How do they do that?

[Kilgour Trout]

I know I'm going to show my profound ignorance regarding the hat making process, but I'm still in the dark as to how hat makers take felt from a loose jumble of fibres and form them into a tight compressed material. I've heard the term pouncing which I believe is another term for sanding but what process is it that actually takes felt into the non-brushed tight product we see? I would really appreciate an explanation.

technically clued
Kilgour Trout

 

[SHARPETOYS]

This link will give you some info that may be useful. I'm sure Art will also give you so more answers.

http://www.thehatsite.com/felt.html

 

[Fedora]

with some of the better quality hats being made from beaver,

And still is to this very day.

In the 18th Century Beaver Felt was still the preferred material for headwear, although a mixture of felts, beaver and wool, beaver and fur felt, became increasingly popular for the less expensive hats.

And still is to this very day.


Which explains why I wanted a pure beaver hat.



Good article. regards, Fedora

 

[Art Fawcett]

Rob, the article posted by Sharpetoys should give you a decent overview of the process. the more specifics that i can help with are in the blocking and trimming dept. Feel free to ask whan something comes up.

 

[Andykev]

Absolutely

But you have to guess what I am referring to.

I have heard all the arguments on hat fur content, beaver being great, and nutria and so on.

In reading the "Hat Talk" book by Debbie Henderson, she interviews the actual people who worked in the Danburry and Stetson (Philadelphia) shops.

There are, although Im not done with the book, inconsistencies....it seems that one part says YOU CAN'T make a pure beaver hat (guard hairs or something) and that it is required to use some hare or rabbit.

But elsewhere the text reads that beaver is the best fur available.

I submit, and suspect, that a quality blend, with beaver being the predominant mix, is what makes a great hat.

Optimo has told me that the blend turns out a better hat.

All in All ....reading this book scares me. How do you ever make hat bodies..they are so many vairables.!!