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You could probably jury rig a flat flange if the a completely flat brim is what you want. But the inside hole of the flange is convex to allow for the trimmings, and there is a bottom indentation on the outside to secure a hatter's cord.
I would say you need a foot tolliker more than a runner down. It's nice that the runner is notched for a hatter's cord, but could you use literally anything to push the cord down to the brim break? Yes.
Yes, the pusher downer is the easiest of the tools to improvise. I build my own set, tollicker, pusher and puller downer but ended up buying a pusher and puller from Human shoes as they were so reasonably priced. Kept my tollicker for old times sake.....it is crude and funky but it is mine and it works.
For my flat brims I flange them the reverse. The plywood sitting on my bench, hole cut to match block, with the felt on the block ...the block is inserted into the hole so there is about 3/8" available at the base of the block. The felt/block sits in the hole, with the brim flat on the plywood. I then iron the hell out of it over two days. So even if I am re blocking an existing hat, the trimmings are not inserted into the flange. The plywood is not really a flange but don't know what else to call it.