Cowboy hat

[mrgrouch]

Hello everyone, I'm looking for some advice on a project I'm working on.

I'm carving a cowboy out of a block of cherry wood, but I have never carved a cowboy hat and I have never carved cherry wood either, so I don't know if the rim of the hat is going to hold. When it's done the hat should be about 8 inches around.

I'm still in the planning stage, and the way the weather is going I'm going to remain planning for a while. and although I could take the hat away I really wouldn't wanna do that.

Has anybody run into a problem like this or have any suggestions?

Thanks

[TreeWizard]

As long as you orient the grain properly the brim should hoold up. Cherry is however a very hard wood and it will take some doing to carve it with hand tools.

[mpounders]

You might check out Lynn Doughty's videos Out West Woodcarving Videos on Vimeo

He recommends carving the brim and crown separate from the head, which allows the grain to be properly oriented for greater strength. Made sense to me, but if nothing else, it will give you more info on hats.

[Mottles]

Well, not ventured, nothing gained..keep working of the hat! Mike P recommendation of Lynn Doughty is a good one. I'm carving a cowboy right now and working on my first hat too. Mine is all one piece so far it's looking OK, but as with carving it can change real fast.
Kathy

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Ditto on Lynns blog.

Dave

[mrgrouch]

thanks guys, the videos are awesome.

I also want my cowboy to be one piece... I don't know, making it in pieces and put it together sounds like the smart thing to do, but it doesn't feel right to me, that is why I was thinking of a harder wood, sure it's more work, but if everything was easy what would be the point?

anyway, I'll do some testing with cherry wood and if I decide to go ahead with the proyect I'll come back with pictures.

thanks again

[northwood bob]

I did one out of a single piece of walnut many years ago. the trick is to orient the grain properly for the brim to have themost strength in the side areas. in otherwords, I oriented the grain from the front to the rear. Take care to leave enough wood near the hat area and taper it to thin near the edges. If memory serves me correct, the thickness of the brim near the hat wa about 3/16" taperint to 1/16 at the edge. This will give the illusion of the brim being very thin without the danger of breakage. I use the same effect on butterfly wings. Unfortunately, it is long since gone and I cannot share a photo.

Be careful of thepiece you use and make sure it has very little fancy grain pattern. You will be much better off with plain straight grain. That wont give you any supprises. Sharp tools and hand protection is a must. Go slow and do not take heavy cuts.
My work with cherry has led me to use other woods. I have done some pretty intricate work but have regressed to having to use power tools to create what i wanted. It works well for relief carving (where you can use a vice or other means to hold the work piece) but I have gotten myself into dangerous situations on "in the round" carvings. Be careful.

Good Luck
Bob