There is a first time for everything they say. Today, for me, that "first time thing" was turning a cowboy hat. About six hours from mounting the blank to putting it in the bending jig. I could never have turned this without the guidance, the encouragement, the tutelage, and did I mention the encouragement? Of my good friend and mentor, Bob Lipp, who is Vice President of our local wood turning club.

 

 

 

 

We started with a bradford pear blank, about 20" diameter and 8" thick or so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first thing he told me to do was to true it up for a tenon and then he showed me how to shape the outside. I did all the cuts but it was his express instructions that allowed me to do them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the shaping is all done on the outside it's time to form the brim. The red dots are led lights shining through from the other side. The brim is about as thick as a credit card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the brim is completed the hollowing is done for the rest of the hat. It also ends up being about the thickness of a credit card, although I think mine may be a little thicker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the turning is done the hat is put in a bending jig. I'm excited to see how this bends and looking forward to trying on my own.

oh my!!!

Way Cool! Never seen anything like that, this for you ? Or a present for some one?

You've just taken your skill level to beyond expert.  That is not an easy task.  Way cool!!!!

Oh, such talent and such fun. No steam? Just rubber bands? Did you wet it?

1 hour ago, Artie said:

Way Cool! Never seen anything like that, this for you ? Or a present for some one?

Thanks Artie, it's intended to fit me and was done as a learning project. I hope to do several more and refine my process. I'm still amazed at the very idea of doing such a thing. This has been the holy grail of turning for me for a long time.

48 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

You've just taken your skill level to beyond expert.  That is not an easy task.  Way cool!!!!

Thanks Dan. It was pretty straight forward, I'll say again, I could not have done this without my mentors guidance and help. I do have to agree though, it is way cool!

41 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

 No steam? Just rubber bands? Did you wet it?

Gene, it's turned from green wood and this particular piece was wet enough to give us a shower as I turned it. I may have to wet and apply some heat to bend it but from what I'm told it should bend pretty easily.

You may be starting a new trend, Steve’s Stetsons.

A second line.... Krumanaker's Kaps? 

11 minutes ago, Artie said:

You may be starting a new trend, Steve’s Stetsons.

LOL, maybe, but suggest you first do a search for johannes michelsen. He is regarded as the first lathe artist to turn a cowboy hat and his work is pretty amazing.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=johannes+michelsen&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicsMeg8trhAhVys1kKHUHAC_UQ_AUIDygC&biw=1536&bih=767

Yup, I gotta agree with you, pretty amazing. I took a particular liking to the two baseball caps together. 

That is some amazing piece of work.  Mentors gave you the guidance but that is all YOU!!!

 

AWESOME.

Great job there Steve. Capn Eddie did one at our club . Just building the jig seems daunting.

That is one intense hat. I’m a little jelly I’d totally wear that out. Great job 

WOW! I once saw a video of a master turner turning a hat and quite honestly, I wondered if it was really wood. There are so many things that have to go exactly right that it would take a mountain of skill and patience.  Now I see you have done it too. Beyond great, as my first word said it all WOW

My hat's off to you Steve!  What a project.  Way cool.

 Your beyond awesome. What is the anticipated drying time & was the wood chosen for any specific reason or just availability?

2 hours ago, DuckSoup said:

 Your beyond awesome. What is the anticipated drying time & was the wood chosen for any specific reason or just availability?

 Thank you but I have to say it again. I had LOTS of guidance doing this first one. I won't deny that I'm very happy with how it went but I've got to give credit where it's due.

As to those questions, the short answer is yes, to both of them. My buddy was able to harvest it and told me over and over what nice wood it is turn. He was right, it cut like butter.  I asked Bob how long should I leave it in the press? He said, "until you can't stand it anymore!" LOL. He also told me to not use a water borne finish on it. Said it would go back to it's original shape if I did.

As usual, I'm late to the party again! All I can say is WOW !!!