Custom-made hat block - Dummy head

[Flieger]

Last weekend we threw a early Christmas party for my family and I got to talking to my nephew who carpentry teacher. He was willing to make me a hat block/dummy head exactly the size of my thick skull (the word "dummy is so appropriate here ) but I thought I'd run the idea past the good people of the Lounge first.

I'm NOT planning to use the block to re-block hats. I just felt it was a good place to work with hats. Cleaning them, drying them, experimenting with different crease-styles etc. Like a wig-block if you like.

- Is this a good idea at all?
- It there things I need to consider before I set this project in motion?
- What type of wood is reccomended?
- Should the wood be coated with something or kept "natural"?
- How do I copy my head-shape/size onto wood?

Love to hear your thoughts on this subject!

Regards
/Flieger

 

[RBH]

Sounds great to me. It would give a great idea as to different styles and creases you could apply to your hats.
He is a entry from From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia as to a way toeasure your head. The caliper would have to be large enought to measure your head. Also photos of your head would be a good way to get a idea of what size to make it.


A caliper (British spelling also calliper) is a device used to measure the distance between two symmetrically opposing sides. A caliper can be as simple as a compass with inward or outward-facing points. The tips of the caliper are adjusted to fit across the points to be measured, the caliper is then removed and the distance read by measuring between the tips with a measuring tool, such as a ruler.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/551/800pxoutsidecalipersto6.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a>

 

[Flieger]

Wow! This is why I like the Lounge so much! Thanks for the reply RBH! Not in a million years would I have thought about using calipers!

My own idea have been circling around making a mould of the top of my head in plaster and taking my mesurements from that one in some way. :eusa_doh:

/F

 

[fatwoul]

Not to harp on about them, but depending how much your wooden "hat rest" (maybe a more suitable term? I can't think of one) costs, you might be as well just getting a HatShaper.

What you describe is what I use mine for, more than actually using it to return hats to open crown.

They're only $33, and the guy who runs things is great to deal with.

They're black plastic, so not really as nice a display piece as a wooden shape would be, but it depends whether the hats are to be "displayed" to other people in a more public room of your house, or just set on the hat rest when you're asleep.

As for callipers, just make sure you don't turn the screw to far, Flieger!

 

[Flieger]

Thank you fatwoul! OK, "hatrest" is a better term I agree! I have considered the plastic "hatshapers" but even if they are the simpler solution here, I prefer to have one in wood made to my exact shape. I also prefer wood as it's a living material compared to plastic. As for the price, I suspect that my nephew is willing to make one for free and THAT is hard to beat.

When you mention it, those calipers do look like instruments of torture! I'll make sure not to apply them to tight.

Cheers
/F

 

[indycop]

When you mention it, those calipers do look like instruments of torture! I'll make sure not to apply them to tight.

Cheers
/F

Well RBH is in the Memphis Mafia!!lol lol lol

 

[RBH]

Well RBH is in the Memphis Mafia!!lol lol lol

Oh you mean this little thing...
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/853/headcrushernk8.jpg" border="0" alt="crush"/></a>
it just sizes the head... yeah thats what it does ...it just sizes the head!

Ya want ta try it????

 

[indycop]

Oh you mean this little thing...
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/853/headcrushernk8.jpg" border="0" alt="crush"/></a>
it just sizes the head... yeah thats what it does ...it just sizes the head!

Ya want ta try it????

uh no!!looks like you need it for Fats though!!lol