Leather Bowler

[Fatolbaldguy]

I want to make this. I am looking for a cheap bowler with which to make a block. I see that the artist made a correction or relief point that he/she disguised as decoration.. Anyone have any insights?

[shtoink]

A block wood and some time with a belt sander maybe? You may need to hit some thrift shops, otherwise.

It looks like the edge of the brim may have been rolled with a AAA battery, too.

[Fatolbaldguy]

i saw a video on youtube where a Brooklyn NY hat maker bought a thrift shop hat whose crown he liked . He sprayed it with size and then cut out all the inside crap. Then after greasing the inside with Pam he filled it with automotive foam. it dried hard and after sanding it he used it to make felt hats for ladies. I cheered after watching the video. There are so many clever people in the world. I am now on the hunt for a cheap bowler.

[shtoink]

That's a great idea! I have to admit that I may have eventually stumbled onto that idea, but only after trying out a half dozen other ideas that didn't work first.

I seem to have an affinity for doing things the hard way.

[Fatolbaldguy]

by the way the AA battery idea is one I had not heard Thank you

[shtoink]

That was an odd little trick that was passed on to me after I was issued my first beret that refused to take proper shape.

[footrat]

I would definitely sand or otherwise slick the flesh side down a lot more than in that picture. If you plan on making more than one of these, do yourself a favor and make the crown mold from a block of wood. You can wet form over it, and then tack the leather to the block to prevent uneven shrinkage or movement as it dries. If you were doing felt hats, you could use something else that would mold easier to an existing crown for the pattern. But a wood mold would be best for this, so you can really stretch the leather against it.

[Feraud]

What an interesting project!

Proper felt hats are made on wooden blocks and flanges. You can definitely take the DIY route with cool results.

An online search should yield inexpensive wool bowlers to fool with.

Another option may be found in these plastic hat shapers-

http://www.hatshapers.com/

Whatever you decide I'd love to see progress pictures.

[shtoink]

I can't help but think that having a positive and a negative mold to clamp the leather between would be even better. It works pretty well for other wet forming, why not a hat? It'd just be the time invested in making the molds and then you can make them very consistently.

[Matt S]

I can't help but think that having a positive and a negative mold to clamp the leather between would be even better. It works pretty well for other wet forming, why not a hat? It'd just be the time invested in making the molds and then you can make them very consistently.

At one pair of moulds for every hat size and crown shape you wanted to make, that would be an awful lot of moulds to invest in.