throwing in the towel on making hats

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:30 pm

..........on my current hat block ;-)

i realized last night when i was beating the crown of my hat with a ruler (to promote more curvature), that i really should just get an accurate hat-block. there's only so much i can pull off with a straight-sided 360 hat.

plus, i think mr. oak's influence was subliminally gnawing away at me

i've taken my hat making as far as i can with a 360 home-made block. i made a hat that i can be proud of as far as the materials and construction..........i just can't get it to look the way i want it to look with a flat top block.

i commissioned lamode to construct me one of steve delk's raiders beauties in my size. also, our recent addition 'Local Land Surveyor' has given me a lot of insight into his own block findings. i am getting one of steve's blocks with some very minor adjustments based on what LLS has relayed to me (thank you sir

) and from my own findings in regards to what an AB rabbit hat looks like after some wear and what my hats look like.

i have the hat bodies, i've ordered a bunch of ferrels and the rest i got.........just waiting on the block

i hope to have something less clunky made up by year's end. then i will do a comparison of crown shapes between a 360 stovepipe and a tweaked raiders block.

through all of this i was thinking........man, its cheaper to just buy a 'henry'............

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:39 pm

Sure, it would be, but this is much more fun, isn't it? Oh, by the way, let me know when you get a block in my size so you can make me one!

Dave

Local Land Surveyor · Post by **Local Land Surveyor** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:21 pm

Hey Indiana G,
Ask Steve how many times I told him "I am done. My block can't get any better." The next day I was back in the barn with bondo and sand paper.

And that was only last week.

If you have the bug, keep at it. If you need any more input I'll be glad to help.

LLS

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:45 pm

G, If I may put in my 2 cents. To do it right. You have to not care if you mess up a felt body or a dozen or so. That goes the same with any materials. You should see the stack of felts just sitting in my garage from the mistakes I made. I mess up, I grab another felt body. Thats why I worked with cheap hats that I redid before buying cheap felt bodies then moving up with the good stuff.

This is part of the reason I won't see a dime from the hats I'm selling for some time.

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:02 pm

BendingOak wrote:G, If I may put in my 2 cents. To do it right. You have to not care if you mess up a felt body or a dozen or so. That goes the same with any materials. You should see the stack of felts just sitting in my garage from the mistakes I made. I mess up, I grab another felt body. Thats why I worked with cheap hats that I redid before buying cheap felt bodies then moving up with the good stuff.

This is part of the reason I won't see a dime from the hats I'm selling for some time.

ha ha.....you and i both

lucky thing i had over a dozen hats to perform experiments on before i started this whole hatmaking thing.....went through all my old HJ's for construction trials......and a couple of old cowboy hats i experiment on for block shaping trials

i fancy myself a good basher, long before i started making hats. i always liked bashing an open crown and i felt that i could do alot with a hat despite the block shape. i got pretty close with the 360 block, but as LLS feels....close sometimes ain't good enough. i feel i can get closer with a proper block and i left myself room for 'adjustments' with this new block if i wanted to change the shape

twilekjedi · Post by **twilekjedi** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:57 pm

Omigosh, when I read the subject heading on this thread and saw the author, I thought something awful had happened to you! I really like reading about your hatmaking. It's neat watching you develop your craft. Always improving!

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:13 pm

twilekjedi wrote:Omigosh, when I read the subject heading on this thread and saw the author, I thought something awful had happened to you! I really like reading about your hatmaking. It's neat watching you develop your craft. Always improving!

something awful did happen to me..... discontentment

perhaps when the block comes in, i'll do a step by step thread of how i put together a hat....complete with smoke breaks

The Aviator · Post by **The Aviator** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:32 pm

something awful did happen to me..... discontentment

Well it is the winter time

...I'm sorry that was just terrible

lol

Cheers

gwyddion · Post by **gwyddion** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:42 pm

The title got me going for a few seconds.....

G, I can hardly wait to see what you will come up with when your new block arrives, nor what you will come up with after you modified it the umphteenth time ;-) Take your time, but do not let us wait too long for pictures of your results ;-)

Regards, Geert

crismans · Post by **crismans** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:41 pm

The title had me going as well. I think you're well on your way in the hat-making department, so I'm glad you're not throwing in the towel.

3thoubucks · Post by **3thoubucks** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:59 am

Don't worry G, I'll keep the 360 alive. .. It'll still be here when you get back. ;-)

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:39 pm

the 360 will produce a great hat, don't get me wrong.....and the new block that i am getting constructed will be adjusted for less front and back taper than standard......closer to a 360. i really wanted more of a domey sloping top for my center crease and i didn't feel like spending the weekend sanding

you can compensate alot for the straight sides of a 360 in how you crease the center bash and you can play with the angle of the brim as well. you can also play with the height of the front pinch, where the 'camel humps' mate to the side dents, etc, etc........i didn't want to go the 'smoke and mirrors' route anymore. i want to see what a rounded block will give me. what sold me on it is the mini camel humps that you get on the rear of the crown where the center crease meets the edge. you can get really nice front humps by playing with the bash on a 360 crown, but the back is something you gotta live with. $3K, i know you porkpie your hat to give you more dome.........i wan't my crown to cave in naturally and have these pronounced. i love LLS's raven bar hat as these are very prominent in the back.

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:55 pm

now, i'm playing with power!!!!

i'll be throwing on a rabbit body tonite and should have a finished hat by week's end

gwyddion · Post by **gwyddion** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:08 pm

Just be sure to post the results ;-)

Regards, Geert

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:14 pm

no need to........just a watch a little film called 'raiders of the lost ark' and you'll see the same hat.

you know geert.........if any one ever answered a question of mine like the way i answered yours, i would reach inside the screen and slap them

...........i know, i'm a smart-"behind"..........and of course my friend, i will share all of my results. it would be selfish of me not to considering all of you folks helped me in making hats

gwyddion · Post by **gwyddion** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:18 pm

Indiana G wrote:you know geert.........if any one ever answered a question of mine like the way i answered yours, i would reach inside the screen and slap them ...........i know, i'm a smart-"behind"..........and of course my friend, i will share all of my results.

Nah, I was laughing too hard to even considder reaching in and slapping you ;-)

I am realy looking forwart to your results G

Regards, Geert

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:17 pm

REALLY happy and excited for you, G (and the rest of US - who get to see the results!)
All the Best of Luck with your efforts tonight (although, with your skills I'm NOT entirely sure you need it!)
Mitch

Pitfall Harry · Post by **Pitfall Harry** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:50 pm

Indiana G wrote:now, i'm playing with power!!!!

i'll be throwing on a rabbit body tonite and should have a finished hat by week's end

I seriously can't wait to see how the rabbit hat comes out after using that block.

conceited_ape · Post by **conceited_ape** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:21 pm

Indiana G wrote:now, i'm playing with power!!!!

You bought an original Nintendo?

;-)

3thoubucks · Post by **3thoubucks** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:17 am

That's a beauty piece of furniture G. Got a side and front view handy? ...( unless that's kind of a trade secret...?

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 12:47 pm

not at all $3K.......its pretty much steve's raiders block which i asked richard to decrease the front and back taper on (more 360 stovepipe) and increase the front to back slope on. there still is taper in her as i have already blocked a hat, and i can see it. i haven't bashed it yet so i don't know how this taper will react. i should know by week's end.

Hatch · Post by **Hatch** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:15 pm

Man , I'm waiting on the ULTIMATE PICS of G working on the new lid WHILE WEARING the new TN Raiders Cowhide jacket.......Doc