Hat Making Tool: Rounding Jack Brim Cutter, Collector Edition, Brass Blade Holder, Walnut, Laser

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This item is a Hat Making Tool that I designed and built. This is the third Rounding Jack in my “Collector Edition” Model line which features Walnut wood, a machined solid Brass Blade Holder, and a laser engraved ruler size indicator.

I know that to the non-hatmaking world, it looks just like every other rounding jack.

But, this design came as a request from a guy that couldn’t decide whether he wanted to go counter clockwise, or clockwise, so this design allows it to cut either direction. To do that, I had to give up the angled cutting position of the blade, but it still cuts nice, and lets you go either direction around a hat crown. So, this blade holder is my own design, made of thick brass, machined and assembled all in my own shop.

I know, I know, but it is different. I have another design in mind that will use a different type of blade, with a brass holder, so there is at least one more style coming one of these days, bringing the total to 8 different models.

The only complaint I hear is that some folks want a “cheaper” model, but they want it to look and work as good as the more expensive ones. I’m still scratching my head on that one trying to figure out how to do that.

This item, Serial Number #2009-16 is for sale, to purchase click here to go to Etsy.com

Specifications:
- Walnut Wood
- Brass Blade Holder
- Uni-Directional Cutting Path
- Brass Adjustable Crown Shoe
- Brass Under-Plate and Hardware
- Cutting Capacity: 1.25” – 8.0”
- Abalone Shell Inlay
- Laser Engraved Ruler

thanks for looking,
Mark DeCou
email: mark@decoustudio.com

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Project Story:

Rounding Jacks are used to cut the brim felt to size on fedora, western hats, cowboy hats, and several other styles. The brass adjustable curve on the front is placed against the crown, and then the cutter is moved in a rotation around the hat, keep the pressure against the crown. Setting the blade to the proper size is done by adjusting the cutter to the desired cut size, and then tightening the brass knurled knobs.

Display Stand: The display stand is designed to sit on the hatmaker’s work bench and hold the cutter when it is not being used. The retractable blade can remain extended this way between uses. This particular stand shown in the photos is Black Walnut. This display stand is meant to make the whole project look like a functional-art sculpture, while it serves it’s functional purpose of the Rounding Jack safely.

To make the cut. The blade guard knurled nut is loosened, the blade dropped down and the nut retightened. The slider nuts are loosened and the desired cut width is indicated by the pointer, and the slider nuts are tightened. The hat is placed on a wood crown block to give a firm resistance to the pressure being applied with the cutter, and the brim is placed between the bottom brass plate and the bottom of the cutter. Then, depending on whether the hatmaker is a Clockwise, or a Counterclockwise cutter, the Rounding Jack is slowly moved around the contour of the crown while pushing the cutter toward the center (head). Felt Hat Blanks are very expensive, so after the cutting is complete, a big sigh of relief is heard from the hatmaker.

The Adjustable Brass Crown Band on the front of the cutter is used when the brim is to be cut wider on the sides, than on the front and back. By adjusting the curve of the brass band, the cutter is pushed away farther on the wider curve of the crown sides.

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Here is a Slideshow with more of my Rounding Jacks Shown
Click the “Speaker” icon for music

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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’s Edition Model Rounding Jacks:

1. Ebonized Walnut Clockwise with Laser Engraving
2. Walnut Counter Clockwise w/Laser Engraving
3. Walnut Uni-Directional Cutter

Deluxe Model Rounding Jacks:

1. Maple Deluxe Model, Counter Clockwise Cutter
2. Maple Deluxe Model, Clockwise Cutter
3. Walnut Deluxe, Counter Clockwise Cutter
4. Walnut Deluxe, Clockwise Cutter

Hobbyist-Hatter Model Rounding Jacks:

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

Bench-Top Display Stands for Rounding Jacks:

1. Walnut Bench-Top Display Stand
2. Oak Bench-Top Display Stand

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 Shacking 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