What Hat Are You Working On Today?

[RickP]

couple days wearing and the new sweatband is drawing up nicely with some head heat. another couple days and it will be all smooth. Soft sheepskin is a nice feel

 

[jeffgarf]

Got this Lee Black Label All American in yesterday. Absolutely filthy, both the hat body and the the ribbon. It's missing the liner, but not the sweatband or the label under it. Already been in one naphtha bath for a few hours and going to try some other methods. It's a fun hat to work on, though. I'll spend the time.

 

[jackadven]

I put the finishing touches on this today. My third build so far, for my dad. Everything turned out really well, though the sweatband sits a little high above the brim break in places. It was my first shot sewing through the reed tape tail underneath. I actually first put a sweatband on this hat with stitch in the ditch (from Sunrise Hat Supplies, it had no reed tape tail), but with that method I manage to make it sink too far into the hat, which my dad found uncomfortable. So I ripped it out and put in a Fern Thatcher sweatband.

230g 100% nutria from Sunrise Hat Supplies. I really enjoyed working with this heavier felt. Being such a new hatter who is not very gentle while he works, it's sturdiness stood up to my pushing and pulling well.

 

[RickP]

Have been planning to build up a couple brim presses out of some nice cabinet grade veneer plywood ( ive been using a couple pieces of 1/4 masonite for a while and its needing replaced) Lowes and Home Depot wanted $30 for a 2 ft x 2ft 3/4" cabinet grade veneer plywood "project pieces" ( plus I would have had to make a 70 mile round trip to go pick up) . Went to the local lumberyard and they had 4x8 sheets of the same 3/4" stuff for $47 a full sheet... Then I noticed a sheet of higher grade veneer with a mud splatter across the front.... it was priced at $82 but because of the mud they let me have it for the same price as the lower grade... SCORE! I tried to get them to cut it into 2ftx 4ft pieces, but they said their insurance wont let cut anything except a length cut on a board... and they almost laughed when I ask if I could borrow the circular saw they had sitting there by myself

Managed to use my boy scout rope and knot skills to get it ALMOST in the back of the Tahoe and the liftgate secured to get it home. ( Seriously wishing I had bought a Suburban instead of the Tahoe... then it would have fit) . Got it home and manhandled it out and up on work stands. Got it cut into 2x4" pieces and sanded the edges. Managed to wrench my back with the full sized pieces so I have officially sacrificed my body to working on hat related stuff lol ( 3'4" veneer plywood is heavy)

Everything is stacked safely inside next to the leather in a climate controlled environment until I have a spare set of hands to finish cutting the pieces ( and after the back quits hurting) . Im going to build a couple flat two piece brim presses ( Ive really needed more than one a couple of times in the past). By he time Im done Im confident Ill figure out something out to do with the rest...Curved brim ironing board(s), Brim block stands, hat blocks, Smoking Pipe rack, reloading block for ammunition work? Never hurts to have spare wood laying around.

Pictures of completed hat tool projects to come soon! Wish my sore back well

 

[TheEnglishSwede]

I have been thinking about making a wind trolley for one of my Borsalinos.

The original was sadly cut off at some point.

I found some elastic that matches the hat fairly well, so far a button has eluded me. I have been looking in to a monkey’s fist knot for another project and thought that it might work here.

Next step is to sew the elastic in place.





I will continue to look in button shops however this temporary solution might become a permanent one.

/Mike

 

[jackadven]

Made good progress on a General Phil Sheridan-style pork pie hat I'm making for myself. But the sweatband in and got the crown bashed. It fits pretty comfortable after some prodding, but my head was wider than the block, so the brim has gotten a little deformed.

