has more flair.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

VERY MacGyver, Wil Tam! Well done. :eusa_clap I've been looking at these, just because I'm not all that crafty, but your solution definitely has more flair.

Wil very imaginative:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Spats here is the discussion on those little jewels http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=38763

 

[jpbales]

one thing I've been thinking about doing is simply making my own block. The only thing is that if I were making my own hat from scratch, I would need a flange too (which I have no idea how to make, and no money to buy one). If you have the tools (a good sander and a saw to cut the wood) then you can probably make a nice one all on your own, and it can be your size and any shape you like. Here's a good link I found to making a hat block:
http://www.indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?t=20997

that's some good craftiness there tho! So do you use it to simply re-shape the mis-shapen sides of the hat? I guess you're probably not completely re-blocking the hats.

 

[Wil Tam]

Thanks Fellas


I just found it the other day, I was looking at real wooden blocks on the bay and I almost had one in my size but got sniped in the last seconds [huh].

I'm just following advice from all of you guys & thought this has the right shape & width to keep the taper from tightening into a cone as it dried after a dunking, and guess what? I works beautifully... I go that extra step with tightening a belt around the base, where the crown becomes the brim and just let it dry into a 'proper?' open crown .. then I either dry bash or mist bash it.

so if that is considered a 're-block' then it is ... my version anyway, until someone in the know with mad skillz tells me other wise ... but it is glass so I really need to be careful and if I want to use steam on the hat, the opening in the jar is wide enough for me to stick an oven mitt plus my hand into it. Although I am thinking of borrowing my sisters steam cleaner, I may just jury-rig a tube & nozzle to my tea kettle.

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[Wil Tam]

that site is so cool!

one thing I've been thinking about doing is simply making my own block. The only thing is that if I were making my own hat from scratch, I would need a flange too (which I have no idea how to make, and no money to buy one). If you have the tools (a good sander and a saw to cut the wood) then you can probably make a nice one all on your own, and it can be your size and any shape you like. Here's a good link I found to making a hat block:
http://www.indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?t=20997

that's some good craftiness there tho! So do you use it to simply re-shape the mis-shapen sides of the hat? I guess you're probably not completely re-blocking the hats.

thanks for the link, I just joined ... same name as here

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