Inexpensive hat block

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:15 am

http://www.hatshapers.com/

http://www.hatshapers.com/Product%20Pag ... d_Dome.htm

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:35 am

I'd be interested in trying one of these some day, but I just keep coming back to my wood block.

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:52 am

I am looking for an adjustable wood block. That how I stumbled across these.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 3:49 am

I think what you are referring to, alphared6, isn't used for blocking but a tool to help block hats. Anything that widens or lengthens will not leave the hat with a proper crown shape. Fedora talked about it in a thread some time ago.

Dave

There are adjustable blocks, but these are really hat stretchers as opposed to blocks meant specifically to block a new hat. These will indeed alter the original crown shape as you expand the block. Though most of the links are broken, here's one of those threads:

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f ... cher+block

inexpensive_jones · Post by **inexpensive_jones** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:08 am

I wish I would've heard about these sooner, instead of wasting time making a wood block that I'm still making adjustments to. How did I miss this?

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:42 pm

I have a wooden hat stretcher. What I'm looking for is a tool, like these in the link I posted, to reshape a couple of my hats that have become tapered. Just one of these in the right size should do the trick, eh?

mcmanm · Post by **mcmanm** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 5:04 pm

Just wondering how the process would go with one of these?

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 5:07 pm

I'm no hatter, understand, but I'd soak my hat, stretch it over the form and wait for it to dry, then re-bash it.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 5:36 pm

alphared6 wrote:I have a wooden hat stretcher. What I'm looking for is a tool, like these in the link I posted, to reshape a couple of my hats that have become tapered. Just one of these in the right size should do the trick, eh?

alphared6, if I read what you're saying correctly, you have one of these:

Not one of these:

But you're looking for a hat block more or less like this:

in order to block your tapered hat like this:

so you can rebash it to look something like this:

If that's the case, then this:

should work just fine for you.

Am I understanding you correctly?

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 5:51 pm

Sir, you understand me with a clarity unmatched in the annals of human history.

I take it as a compliment to my powers of description!

My problem is that the plastic mold does not appear to be tall enough, the hat that is the object of my attention is 5 and 3/4" tall.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 6:24 pm

Well, the hat shaper description puts it at 5 3/4" tall, so it should work out for you. They do list a large version that also comes at a 5" tall option.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:18 am

The down side to plastic blocks is you can't make a proper hat on one. In order to set in the new shape, or the original shape on a hat requires high heat, after you wet the hat on the block with your hatters sponge. The combination of damping the felt, and then ironing it dry several times will melt the plastic blocks from these folks. Because, you cannot use much heat and have these blocks survive.

Modern irons do not get hot enough to make hats. You have to literally have a vintage dry iron, the heavier the better for compression of the felt. And you have to set the shape with the iron right below the scorching point. That is, as hot as you can use, without burning the felt. No modern iron gets that hot!! This temp will melt these blocks.

So don't expect to use one with serious hatmaking in mind. Wood is the only way to go. The metal ones will work too, but are VERY EXPENSIVE to buy. But with metal blocks, you don't ever have to replace them, like the wood blocks. Personally, I prefer the wood blocks. They help out by sucking out moisture during the hatmaking stages. Fedora

kiltie · Post by **kiltie** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:27 am

Fedora -

Would you say, though, that you could get your hat back to it's original shape using one of these. I understand what you're saying about making a new shape ( say, taking your modern Stetson and trying to make a Federation type shape ), but I mean: is it good for starting over on a crease you already have, ie., getting the CS bash out of a Federation and making it Raiders or vice versa... from the original blockshape?

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:41 pm

I asked a question of the makers of this block. This is part of their response to me:

"Our [block] is measured w/o room for a hatband.. so if you need to add room for a hat band, the 231/2 will be better... if not, the smaller one will work out. you can wrap the hatblock with several layers of plastic wrap or whatever, very tightly.. for the final drying.... to give you the size you need... you may need to use duct tape to hold it on, but do not apply it to the plastic hat as it may damage the plastic when you try to remove it... only apply the duct tape to whatever you use to enlarge the hatblock."

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:49 am

Fedora -

Would you say, though, that you could get your hat back to it's original shape using one of these. I understand what you're saying about making a new shape ( say, taking your modern Stetson and trying to make a Federation type shape ), but I mean: is it good for starting over on a crease you already have, ie., getting the CS bash out of a Federation and making it Raiders or vice versa... from the original blockshape?

You know, it might work for just getting out the taper in one of your used hats that has shrunk. You would have to use steam of course so the block could stretch the felt back out. But, you would have to skip the ironing stage with these blocks. So, it might work. I just have to be honest with this, because I have never reblocked a hat without using heat to make the hat remember the shape you are putting into it. I do know though how important the heat is in making or reblocking a hat.

I am sure there are some guys here who have used these plastic blocks with good results. They could probably tell us how they did it, and how well the shape "held" without using heat. It is just new territory for me, personally. Hatters tend to learn a certain way to reblock hats, and then don't stray from that. That's the case with me.

