| Project by Mark A. DeCou | posted 580 days ago | 865 views | 0 times favorited | 7 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
For Sale: If you are looking for an exact replica of the hard-to-find antique Puller Downers, you’ve come to the right spot.
Available for Immediate Purchase on Etsy.com:- Maple wood Puller Downer, click here to buy at Etsy.com
- Poplar wood Puller Downer (I have some of these available now, email me)
- Black Walnut wood Puller Downer (I have some of these available now, email me)
Email me if you would like for me to build you a Puller Downer”
mark@decoustudio.com
www.decoustudio.com
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Project Story:
In support of the custom hat makers, I have been asked to complete a product called a “Puller Downer.”
This tool is a boomerang shaped device that is used to pull the felt down tight during the blocking process. I’ve never done it, just had it demonstrated to me.
The old “Puller Downer” is a hard tool to find, and most of the time they are broken, or worn out, or splintering, which makes it difficult to use on the soft surface of an expensive hat.
So, a couple of artisan hat makers asked me to make an up-to-date version of the “Puller Downer” so that they could use it in their custom hat making work.
Here is a photo showing the old Antique pine wood Puller Downer on the far left, with my new Puller Downers made in Hard Maple in the middle, and White Birch on the far right.
Here is a closer view of my “signature” abalone dot, that I am putting on all of my hatmaking tools, just because it looks good to me.


-
-
-
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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
- Walnut Hobbyist-Hatter Model, Counter Clockwise Cutter
- Walnut Hobbyist-Hatter Model, Clockwise Cutter
- Spradley Hats in Apline, TX
- Rachel Pollock of La Bricoleuse
- Brainpan Hat Shop in Sumner, WA
- Steve Delk's Adventurebilt Hat Co.
- Marc Kitter's Adventurebilt Hat Co.
- Pyrate Trading Co.
- Hatman Jack at Wichita Hat Works
- Inaaya Hat Co.
- Penman Hat Co.
- Complete Restoration of a Maillard Conformateur and Formillon
- New DeCou Formillion & Conformer, Prototypes #1 & #2
- Custom Designed Conformateur Carrying & Storage Case
- New Plot Base Board for the Maillard Allie Formillon
- Maple Wrench for Tightening Formillon Thumbnuts
- Left-Handed & Right-Handed Foot Tolliker
- Foot Tolliker: Elk Antler & Birch Wood, on a Display Stand
- Foot Tolliker: Walnut Wood, on a Display Stand
- Foot Tollikers: Three in White Birch Wood
- Foot Tollikers: Walnut Wood Set of Four
- Foot Tollikers, Birch Wood Double Set, on Display Stand
- Hinge-Shackle Curling Tool for the Homburg Hat
- Full Circle Shackle Curling Tool
- Half Circle Shackle Curling Tool
- Groove Tolliker Curling Tool
- “Coming Soon”, please check back.
My Website with other woodworking, including furniture, walking canes, scrimshaw artwork, custom knives, and other misc. items
(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



























7 comments so far
Roger Strautman
home | projects | blog
534 posts in 1024 days
posted 580 days ago
Once again you are spot on. You make it and they will come.
-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"
Karson
home | projects | blog
25787 posts in 1291 days
posted 580 days ago
Looks great Mark. I don’t know if a stampede of buyers will come, but there has got to be quite a few.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
ChicoWoodnut
home | projects | blog
895 posts in 706 days
posted 580 days ago
Makes me wonder how much I’d pay for a table saw if they became obsolete and were no longer manufactuerd. Hmmmmm
-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net
jockmike2
home | projects | blog
7296 posts in 1137 days
posted 580 days ago
Way to go Mark, you’ve found another niche market. Too cool. When I was a kid we use to make hillbilly hats out of old felt hats by getting them wet and stretching them to a point. Stupid, but we thought it was cool at the time. mike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
Mark A. DeCou
home | projects | blog
1537 posts in 1296 days
posted 580 days ago
Mike: the hat niche found me. I was just in the right place at the right time to be asked to make something that a hatmaker couldn’t find. That posting on LJ, was found by others on the internet, and then more hatmakers emailed. They are a fun group to work with, passionate about their craft, and looking for the custom tools that they need to do the work.
The Puller Down is a pretty simple tool from a woodworking standpoint, but getting the right shape, now, that’s the trick. Notice there weren’t any good photos of the shape, or anything to calibrate the view? Hmm, I’m tricky.
thanks,
M
-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com
Lee A. Jesberger
home | projects | blog
3710 posts in 870 days
posted 579 days ago
Mark;
If you develope a following in the hat making business / hobby it would be nice since it doesn’t require much in the way of materials or space to do it.
Your signature dot is hard to read though. I couldn’t even see the letters. LOL
Nice;
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
MsDebbieP
home | projects | blog
14152 posts in 1051 days
posted 578 days ago
love the “signature” embellishment
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)