| Project by Mark DeCou | posted 73 days ago | 263 views | 0 times favorited | 2 comments | ![]() |
This Maple Rounding Jack has been (SOLD) 8-13-2008.
Rounding Jack Serial Number #2008-08
Cutting Capacity: 1.25” – 8”
Materials: Maple, Walnut, Brass, & Abalone Shell
If you are looking for a Rounding Jack, email me for more information at:
mark@decoustudio.com
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

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.










Thanks for looking,
Mark DeCou
www.decoustudio.com
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
More Hat Tools?:
If are you into “Hatmaking” or “Hatmaking Tools” you might enjoy seeing these other projects I have posted:
Rounding Jacks Available For Sale:
Rounding Jacks that have been Sold:- Custom Rounding Jack; Brainpan Hat Shop in Sumner, WA Ready to Cut Fedora Hat Brims
- Custom Rounding Jack; Steve Delk's Adventurebilt Hat (new Indiana Jones movie) Fedora Brim Cutter
- Custom Rounding Jack; Marc Kitter's Adventurebilt Hat (new Indiana Jones movie) Fedora Brim Cutter
- Custom Rounding Jack; Pyrate Trading Co.'s Brim Cutter for Triangular Shaped Pirate Hats
- Custom Rounding Jack; Walnut Brim Cutter for the Infamous Hatman Jack at Wichita Hat Works
- Hatmaking Tools: Hat Brim Cutter, Rounding Jack
- Prototype Hatmaking Tool: Brim Cutting Rounding Jack
- Elk Antler and Birch Tolliker on a Display Stand
- Walnut Wood Tolliker on a Display Stand
- Three White Birch Wood Tollikers
- Walnut Brim Shaping Foot Tollikers
- Wooden Tollikers, Double Birch Set on Display Stand
My Website with other woodworking, including furniture, walking canes, scrimshaw artwork, custom knives, and other misc. items
(Note:This project story, project design, photos, text, spelling, everything I can possibly list is copyrighted in 2008 by the Author, M.A.DeCou. If you want to use any part of this posting or photos, for any Feeds, or a book, or another website, or for any reason whatsoever, even ones that I could not have dreamed about you doing before you did it, you must ask for permission first. Please)
-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flinthill's Artisan
Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community

























2 comments so far
darryl
home | projects | blog
783 posts in 769 days
posted 73 days ago
as it’s expected, it’s a great looking cutter and fantastic post.
best of luck in a quick sale!
-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~
Roger Strautman
home | projects | blog
488 posts in 577 days
posted 73 days ago
OK, I have to say it, this would look really great with chip carving on it. Another nice piece of artwork!
-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"