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Post by bendingoak on Sept 7, 2012 19:17:04 GMT -5
I wanted to give everyone a peak at how I work. I know most think I work one hat at a time but that would not be very productive at all. I work on a dozen and a half at a time. Sometimes more, sometimes less. This is one reason why I can't give an exact time for when ones hat will be done. A month is all I can do at this time. Im going to start with 2 photo's and add to them when I can. I'm open to any questions you might ask. I'm going to start with me prepping bows/ribbon and sweatbands while I wait for the felt bodies to dry at one point of the production.   As you can see that I built and prepped the bows and measured and cut the sweatbands. |
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Post by Mr. Fusion on Sept 8, 2012 23:26:36 GMT -5
It's cool to have a peek into the Penman workshop.  I'd love to see more! -Josh |
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Post by bendingoak on Sept 12, 2012 15:12:43 GMT -5
Now I move on to block the next batch of hats.  |
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fenris
Map Folder
Yes, I am an Indy fan!
Posts: 38
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Post by fenris on Sept 13, 2012 9:26:48 GMT -5
Wow! I like how organized you are. I assume those papers in front of each hat are the customer's details or email exchange, right?
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Post by Noah on Sept 18, 2012 22:54:18 GMT -5
Nice to have a peek inside the shop and how you work on many hats at once. |
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Post by bendingoak on Sept 24, 2012 0:25:49 GMT -5
Wow! I like how organized you are. I assume those papers in front of each hat are the customer's details or email exchange, right? The papers are the order form from my site printed out. I do make notes on the form as the hat moves from step to step. I couldn't work on multiple hat without this. I will be posting more. Stay tuned. |
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Post by bendingoak on Sept 29, 2012 12:12:31 GMT -5
Sorry I have neglected this thread but been very busy. Just as a reminder I'm not doing this thread in real time. Just showing you guys some of the madness that I do to be the most productive. Ok, I'll move on to the next step. While the new batch is drying on the block I start to sew in the sweatbands together....  After that I start sewing the sweatbands in, then the bows/ribbon, and finish it of with the liner. I'm doing this for a few days while that new batch is drying.  |
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Post by bendingoak on Oct 16, 2012 20:51:55 GMT -5
Now that everyone here can get an idea of how I operate. Working on several hats at once. Jumping back and forth between two batches. I think I will post updates following one hat from start to finish. I will post a pic every time I work on that hat. I will start this the next time I block some hat. Which should be next Tuesday.
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Post by bendingoak on Oct 23, 2012 19:19:05 GMT -5
ok guys and dolls. I'm going to give this a shot. Now that I showed how I work ( two batches at one time in two different steps). Now I will show in real time one hat from start to finish. Hoping this will bring better understanding of how things work in side the Penman hat cave. This will not be how to make a hat nor will I show or share every detail. This will be broad stroke and steps. I will try and post every time I touch this hat from start to finish except for when I'm pre aging or stabilizing the felt. Everything else I will post when I'm working on this hat. So, here we go....... First, matching up the felt body with the block. I go over the body to make sure she is ready and no imperfections. This is going to be a steel grey '' the Penman" style hat or 6 point diamond. I pull the right size block based off the customers measurements. At this point I have already worked with the customer to assure the measurements were accurate and that we are on the same page for details of the finished hat.  Now that the body and block has been matched up I block the hat and this is seconds after blocking.  Now the hat will sit on the block and dry with a few others. 2nd shelf far left.  I will post again the next time I work on this hat. |
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Post by bendingoak on Oct 27, 2012 19:58:04 GMT -5
I have already pre aged and stabled the felt body at this point. Now I put in the brim break.  I will let it sit until Monday.  From the last time when I blocked this hat (and the others I blocked with it) I was working on the following hats.  Just a reminder I'm always working on two batches. I will post more on Monday. |
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Post by bendingoak on Oct 29, 2012 15:19:20 GMT -5
