Hat Making Tool: Rounding Jack Prototype #2, Hat Brim Cutter

OK Mark, you out did yourself this time! This is a very well thought thru piece both cosmetic and functional. My hats off to you. WELL DONE!!!

-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"

Roger that’s a cheap shop. Your hats off to him.

Mark, great job. If I ever join the hobby of the month club again. I’ll look you up.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

great tool ! hope you found a niche. shipping should be very reasonable for the buyer.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Niche Dan? Don’t you think everyone would want one? I could make display stands like I do on my knives and powder horns for mantle presentation. Ha.

Thanks also Karson and Roger, you are a constant encouragement to me, I appreciate you very much

M

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

I can see how this works well for round brims, but how about oval or elliptical brims? If it just indexes off the crown, how can you vary the brim proportions? Anyway, the construction looks great. Is there a future for a custom brassiere tool?

-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke

Good thoughts TomK. The cutting of the brim is done by following the crown around, keeping the cutter pushed against the crown. The crown is an oval of various sizes from about 6-1/2 up to 8-1/4 depending on the client’s head size and shape, and then the brim is trimmed following the oval of the crown. Since the crown is an oval, or elliptical, the cutter cuts an oval also. Some hatters like to pull the tool in a clockwise rotation, while others like to push in a counter-clockwise rotation. The cutting head will be rotated either direction for the preference of the operator. If I can get some photos of how this is actually accomplished by a hatter, I’ll go back and post them.

thanks for your question,
M

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

I own vintage rounding jacks, and I must say this one here is a piece of art. Using the readily available blade is a stroke of genius. Once I get this baby in, I will retire my vintage ones, and just look at them as antiques should be treated. Thanks for providing this to us hatters, and the price is simply unreal. These babies go for 750.00 from others, and they are no where as attractive as what you have come up with Mark! I have already told a few guys about these, so expect more orders!!! These are simply beautiful. Thanks. Fedora(hatmaker for Harrison in the new soon to be released film) Expect an order from my partner Marc, from Germany, the other half of the hatmaking team for the new Indy film.

Nice work Mark. I did not know there was so much work in making hats. You did an excellent job on these tools.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

Thanks Steve and Bill.

Steve, you having been awarded the hatwork on the Fedoras for the new Indiana Jones Film is such an honor for you. I do appreciate being loosely tied to that by getting you a Rounding Jack.

I hope the antique cutters will see the “new kid” on the block as a respite and reward for the many years of faithful service they have provided.

(P.S., I do realize that old rounding jacks are inanimate objects without thought, or personalities, but it was a fun concept to think about).

Many blessings for your business, and for the success of brim “Hats Making a Comeback” in our culture.

If you wanted to provide some photos of the way a Rounding Jack is actually used in your hat shop, I would welcome the chance to share the space with you on that, or just link your blog on how it is done. I’ve gotten quite a few emails from folks asking how it is done, and wanting more photos of the process. What you feel you can share, I’ll be glad to help how I can.

Thanks,
M

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