The "Conformer Kit"

[Viktor]

Does anyone know were to buy The Conformer Kit? The plastic one hatters send out to customers.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Out of the three hatters I know that use a conformer, only two send them out by mail to customers. Art at VS hats and Roy at Jaxonbilt hats.
Maybe give them a call and find out where they got them.
Question: why do you want to know?
Johnny

 

[Viktor]

Thanks I'll shoot an email.

Question: why do you want to know?
Johnny

Attempting to build my own lid

 

[bendingoak]

I have the same one you speak of and send them out as well. It's good but not great. It has a lot of moving parts and a lot of people have a hard time using it correctly. I have decided to have one made based off of this one that will be much more easy for the customer to use.

 

[Viktor]

I have the same one you speak of and send them out as well. It's good but not great. It has a lot of moving parts and a lot of people have a hard time using it correctly. I have decided to have one made based off of this one that will be much more easy for the customer to use.

Are you planning to sell any of your modified conformers?

 

[navarre]

I agree with bendingoak, I use one as well, good but not great and if your only building a few hats they are not cost effective.

Try using a flexible drafting curve ruler. They can be found any where art supplies are sold. They hold their shape. So you put it around your head press to the shape and then hold it tightly together as you slip it off your head. Then, still holding in shape, place it back on you head a few times to make sure it didn't slip in your hands and fits like a hat Then, still holding tight, set it on a piece of paper and trace the inside. You'll have your head shape in less than 30 seconds and save a good portion of money. i want to say they cost about 10 - 20 dollars.


www.blacksheephatworks.com

 

[Viktor]

navarre - thanks for this excellent tip, I'm surfing for one as we speak.

 

[navarre]

No Sweat, When I made my first hat I got some pointers from a fella in Utah who only did a small number of hats a year. At the time that was the only tool he used to fit customers heads and swore by it. I probably made a dozen hats that way and was more than happy with it before I got my first conformer. And if I were to give my honest opinion I wouldn't say the conformer works better, just looks and feels more professional.


www.blacksheephatworks.com

 

[facade]

Speaking as a customer, the use of a conformer gave me a greater sense of confidence that the hat would fit properly and the hats that I did receive fit perfectly. Other methods have left me unsure. While the size of the band may be right, without the conformer, how well will the hatter match the shape of my head? IMHO any custom hatter should offer something that addresses the shape of the head as well and not just the size.

 

[Viktor]

Speaking of feeling and looking professional, I totally agree. When I was shooting portraits for clients I always added more lights and reflectors for impression and pro studio looks, it made them feel very special. I enjoyed seeing their smiles when I brought out more lights, it was something that most have not experienced. I'm sure your clients feel the same way when they first try on the conformer, I know I would.

 

[1961MJS]

Speaking as a customer, the use of a conformer gave me a greater sense of confidence that the hat would fit properly and the hats that I did receive fit perfectly. Other methods have left me unsure. While the size of the band may be right, without the conformer, how well will the hatter match the shape of my head? IMHO any custom hatter should offer something that addresses the shape of the head as well and not just the size.

Hi

Using Roy's conformer didn't exactly give me confidence at first because you can't use it yourself, and my family thought it was stupid and wouldn't help. A trick I worked out was to wind all of the rods all of the way out, and fit the front and back, then two on the sides and work my way around. I was able to produce an oval with it, I made a copy on our printer and tried it on, which did give me confidence. I'm pretty sure that Roy build his own Conformers. There was a lot of clear plastic, screwed and glued together.

I think that 12-2 with ground Romex wire is about as good a way to go as any. For those who aren't IBEW members, that's two number 12 solid, insulated wires with a number 12 grounding wire between them all inside plastic insulation. Personally, I think that I could build as good an oval to send in that way as any other.

Later

 

[bendingoak]

Speaking as a customer, the use of a conformer gave me a greater sense of confidence that the hat would fit properly and the hats that I did receive fit perfectly. Other methods have left me unsure. While the size of the band may be right, without the conformer, how well will the hatter match the shape of my head? IMHO any custom hatter should offer something that addresses the shape of the head as well and not just the size.

but you still have to rely on the person who is using the conformer. Most people cant use a tape measurer.

 

[EggHead]

Or one can use a Christmas Tree stand - upsidedown

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Here is what I am going to do this summer. I am going to buy a 5 pound plastic bag full of play sand. I am going to put it in plastic bin, at least 10 inches deep and 10 inches square or so. I am going to make the sand a bit damp. Then I'm gonna stick my danged head in it up to me eyebrows and ears. When I pull my head out it should leave my head shape in the sand. Then I'm a gonna fill up the indentation with plaster and make a mold of the top of my head.

Yeah? That'll work... right?

 

[Lefty]

Apparently...someone has at least thought about it. His link is broken, but I'm sure the result can be found.

 

[1961MJS]

but you still have to rely on the person who is using the conformer. Most people cant use a tape measurer.

The "no one helping me" was the big problem. It turned out well in the end, but the 12-2 wire is pretty rigid but bends and then stays. I agree, a tape measure would have been worse. The tape measure that someone else showed is also rigid.

Later