Hat Body

[Pyramid Jones]

Well, I got the block now all I need is a hat body and I will already have everything else. Well what I need to know is where to get a hat body preferably rabbit so that away I don't spend to much money on a beaver and screw up or something. Ok back to this I need to know where to get a raw hat body.

[binkmeisterRick]

Not many felt suppliers sell individual bodies, that I am aware of, especially if you are after higher end bodies. (Some of the haters may be able to state otherwise.) You could always find an old, beat up hat, and use that to begin with. I've salvaged a few beater hats that way.

[kwad]

There are lots of old cowboy hats out there just waiting to be reblocked into fedoras (and they can be had for cheaper than old fedoras).

I'd get a few of those to practice on.

[Pyramid Jones]

Ok well I looked on eBay for a old cowboy hat and I could not hardly come up with anything in the right size and color.

[jlee562]

http://www.advintagefedora.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; <-they'll sell you a body, sweatband, ribbon, etc.

[Pyramid Jones]

Ya I saw that. Well, I am not willing to pay that much for my first time.

[jlee562]

Ya I saw that. Well, I am not willing to pay that much for my first time.

Well, if that's the case, than I think Bink has the best advice. Look for an old cowboy hat.

[binkmeisterRick]

Which is EXACTLY why you should find a beat up or several to work on first. Go to a thrift store. Find something in the right size, regardless of color. Use it to experiment on and to learn how to reblock a hat. Every hatter here will tell you that they've ruined a fair number of good bodies learning the trade. Start with beat-up hats, get the feel of it down, and then look into getting a nicer hat body.

[Pyramid Jones]

Ok I will. Thanks Bink. There was one more thing I wanted to know about I was checking out hatsupply.com and noticed all of the hat bodies they have can you all tell me in advance which body I should get from them and in what color. They have fur felt they have beaver but it is long hair. I was wondering because they have all these different bodies and I don't know the right one to choose when I get better at this.

[Chewbacca Jones]

Perhaps this would be more up your alley;
http://www.hatsupply.com/furfelt.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[binkmeisterRick]

PJ, the last thing I want to do is discourage you, rather, I'm hoping to save you some frustration up front. Granted, you may still go nuts in the process (like me! ) but working on lesser hats allows you a better learning curve and a fair amount of savings for your wallet. Whenever I find a beat up hat in my size for cheap, I often buy it and use it to experiment on and to improve my monkey-like skills. I have a LONG way to go before I'll feel comfortable working on a new hat body, but working on the beaters will make it easier when I fianally get to that point. Good luck!

[BendingOak]

Here's my advise and take it for what it's worth. Most will disagree but this is the truth. Work on old cheap hat and try and experiment with them first. That will be re-blocking and it's different from starting from scratch. Buy some cheap bodies and work with them. The You will need to buy some high quality felt to really get the feel of it. And you will need to spend more money than you can possible imagine.


Ask yourself this questions. Why do I want to do this. To make myself a hat? To save money? To see if I can do it. To have a hobby? To make a little extra cash?

Mine was no to all of them. Mine was to learn how to make a hat well. Very well. Good enough wasn't good enough. I still experiment. I still try to improve on every hat. I'm still learning. I'm still looking at every hatter I can.

I spend a lot of $$$$$$ experimenting on raw bodies. I would take the same felt that I'm using today ( and it's top shelf stuff as everyone knows ) and if I messed it up I would rip it from the block and just toss it. I have stacks of them in my garage.

There is no way you can be great at making a hat without going though this process. Steve ounce said ( and please steve correct me if I'm wrong) " you can learn to make every aspect of batting in a short time but it will take a lot of practice to get the small details right. That's the difference between ok, good and great.

[Pyramid Jones]

YA that is what I am going to do I bought about 4 old wool cowboy hats off of ebay and I am going to try with those first.

[Bruce Wayne]

A few years back I bought a single raw body from Winchester hats in Tn. Just make sure to get a body bigger than the hat block.

[jkdbuck76]

Binkmeister and John are correct: experiment using cheap materials first.

We do this in manufacturing all the time! For instance, before we build something really crazy with stainless sheet steel, we try it our in carbon steel first. THEN after a few tries and we like it and get a feel for it, we grab the stainless and give it a go.