First refurbish/restore. Starting pics and in process shots, need advise!

[jpbales]

amazing!

great work!!!!

 

[jpbales]

is that a foam block I see?

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Great makeover! You gave it a classy crease and clean-up. Very nice.

 

[Al_Ojeda]

Thanks for all the comments, the process of cleanig you can see in here: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=39939

The Block that I used in effect is a homemade styrofoam one that was cover with Plaster of Paris to get the hard surface... pic. below

 

[Colby Jack]

Excellent job!...The ribbon treatment is A1!...Art inspires again!...I really like that foam block...Just my size too!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Superb work!!! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Razzman]

Great job! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Hawkhat]

Great Hat Al !

Is that the rule of thumb...make the final block shape 2 cm bigger than your real size? My size is 58cm, so I would want a 60cm block for the final diameter?

 

[Al_Ojeda]

Hawkhat, I don't know is that is the rule the only thing that I had in mind was that the sweatband have to have its space so with the 3 layers of plaster I thought that would be enough.
Iit came out to be 2 cm bigger that my size 59 and it's work perfectly... by accident , with mi experience in this matter the important thing is that the sweatband fix you properly, then the felt you can shrink or expand a little bit I can say +_ 1 cm during the process of attaching the sweatband spraying some water in the opening. I want also to tell that I'm not a savvy in the hat making process all this are IMHO.

 

[Viper Man]

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap AMAZING transformation! Excellent work, Al_Ojeda! Pretty soon you'll be opening a shop, huh?

 

[FurFeltFedora]

Stellar job and thanks for the block making tips!!

 

[Mid-fogey]

So really...

...what we're saying here is that you can basically many anything out of anything.

I expect you to be making a beautiful hat our of drier felt any day now!

 

[Dundee]

great makeover

The hat and the block are very professional.:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[carter]

Just chiming in to add another accolade to those already posted. You do superb recrafting on the felts you've posted. The threads are very instructional as well. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[cookie]

Al
How do you force the sucker over the mould to increase size? Hat stretch it and then force it over the mould till it dries?[huh]

 

[bolthead]

Great work Al, as always. :eusa_clap

 

[Al_Ojeda]

Al
How do you force the sucker over the mould to increase size? Hat stretch it and then force it over the mould till it dries?[huh]

I just forced it over the mold, went the felt is wet it expand easily in the opening side (let say horizontal way), but a little less in the vertical way in order to make the brim wide.

 

[Hawkhat]

Has anyone tried these hat shapers for blocks?

They have a straight sided dome that looks like it would work well.

http://www.hatshapers.com/Product%20Pages/Straight_Sided_Dome.htm

 

[cookie]

Al I have a parabuntal hood about 22inches I want to stretch it to 24inches. Is wetting it and stretching it 'wet' the answer then letting it dry on the hat shaper?

 

[Ande1964]

They have a straight sided dome that looks like it would work well.

http://www.hatshapers.com/Product%20Pages/Straight_Sided_Dome.htm

I wrote them once, and they did not recommend their product for hat-making and such.

Anj