Hat Making Tool: Kettle Curl Brim Roller, 3/4" Diameter Full Circle Curling Shackle

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This item is For Sale by clicking here to visit my Etsy.com Shop listing

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Project Story
This item is a hat making tool, used to roll up, or roll under, the brim edge of a custom hat. This is a new tool for me to offer, using a Full Roll-Over circle. I have built Half-Circle curling shackles before, but this will be the first of the Full-Circle style. I can build these in several different sizes, depending on the style of brim roll the hat maker wants to make.

This has been a pretty fun, but long process, to get this tool from concept to a production model. I started with it last June and tried a couple of prototypes, working the design myself. Then, the tool spent a couple of weeks with Hatman Jack at his shop in Wichita www.hatmanjacks.com. Once Jack and Amy had a chance to try it out, I went in to the shop and they helped me figure out what was right, and wrong, with the tool. Then, the reworked prototype spent a few months with Mike Moore at www.buckaroohatters.com while he built some hats with it. Finally, last week he was ready to send me back the prototype and to have the first production model sent to him.

What’s a Kettle Curl?
Historically, this type of curl on Western Hats and Fedoras, is known as a “Kettle Curl”, with a roll up diameter of about 3/4”. There is also a Pencil Edge Curl that hat makers use, which is smaller in diameter, about the size of a Pencil, which would take a smaller curling shackle.

The name “Kettle Curl” comes from the olden days, when a cast iron tool was left on the kettle stove to keep it warm, and so the curling of the hat brim sort of just took on that name. Unfortunately, the name does not offer a complete understanding of the diameter of the curl. There are also names such as a “Cattleman’s Curl”. Also, as Western Hats have been used in Movies, the name of the movie has started to be used for the type of curl, such as the “Josey Wales”, “Gus Prentis”, “Pritzi’s Honor”, and many others. Also, the name of famous singers that wear Iconic hats also become used for the name of the curl they wear, such as the “Montgomery-Gentry”, or “Kid Rock.”

It is funny how we develop titles to help us communicate. The custom making of Iconic Hats has a pretty good following with collectors and hat wearers, and so hat making has been making a come back.

As I get photos back from customers, I’ll include some hat pictures so that you can see what the curling tool does for the hat maker.

Materials Used:
Hard Rock Maple
Brass
Abalone Shell (Inlay)

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Artisan Hat Tools by Mark DeCou Studio
(Do you want to see More? Just follow these links):

NOTE:
ALL HAT MAKING ITEMS THAT I HAVE IN STOCK
ARE LISTED IN MY ETSY.COM ONLINE SHOP, click here to check inventory

Collector Edition Model Rounding Jacks:

1. Ebonized Walnut with Laser Engraving
2. Collector Model w/ a Brass Blade Holder

Deluxe Model Rounding Jacks:

1. Maple Deluxe Model, Counter Clockwise Cutter
2. Maple Deluxe Model, Clockwise Cutter

Hobbyist-Hatter Model Rounding Jacks:

1. Walnut Hobbyist-Hatter Model, Counter Clockwise Cutter
2. Walnut Hobbyist-Hatter Model, Clockwise Cutter

Customized Rounding Jacks, Personalized for Specific Hatters:

1. Spradley Hats in Apline, TX
2. Rachel Pollock of La Bricoleuse
3. Brainpan Hat Shop in Sumner, WA
4. Steve Delk's Adventurebilt Hat Co.
5. Marc Kitter's Adventurebilt Hat Co.
6. Pyrate Trading Co.
7. Hatman Jack at Wichita Hat Works
8. Inaaya Hat Co.
9. Penman Hat Co.

Formillons & Conformateurs:

1. Complete Restoration of a Maillard Conformateur and Formillon
2. New DeCou Formillion & Conformer, Prototypes #1 & #2
3. Custom Designed Conformateur Carrying & Storage Case
4. New Plot Base Board for the Maillard Allie Formillon
5. Maple Wrench for Tightening Formillon Thumbnuts

Foot Tollikers:

1. Left-Handed & Right-Handed Foot Tolliker
2. Foot Tolliker: Elk Antler & Birch Wood, on a Display Stand
3. Foot Tolliker: Walnut Wood, on a Display Stand
4. Foot Tollikers: Three in White Birch Wood
5. Foot Tollikers: Walnut Wood Set of Four
6. Foot Tollikers, Birch Wood Double Set, on Display Stand

Brim Edge Curling Tools:

1. Hinge-Shackle Curling Tool for the Homburg Hat
2. Full Circle Shackle Curling Tool
3. Half Circle Shackle Curling Tool
4. Groove Tolliker Curing Tool

Hat Block Spinners:

1. Hard Rock Maple and Walnut Ornamentally Turned Hat Block Spinners

Puller Downers:

1. Puller Downers, made in Birch & Maple

Pusher Downers:

1. Pusher Downers, made in Walnut, Hard Rock Maple, & Poplar

Stainless Steel Slip Stick:

1. “Coming Soon”, please check back.

My Website with other woodworking, including furniture, walking canes, scrimshaw artwork, custom knives, and other misc. items

Mark DeCou Studio Website

(Note:This project story, project design, and photos are protected by copyright in 2008-2009 by the Author, M.A.DeCou., all rights reserved, no use allowed without expressed written permission.)

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com