Home-made hat blocks? About to attempt my first re-shaping job...

[H Weinstein]

In the absence of an actual hat block, what items do some of you use as substitute hat-block shapes? I'm especially seeking suggestions for things which might help restore a simple open-crown shape to a pre-creased hat prior to re-creasing in the new shape.
Thanks!

 

[cybergentleman]

not that i have done this

...if all else fails; i suppose a ziploc bag or some similar bag filled with rolled up bath towels would be dome-like enough to work.

i may try this in the coming weeks.

 

[daizawaguy]

Steam?

 

[M6Classic]

In the absence of an actual hat block, what items do some of you use as substitute hat-block shapes? I'm especially seeking suggestions for things which might help restore a simple open-crown shape to a pre-creased hat prior to re-creasing in the new shape.
Thanks!

A good professional hatmaker who knows what he or she is doing. I use Gary White in Buffalo, but there are several others who have their followings on this list.

Buzz

 

[zetwal]

There are quite a few FL threads on homemade hat blocks too. Using the Search feature atop this page, do an advanced title search for the word "block" and you will see quiet a few.

 

[rmrdaddy]

Steam?

This.

If you are simply trying to get back to open crown, a thorough steaming should do the trick. I use a stove top water kettle, just apply the hat to the steam, and push out the old bash from inside. Do exercise caution as the felt will be hot of course. I have done this perhaps a dozen times and been able to achieve a full open crown fairly easily.

 

[CircuitRider]

This.

If you are simply trying to get back to open crown, a thorough steaming should do the trick. I use a stove top water kettle, just apply the hat to the steam, and push out the old bash from inside. Do exercise caution as the felt will be hot of course. I have done this perhaps a dozen times and been able to achieve a full open crown fairly easily.

I have found several cheap straw hats at thrift stores with the crown shapes I like. A size smaller than what you wear works the best. Take off the ribbon and give the hat several coats of polyurethane, foam brush from can or spray. It becomes quite rigid as well as waterproof. The open weave also lets air through to speed drying. Just get hat wet, and shape over it. I have had excellent results with the stiffening spray I ordered, does several hats.

 

[Mid-fogey]

See if this...

...works for you.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=41414

 

[frussell]

Thanks AlterEgo

For making my Hatshapers seem so boring.

 

[Lando]

I hope this isn't off topic. I always wanted to make a hat block out of that clay you bake in the oven. I suppose you'd need a good size lump of it. But you could sculpt the thing to your exact dimensions and put just the right crease into it. The amount of clay would cost you a little but probably still way cheaper than some of the hat blocks I have seen floating around.

In a related story. I was at my local J.Crew tonight and they have all this older antique stuff scattered around the store to provide a tone. There I am at the register and I spot three antique bowler hat blocks on a shelf behind the counter. When I asked the employee if they were for sale he told me that they were probably not for sale, but that they had a bunch of blocks like them in the back room. He didn't even know what they were used for. Anyway, apologizes if that went too far off topic.

 

[H Weinstein]

Some good ideas here .

What about a styrofoam mannequin or wig-display head?
Has anybody here ever tried using one of those as a basic dome-ish block?

 

[Lando]

So the story goes, didn't Stetson do the Boss of the Plains style of hat with a pot for the shape? In that case, why not find a good sized pot to give it that rounded shape.

 

[Andykev]

Steam it.

If it is a felt hat you want to "block" you need to remove the trimmings to properly do the job. If you don't the liner will telegraph through the felt.

If you just need to set the crease of the crown (aka. the pinch or teardrop shape) you simply do it with steam and by hand.

If you need to reset the brim (more common), you need a hat FLANGE, a press cloth, and an iron. Genuine hatters use a "sandbag".

It is far cheaper and easier to find a hat block on Ebay than to make one. If you want one made, there are web pages out there to buy a new one.

 

[rjenkins]

I've bought a couple of second hand hats that needed the crease re-doing due to being strange shapes (rotated / off center creases).

I've not even used steam - just a good spray with de-ionised water until the felt is damp through all over the crown & leave it a few minutes for the fur fibres to absorb the water and soften up.

After that, just pop the crown out and 'massage' it a bit from inside & out where any trace of the old crease still shows, then put your new crease in and leave it to dry.

The felt is incredibly easy to work while properly damped.

 

[jwalls]

This year I began making reproductions of the U.S.Army's 1872 and 1881 dress helmets for a friend who installs the accouterments on them. These helmets are made as closely to old mil spec as possible.
We made to blocks from plaster of Paris.:eusa_doh: :eusa_doh: :eusa_doh:

 

[H Weinstein]

Do you remove the liner before wetting the outside of the felt crown?

I've bought a couple of second hand hats that needed the crease re-doing due to being strange shapes (rotated / off center creases).

I've not even used steam - just a good spray with de-ionised water until the felt is damp through all over the crown & leave it a few minutes for the fur fibres to absorb the water and soften up.

After that, just pop the crown out and 'massage' it a bit from inside & out where any trace of the old crease still shows, then put your new crease in and leave it to dry.

The felt is incredibly easy to work while properly damped.

I keep forgetting to ask this. But I've wondered if it's better to avoid getting the liner wet. Or does the water spritzed on the outside not even penetrate all the way through the felt? Thanks!

 

[Mario]

If you don't the liner will telegraph through the felt.

lol lol Now that choice of words made me laugh! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

It is far cheaper and easier to find a hat block on Ebay than to make one. If you want one made, there are web pages out there to buy a new one.

Easier - definitely. Cheaper - I don't know. I'm in Germany and the only hat blocks I've encountered on the German Ebay so far were either for women's hats or were to short and sported a rather severe taper. Plus, they all turned out to be pretty costly in the end. On the other hand, the proper hat blocks on the US 'Bay often had just the right shape but weren't really cheap either. And hat block are usually made of (relatively) heavy wood, which makes for some hefty shipping fees. I have access to a well equipped luthiers workshop here in Berlin and so I resolved to make my own block and flange out of wood. It will take some time and effort but I'm pretty sure that, with some guidance, it will turn out well - and I will have learned something along the way. I like to do things with my own hands and failure is simply part of the process. I think I'll start my project as soon as the long, dark winter days have started to seize the city again. Just the right time fo such endeavours.

 

[CircuitRider]

I keep forgetting to ask this. But I've wondered if it's better to avoid getting the liner wet. Or does the water spritzed on the outside not even penetrate all the way through the felt? Thanks!

The better the felt, the more pliable it usually is...

 

[gtdean48]

I keep forgetting to ask this. But I've wondered if it's better to avoid getting the liner wet. Or does the water spritzed on the outside not even penetrate all the way through the felt? Thanks!

If you spritz a good bit then yes, water can soak thru & wet the liner. If the felt is soiled, the water will carry that onto the liner & leave a mark as well. Brush the felt well before wetting, remove the liner if possible. Nobody sees a stained liner but the wearer tho.... [huh]

 

[CircuitRider]

Today I discovered that a small tapered towards the bottom plastic wastebasket that my wife bought at Wal-mart fit perfectly inside my 7 1/4 hats...ssssslightly stretching and shaping before I applied the hydrolac stiffener. Final shaping with come with the steaming. I had a old 70's style black western with that ugly high crown...converting to the ones you see worn by Quakers and such... for my Circuit Rider costume.