I would think that the best way to use one of these blocks is to wet the top portion of the hat with almost boiling water, and then after stretching it over this block, just let it dry naturally on the block. This would help take the place of the heat in setting the shape. That is, it would shrink on the block, thereby helping the felt to remember what shape you put into it.

Every time I think of these plastic blocks I have to remember my good friend's Rick5150's trial and error. Old Rick blocked one of his hats, and then placed the hatblock and hat in the over to dry. The block melted!

And I don't think he was using anything but a warm oven. Fedora

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:00 pm

Just yesterday I started process to convert an old cowboy hat into a fedora. To reshape it I bought a flat sided plastic bowel. I soaked the old hat and pulled it over the bowel. I set it out in our 105 degree sun for about an hour, it was about 90% dry. I removed the bowel and bashed the crown. Latter I cut the brim down and ... it looks quite good. I will be replacing the sweat band and applying a new ribbon and I'll be done. All in all it has done just what I wanted (pictures upon completion). I do believe that this plastic mold will make the process that much better though.

Mike

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:16 pm

Uh, Mike, did you really mean to type bowel instead of bowl? It completely changes the meaning otherwise!

inexpensive_jones · Post by **inexpensive_jones** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:45 pm

When I've reblocked (and I'm not a hatter) I have used hot water and let it dry on the block without ever a problem of it not remembering its shape.

I can only imagine a hat retaining the shape of a bowel... pretty crappy looking. OK, I'll shut up.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:11 pm

A little bit of advice, for what it is worth, just becuase a hat looks 90% dry doesn't make it so. The core of the hat is still wet. Waiting for the hat to dry a little longer would be a good idea. On both hats that I've done, I've waited a day and two days respectively to keep them on the block. The second is much more stable for it.

Dave

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:08 pm

binkmeisterRick wrote: Uh, Mike, did you really mean to type bowel instead of bowl? It completely changes the meaning otherwise!

ROFL ...

My bad!

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:41 am

It happens to the best of us. I just hope you had a healthy bowl movement.

Regards!

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:01 pm

binkmeisterRick wrote: It happens to the best of us. I just hope you had a healthy bowl movement.

Regards!

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:22 pm

Do you have any pics of your reblock yet, Mike? I'm curious to see how it turned out for you.

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:47 pm

I'll take some this evening. I still have work to do. It needs a new sweat band and ribbon.

Mike

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 10:47 pm

Here it is thus far:

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:10 am

So far so good!

Mountaineer · Post by **Mountaineer** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:34 pm

Besides the links mentioned earlier in this thread, has anyone recently done any more work with these Hatshaper blocks and have results (good or bad) to share?

I'm about ready to re-block my now 2-yr old Keppler which still, after tons of wear, has little to no noticeable taper. I just want to have it refreshed in shape and stiffener.

Since I live in Podunkville, and have no hat shops that can do anything but sell stuff they have zero clue about, it's either order one of these babies and give it a shot myself, or I start pricing around with the vendors and preparing to mail the hat off.

I don't know about you all but I don't look forward to mailing off the only one of any expensive-to-replace thing I may have.

Similarly, the idea of screwing up (via my own hands) the only hat I have isn't too appetizing either.

So you see the quandary in which I find myself.

AlphaRed 6, any more updates on that cowboy bucket to fedora conversion?

Yojimbo Jones · Post by **Yojimbo Jones** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:27 pm

Mountaineer, This is exactly the sort of situation that Im offering copies of my Raiders block for. Copies will be fibreglass so with a wrap of foil will be fine with a domestic iron. And would be the only very accurate block on the market that I know of.

But I will need more orders to do a run, so pm me if you are interested.

Mountaineer · Post by **Mountaineer** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:49 pm

Yojimbo,
Thanks for that head's up. PM sent.

I'm still not sure I'm ready to tackle the work I'd like completed, so I may check with some recommended COW folk.

However, if I end up having to do it myself then I guess a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do...

Yojimbo Jones · Post by **Yojimbo Jones** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:10 pm

Although the idea was intimidating at first, I found that reblocking just isn't that hard, especially if you go at a speed you're comfy with. The whole "nothing to fear but fear itself" and "measure twice cut once" principles apply.

Nicolas Jones · Post by **Nicolas Jones** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:04 pm

Hi,

I agree with you Yojimbo, hat blocking/hat making is not THAT hard. You just need to take your time.

I think that in order to keep the plastic block shape, one could cast some plaster in it.
That way, the block should be more stable...

Or use the outside of the plastic block as a mold shape, like the ones used to made lead soldier. Then cast some plaster in the mold shape in order to make an identical block made of plaster.

Or an other way to do it would be to make a block made of painted plaster, like I did some time ago.

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28664

Thats inexpensive, belive me (need some time to do it though)

Regards,

nico

Mountaineer · Post by **Mountaineer** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:50 am

I appreciate the information on doing my own block then doing the blocking on my own, I very well may do all that at some point. As of this instance I'm just looking for information on the Hatshapers product and the reults with it.