 

[RickP]

Made a bunch of sawdust today... supposed to have a couple days of wet weather blowing in tonight, so figured Id get busy. Got TWO brim press sets cut out and all the edges routed and rounded out of some decent cabinet grade 3/4" veneer plywood. ( there HAVE been occasions that I was working on two hats at the same time, so Ive been thinking two sets are better than one... my current press is made out of masonite and is starting to show negative effects from dampness. Should be able to handle hats up to size 7-1/2 no sweat and MAYBE a 7-5/8 if the hatbands arent too bulky. I can always stick it back on the spndle sander and open it up a bit more. Will also most likely trim down the sides just a bit... they are 24" x 24" and that may be a hair larger than necessary. I know some of you have such a press..... how big are yours? Im thinking 18'x18" might be more than big enough for any hats Ill be running through. Just want it big enough to flatten and iron a decent size western 4-5" brim when flat

Once I get the overall size dialed in, Ill re- router to clean up and hit the edges with a sealer. Also thinking I could adhere a layer of felt or flannel to the inside surfaces that would be in contact with the hats. I may be over thinking this so any input is appreciated

 

[RickP]

Another day another pile of sawdust! I solved the issue of the presses being big and unwieldy at 24x24".... Figured out that a 20x20 was plenty big enough to do a big 5" brim... so back out on the patio this morning for more trimming and router work. Much more manageable size. Should work perfect with a few clamps or sandbags.. (should save the covers of my college yearbooks since I wont have to use them for a press anymore lol) Little bit more edge sanding and then a bit of sealer on the exposed edges and Ill be golden. I did decide to open one of the crown openings up a bit so it could be used on larger sized hats without having to take off any bulky hatbands

Still looking for input whether its worth considering adding a layer of canvas, felt or flannel to the insides. The unfinished birch veneer should be fine against the felt, but wondering if a more breathable surface might be worth considering. Im thinking that would allow a bit better use as a brim ironing/ steaming surface

2 new toys in the tool pile

 

[HatsBySam]

Time to make some new hat blocks

 

[jeffgarf]

This one is a case of what I thought I was getting vs. what I actually got.

Before:
vs. after (with just a bit of work, the rest to come later this PM).


A 2019 Borsalino Como.

 

[Blare]

This one is a case of what I thought I was getting vs. what I actually got.

Before:
View attachment 751789 vs. after (with just a bit of work, the rest to come later this PM).

View attachment 751790
A 2019 Borsalino Como.

Well sure came up good, Jeff.

 

[jeffgarf]

Well sure came up good, Jeff.

Thank you for saying so.

 

[HatsBySam]

Finished up an Outlaw Josey Wales hat for my brother in law.

 

[RickP]

Figured Id take advantage of some nice blue sky before it turns grey and drops into the 20's tomorrow. Got a little brim work done on the 5x Stetson...... its now back to a pretty flat brim and no more wonky dip in the corner. Worked the brim crown junction back to 90 degrees and let it rest in the new brim press overnight. Resteamed to make sure things would stay put and added just a touch of front and rear swoop.... Think im going to replace the factory feather with a nice guinea feather then just leave this one as it is.

One little brim hole and a couple stains I need to address, but this ones just about back

 

[RickP]

Factory Hatco chicken feathers are gone and a decent simple guinea feather in place. I think it looks a bit better

 

[HatsBySam]

Playing around with some blood core leather from Rosen Anvil. It makes a fun hat band!

 

[jeffgarf]

I received this Lagomarsino Western style with a rope hatband just placed on it, so nothing permanent. It's a thick nutria and I could take it many ways. Looking at replacing the band with one I own (came attached to a Borsalino dress felt, of all things) or sewing on a campaign ribbon. Not sure yet.

 

[RickP]

I received this Lagomarsino Western style with a rope hatband just placed on it, so nothing permanent. It's a thick nutria and I could take it many ways. Looking at replacing the band with one I own (came attached to a Borsalino dress felt, of all things) or sewing on a campaign ribbon. Not sure yet.

View attachment 755354 View attachment 755355 View attachment 755356 View attachment 755357 View attachment 755358

I vote for the Campaign ribbon.... They just look good on medium to large hats

 

[jeffgarf]

I vote for the Campaign ribbon.... They just look good on medium to large hats

I'm leaning that way myself.

 

[shopkin]

On the dress felt much of that band would not be seen and, perhaps, was not overly flamboyant. On a flat brim black western that band would be all you see.. But, maybe flamboyant is good thing