ok, It's Monday morning when I walk into the hat shop and have a few hats to work on. First I start by checking to see if the hat is completely dry and ready to go onto the next step. The hat is dry and ready to be moved onto the next step. I brush it very well and then set the rounding jack and cut the brim.  take the trimming and off to the pile.  Now I move onto the pouncing stage. The fun part. I use three different techniques to get that very smooth finish that a Penman hat has. The first is more of a prep to sanding but without it I wouldn't get that Penman finish. Good finish yes but not a great one. After that first step is over then comes the part using several grits of sand paper I start sanding the hat. After all the pouncing is done and a lot of brushing I might add.  Then the final part and again I can't really go into detail but again another tiny part that really takes a good finish and takes it to a great one.  I wish my camera was as good as squidkidds. This camera really can't capture the finish nor can you touch it.   I brush the hat body some more and then start adding the water protection that only the Penman hat has. This stuff is strong and I wish I could sell it. I will post the next time I work on this hat. I'm really happy that I'm keeping up with posting these updates in real time. off to work I go. :TOH: |
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Post by bendingoak on Oct 31, 2012 16:14:00 GMT -5
I had a problem with downloading photo's today (after working on the hat) and the photo's have been deleted. I had a really good shot after flanging the brim of the hat but it's gone I messed up the real time up dates. Will have to start all over again. sorry guys and dolls. |
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Post by wheresabner71 on Nov 6, 2012 4:39:05 GMT -5
Very cool, John! Interesting to get a glimpse of the workings.
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Post by bendingoak on Nov 7, 2012 21:44:40 GMT -5
Again sorry for the mess up but lets try this again. I will try again to show one hat from start to finish in real time. First I match up felt body/hood to block. make sure we have the right color and type of felt the customer wants the hat to be and select the right block for the crown shape. I flipped the order as not to show the customers information. The sheet of paper is a print out that the customer fills out at the time of order. This way I figure the customer shouldn't get their contact information wrong but I might make that mistake filling it out for them. I go over the selection at the time of order and send out a paper crown to double check there measurements. Sometimes if its a new to the hat world I send out a conformer.  Now that I have everything prepped to block this hat. Make sure the felt doesn't have any flaws and double check that I have a beaver charcoal felt hat body/hood. That I have the correct style and size block.  here is the hat just blocked.  Thanks for looking. |
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Post by bendingoak on Nov 12, 2012 22:11:53 GMT -5
Today I put in the brim break and ironed the hat. The hat has already been pre-aged and stabilized already. Sorry but can't really say how or at when that was done. So that part is skipped over. Sorry.  Now it will sit and dry while I go and work on some others.  |
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Post by bendingoak on Nov 14, 2012 21:26:47 GMT -5
Today the hat is completely dry. I will set the rounding jack and cut the brim down.  after the brim is cut.  Toss onto the growing pile.  then comes my favorite part. Getting that smooth finish that make a Penman hat a Penman hat. There are 3 techniques that I use. The first one most other hatters use but not like I do. that Im sure of. Sorry can't really share that. 2nd is sanding the hat using several grits on sand paper. Again I have experimented a lot with this step. 3rd. step I'm sure I'm the only one who uses this. All 3 steps gives the Penman hat a very smooth finish. Wish I could go into more detail but feel free to ask anything. I'll try and answer if I can.  I will now add water repellant to this hat. It will now sit and dry. Off to work on other hats. |
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Post by bendingoak on Nov 30, 2012 17:29:20 GMT -5
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday. I took a the holiday and friday off so that pushed things back a little but still running on schedule. I prepped the ribbon/bow for this hat.  and then prepped the sweatband buy cutting it to size, sewing it together and adding the sweatband bow.  Now I go off to work on the 2nd batch of hats |
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Post by trdaggers on Dec 1, 2012 7:59:33 GMT -5
John: Just Fascinating !!! Lots of work.
Gailen
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Post by bendingoak on Dec 2, 2012 12:15:49 GMT -5
Thanks, Still lots more to do.
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Post by bendingoak on Dec 10, 2012 22:11:27 GMT -5
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Post by bendingoak on Dec 14, 2012 15:28:29 GMT -5
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Post by bendingoak on Dec 19, 2012 20:48:11 GMT -5
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