Fedora crown block

[konopekk]

Hello
I would like to make back crown shape similar to Depp's hat

Should I buy something like this or some other hat block?

 

[John Galt]

Nope. Felt hats are almost always shaped by hand. A spray bottle & some steam, and a little practice is all you need. The felt will be like molding clay when it is damp but not too wet. Make sure the felt is uniformly damp to avoid water marks.


"Faint hat never won fair lady."

 

[mayserwegener]

That block is for a women's hat. Someone will most likely post a men's (open) block that will fit the bill and you will need to shape by hand.

By the way I feel sorry for that hat.

 

[konopekk]

thank you

 

[Lorne]

Damn...

From that angle it looks like Depp's hat wasn't bashed by hand, but with 12 gauge.

 

[fedoracentric]

If you are looking for a pre-creased block, it would be something more like this...



But the block would be tilted back so that the back of the crown was lower than the front.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

All pre creased blocks are for panamas and Milan's.

 

[Tom-n-Perris]

If you are fortunate enough to find a preformed or Panama hat block you will also need the top portion or tipper. Most of the Panama hat blocks which I have did not have tippers so I had to have them made to fit the Panama hat block. Here is a picture of a Panama block with a tipper and a Panama I finished with a single bow.

 

[bloc]

All pre creased blocks are for panamas and Milan's.

Most felt trilbys and fedoras made by hand in the UK are blocked on shaped blocks not open crown. Not saying it's right, just saying...

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Factory made hats use a metal block to press a shape into a hat.
Wood blocks are for straw work.

 

[T Jones]

If you are fortunate enough to find a preformed or Panama hat block you will also need the top portion or tipper. Most of the Panama hat blocks which I have did not have tippers so I had to have them made to fit the Panama hat block. Here is a picture of a Panama block with a tipper and a Panama I finished with a single bow.

That's one of your Panama creations? That looks really nice. I like that!

 

[RBH]

This video should help you out.

[video=youtube;wHOYh5lgL28]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHOYh5lgL28[/video]

 

[gtdean48]

This video should help you out.

Nice one Rusty, thanks!

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Dude,don't stand in front of the steamer.

 

[konopekk]

This video should help you out.

[video=youtube;wHOYh5lgL28]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHOYh5lgL28[/video]

thanks, it is helpful
now I should buy some cheap open block to make the teardrop
can it be smaller than my hat? if I wear 7 1/8-7 1/4, can I buy block with size 7 or is it easier to have my size of block

 

[gtdean48]

thanks, it is helpful
now I should buy some cheap open block to make the teardrop
can it be smaller than my hat? if I wear 7 1/8-7 1/4, can I buy block with size 7 or is it easier to have my size of block

Needs to be smaller since your hat is finished with a sweatband.
They help getting back to open crown state but you can do the inner teardrop part by hand or with a large spoon or ladle.

 

[gtdean48]

Dude,don't stand in front of the steamer.

And in front of the camera with your back turned! All in all a decent, instructional video....

 

[TheDane]

Factory made hats use a metal block to press a shape into a hat.
Wood blocks are for straw work.

- and for westerns. If you buy sculptured blocks on eBay and want to use them for Panamas, you will often be disappointed. A lot of the ones for sale are western blocks. Some custom hatters also use sculptured blocks for felt fedoras - Gary White is one of them. Hatters use a multitude of ways - and tools - to reach the same goal

 

[Jase]

I don't know if this will help... But Panama Hats Direct are now selling Fibre glass hat molds/blocks at an introductory price of $35 plus shipping... They've got a few different styles in almost any size. Has anyone tried these blocks yet? Tempted to get one to see if I could get my Akubra Cattleman back to its original shape.... Link is here: http://www.panamahatsdirect.com/hatblocks/

 

[fedoracentric]

Wood blocks are for straw work.

A fairly absurd statement.
The man wanted a block,I posted a pic of one he could use. Further, there is no reason in the world that someone can't use a wood pre-shaped block for felt work.