My skull shape... Experts' opinions needed...

[gi_canuck]

Some of my hats tend to taper when I wear them and I am not sure if it's my skull shape or the size issue... Anyway, this is a pretty close rendition of my skull shape... I am still not sure if I am a regular oval or a round oval... Can anyone determine this? Thank you!! Any help is appreciated!!

[achi11es]

You've got a round oval head shape. I have the same problem, so for me, if I want a straight sided hat it has to be custom made. I know Marc has round oval blocks, John Penman made me a hat with knowledge that I have a round oval head and it worked a treat. And Steve, bless him, went through so much trouble to get the Raiders hat to fit me without taper. I am apparantly round round oval as my head is only 1/2" longer than wide (Steve custom made a block for me...for which I have to ). Your's is a round oval, from what I can see.

[gi_canuck]

Thank you!! That about sounds right... I always suspected my head being more of a round oval shaped... Guess that solves that dilemma... thank you!

[Long John Tinfoil]

Is there a phrenologist in the house?

LJ

[fenris]

We have the same problem. Also, I've noticed that the turn doesn't work too well on our heads. I tried turning my Christy's, but by the time the brim got that nice Raiders warp, the ribbon was over my left eye!

[achi11es]

I think we've got ourselves a round headed club.

[fenris]

Also, the amount of turn needed to get a brim warp makes the hat look stupid! That's why I prefer the hybrid bashes. I like the LC curls with KOTCS upward back swoop with the Raiders front pinch.

[gi_canuck]

I think we've got ourselves a round headed club.

Yup that sounds about right... haha.

[fenris]

So what do we call our little club?

[gi_canuck]

Well-Rounded Skulls?
Round Oval Skull Society (ROSS)?
haha

[Kt Templar]

TaterHeads.

(Yes, I'm one too.)

[Indiana Joosse]

Maybe you should consult Cesare Lombroso on this one...

[achi11es]

ROSS sounds good to me. For me it's not only the taper, but anyone else find that even wearing the hat without a turn warps the brim? Mine tends to dip at the back to a point. I've had to have all my hats converted to round ovals because of that.

[fenris]

ROSS sounds good to me. For me it's not only the taper, but anyone else find that even wearing the hat without a turn warps the brim? Mine tends to dip at the back to a point. I've had to have all my hats converted to round ovals because of that.

I just basically have problems with the turn... it doesn't want to warp. So a Raiders turn won't work for me.

[gi_canuck]

I haven't had a chance to try any turns yet, so I wouldn't be able to say... Things I noticed with the brim warping is that instead of the brim warping upwards, it tend to go downwards thus flattening out the warp... I never seem to get that Raiders swoop unless I train the brim.

[BendingOak]

Just looking at the image I would say a round oval is a understatement. I think you will need not only your hat made round oval but some extra work done to get the turn to work for you but not impossible.

[RCSignals]

gi_canuck, is the top of your diagram the front of your head?

[stevemahaffey]

OK, so then... By the numbers, can someone (John) give me a rough definition for the many grades of oval-ness? For example canuck's head is only about 14% longer than it is wide (if I am doing my math right), thus being considered round or even round-round oval. What, to a hatter, would be considered 'normal' (if there is such a thing)?

[BendingOak]

After putting numbers together I think he is in-between reg oval and round oval. It looks really round just looking at his drawing. I would like to know how he got his shape?

Reg oval 1 1/2 longer than wide
Long oval 2 1/8 longer than wide
Round oval 5/8 longer than wide

And these are my numbers.

[gi_canuck]

gi_canuck, is the top of your diagram the front of your head?

Yes it is...

[Fedora]

OK, so then... By the numbers, can someone (John) give me a rough definition for the many grades of oval-ness? For example canuck's head is only about 14% longer than it is wide (if I am doing my math right), thus being considered round or even round-round oval. What, to a hatter, would be considered 'normal' (if there is such a thing)?

Understand that there is a variation from block maker to block maker on the differential on these various blockshapes. But, the one that I use is....

Round oval = 1 inch differential (differential equals the front to back measurment
minus the side to side measurment)

Regular oval = 1 3/8 differential
Long oval = 1 3/4 differential


Or basically you step up or down 1 3/8 inch. Some blockmakers use a 1 1/2 inch differential, and some have no rhyme or reason.

I recently had to make two blocks, in round ovals just to get a decent fit. I am gonna have these run in all of the sizes by a blockmaker, as it is too time consuming to have to handmake these blocks. But when you need em, you need em. And some guys are even more than a round oval. Some heads are wider than they are long. Don't expect the "turn" to work out on these head shapes though. Goes against geometry.

[gi_canuck]

After putting numbers together I think he is in-between reg oval and round oval. It looks really round just looking at his drawing. I would like to know how he got his shape?

Reg oval 1 1/2 longer than wide
Long oval 2 1/8 longer than wide
Round oval 5/8 longer than wide

And these are my numbers.

Hello Oak!! I got the shape using the old coat hanger trick... it may not be that accurate, sorry... I think you are right, I might be an in-between shape... I'll post a photo of myself with towel around my head as well... (Peter's Bros hat people asked me to this once...) Hope that helps... Thanks for the input!!

[gi_canuck]

Sorry about the quality of the pic... I had to take the pic by myself...

[Ohio Jones]

Okay, I had a guy want me to make him a block and he said he was a long oval. He had tried on my hat (reg oval) and he could stick a finger up into the hat on the sides. I made a set of big calipers and used those to get his front to back and side to side. He had a ratio of 1 7/8 longer front to back than side to side.

Would this be a long oval? Well its longer than my shape. The great thing about everybody is there heads are all a wee bit different so it is nice that there are some Hat makers on here that can offer a well fitted hat no matter the shape.

I found a Bessey K-body bar clamp also works well to get front to back and side to side measurements.....in a pinch...lol

Ohio

ps...years ago I tried the wire method....it was a disaster!

[BendingOak]

Sorry about the quality of the pic... I had to take the pic by myself...

I just picket up a tool to get head measurements and head shape. I can always have it shipped to you to try.

[gi_canuck]

I just picket up a tool to get head measurements and head shape. I can always have it shipped to you to try.

THANK YOU!! That would be just awesome Oak!! How should I proceed with that, if I want that done? Can you email me the details?

[BendingOak]

I just picket up a tool to get head measurements and head shape. I can always have it shipped to you to try.

THANK YOU!! That would be just awesome Oak!! How should I proceed with that, if I want that done? Can you email me the details?

Ill contact you when i get it.

[3thoubucks]

And some guys are even more than a round oval. Some heads are wider than they are long. Don't expect the "turn" to work out on these head shapes though. Goes against geometry.

I know a guy who's head looks like it IS wider than it is long. Thanks for confirming this Fedora.

[gi_canuck]

Just measured my head with a caliper... Front to back is 7 1/2 and Sides are 6 1/2... 1 inch differential... therefore ROUND OVAL. Ah ha!