I actually started working on a home-made block last year and then though better about it. I'm not adverse to projects or tinkering with things and doing it by myself. However, before I go charging in I always ask myself what is the personal cost of this endeavor in time/money going to be?

I don't have lots of money or lots of time to do things, pretty much an afternoon on a weekend here and there.

Here's why I'm looking specifically at the Hatshapers (and why I asked for any more recent results with them) as an option:

1) If a homemade block costs about $60 in materials and a good deal of personal time to make, then the Hatshaper is a better option for my money and time. If their straight-sided dome costs $33 plus shipping (their web page says they utilize USPS, so if it fits it ships) then I'm out about two-thirds of the money and the time saved can go to the actual blocking work. This way I'm not making a block that might work; and once completed and getting my hat on it, only then to discover if I have found the one, true ark... sorry, I mean block.

2) If I decide to mail it out for a re-block and re-stiffening then I'm out the money and the only time I've spent is mailing it. I've got nothing but time to patiently wait on it to get there, redone and returned as I do the myriad of other thing I need to do around my home. I'm willing to bet that I'd be happy with the work done by someone who does it on a more regular basis, whereas with me doing it, I'll probably question if I got the best results.

At this point, I'm just looking for more information, be it successes or horror stories, on the Hatshapers and their results.

Nicolas Jones · Post by **Nicolas Jones** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:55 am

The block cost me about 5€ = $7.
5 hours to do it when you cumulate all the time...

Isn't it cheap???

Hat and block cost me 45€ = $67.

Mountaineer · Post by **Mountaineer** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:32 am

I mistook the information on the other thread, reading the complete project price (hat and block) as the price for just the block. Sorry about that. However, I did think when I read it, wow that's some expensive plaster.

Still, I'm trying to just see about the Hatshapers product.

If no one else has done anything with them then OK. I'm in no hurry, just curious as to any recent success/failures with them.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:40 am

Mountaineer, since the hatshaper block hasn't changed, I don't see why there would be much difference between folks who have reblocked hats on them earlier as opposed to those who have done so recently. There are some great picture examples in the threads posted at the top of the page, and enough that it should give you a reasonable idea of what to expect were you to get the hatshaper for yourself. It sounds to me like you're really just after some sort of reassurance that you won't mess up your hat should you go this route. That's just my opinion, though. Ultimately, it comes down to two choices: reblock the hat yourself, or send it to someone to reblock it for you. Maybe you could just flip a coin.

Mountaineer · Post by **Mountaineer** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:46 pm

I guess so Bink.

Sometimes these threads seemingly go on and on and I guess I'd just like to see a little more results with this subject.

Evidently I'm the only one in this regard, so I'll just leave it alone until something changes.

In the meantime, lemme go get my quarter...

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:51 pm

I can't blame you. I haven't seen much movement on the hatshappers front, either. I'm always interested in seeing what results folks come up with. My thinking was that if you were basing your decision purely off the results you can obtain with the block, then there is current proof of that already. It doesn't stop either one of us from wanting to see more results, regardless.

Regards!

albert jones · Post by **albert jones** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:29 pm

I have a problem , I want to know which ist the right for my hat(HJ size 59) the dome or the explorer fedora? I NEED help

? thânks

jlee562 · Post by **jlee562** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:08 pm

Well, the straight sided dome is the one foils have been using. I suppose the explorer fedora would work as well, but that won't give you an open crown hat....it's also hard to tell from the website pics if there is any taper to that block.

Nicolas Jones · Post by **Nicolas Jones** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:58 am

DOME !

You have to block it with an open crown!!!
It will be like Indy's : a hat bashed by his owner.
All 3 movies featured that kind of hat. (yeah, for me there is only 3 of them).
You'll get exactly what you want that way.

Regards,

Nico

albert jones · Post by **albert jones** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:20 pm

thanks for help me , I will contact the saleshatshapers to get this product.because my hat ist exactly like the brown from alplhared6 and this bash I dont like any more. I want to habe a right LC Bash .I have bought the HJ FROM SWENEY because I meaned it ist the right for a grat LC style but ist not really.... maybe I made something wrong.

Mountaineer · Post by **Mountaineer** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 3:26 pm

It's not a Hatshaper, but it was an inexpensive block; the evidence of my first-time block with some foam is over on this thread: http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=44932

Cutting to the quick: It was easy, I didn't kill my hat, and if anything I like the shape now much more.

Thanks everyone for all the advice and encouragement.

jkdbuck76 · Post by **jkdbuck76** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 10:05 pm

Mountaineer wrote:
I don't know about you all but I don't look forward to mailing off the only one of any expensive-to-replace thing I may have.

When you send your hat out for a reblock, be certain that you pay the few extra bucks to insure it. If it gets lost or damaged, the insurance covers it.

albert jones · Post by **albert jones** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:57 pm

thanks guys for help me, I just wait for the dome ,that was my choise. Special thanks for the hatshapers people, excelent work and client service, I am very happy.