How to make a Dutch Hood

[Tim Laycock]

I know that quite a few forum members now have hood blocks and patterns :yawinkle:

So I thought it was appropriate to do a "How To" dutch hood thread.

My hoods are not the best but the basic principles of manufacture are the same for a good hood and what I produce.

The only difference is refinement so here goes :lol:

[Tim Laycock]

Select your leather and mark out the outline of the hood on the "skin" side using an awl

[Tim Laycock]

Cut out the eye pieces and the body of the hood using a brand new surgical scalple blade, Take care to ensure the edges are cut square and not angled

[Tim Laycock]

"Cut out" the beak opening, I say cut out but take care not to actualy cut it out.
What you need to do is just lightly break through the "skin" of the leather
(Cutting it out fully at this point will consign it to the bin after blocking as the gape will stretch)

[Tim Laycock]

Mark out the holes on the eye pieces as shown with a stitch marker then pierce the stitch holes with an awl as shown.

If the holes are not prominent afterwards they your awl is the wrong shape

[Tim Laycock]

Mark out the spacings for the stitch holes on the body of the hood by rolling the eye pieces along the mating edged of the hood body.

This may seem obvious to some but dont try to do it with the stitch marker!
The holes around the eye piece are all at different pitches as they are on a constsntly changing ark

[Tim Laycock]

Pierce the stitch holes as with the eye pieces

[Tim Laycock]

Begin stitching as shown.

I am currently experimenting with dental floss for stitching hoods and if you choose to do the same for pitys sake do not use minted floss!!!

If you need to ask why then try wearing a crash helmet full of extra strong mints for an hour http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_eyes.gif

[Tim Laycock]

Once started continue as shown.

[Tim Laycock]

Continue in this manner until the seam is completed and tie off in the same way as you began

[Tim Laycock]

Repeat procedure with the other eye piece

[Tim Laycock]

Soak the hood in tepid water for two mins and then turn out as shown

[Tim Laycock]

Stretch the hood onto the block and flatten the eye seams by rolling them with a round object such as the handle of the stitch marker in this case

[Tim Laycock]

Allow the hood to dry and remove the excess material from the hood body ensuring that the shut lines at the back remain the same length

[Tim Laycock]

Cut a strip of very thin leather or in this case snake skin for the rolled edge and glue it to the base of the hood with a very thin bead of contact adhesive

[Tim Laycock]

sew this strip to the hood as shown then remove the excess

[Tim Laycock]

Apply contact adhesive to the inside edge of the hood and the hide side of the snake skin

[Tim Laycock]

Turn the rolled edge over and press down against the inside of the hood

[Tim Laycock]

Using a 3/8 chisel cut the slits for the braces (Four in the body of the hood and one in each eye piece)

[Tim Laycock]

Make up two braces 9" long with 3/8 slits positioned as shown

[Tim Laycock]

Thread the braces as shown

[Tim Laycock]

continued

[Tim Laycock]

laminate a piece of snake skin and a thin piece of leather with contact adhesive as shown

[Tim Laycock]

Mark around a small teardrop or round template and cut oit with a scalpel.
This will form the base of the plume

[Tim Laycock]

Mark out the stitch holes in the teardrop with a stitch marker and pierce with an awl then punch a hole in the centre

[Tim Laycock]

cut and laminate some leather and some snake skin as shown

[Tim Laycock]

cut two 1/4" slits in the body of the hood with a chisel and thread the plume through as shown

[Tim Laycock]

Thread the teardrop over the plume and push to the bottom, then glue it in position.

then pierce the stitch holes and sew it into place with contrasting thread

[Tim Laycock]

Now cut the gape around the outline that was lightly cut earlier and remove the waste material

[Tim Laycock]

Apply a thin coat of lacquer to the entire outside of the hood.

(Ensure it is a flexible lacquer when cured otherwise the first time the braces are operated it will be fit for the bin!!!!!!!)

[Tim Laycock]

Final operation (The last and most tricky)

Using a brand new scalpel blade cut a 45 degree chamfer onto the inside of the beak opening

One slip and its in the bin!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:

[Tim Laycock]

The finished article.........

[Tim Laycock]

I know my hoods are not the best but I hope this thread is helpfull to somebody!

The professionals among us will no doubt disagree with elements of it but I have learned hoodmaking by making it up as I go along!

Also this thread may not be as polished as it should be because I have posted it once and then deleted it by accident http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_redface.gif http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

[Tim Laycock]

Right, Im going to bed! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[GregMik]

Tim,
This is Awsome!!

Greg

[Sandalar]

Nice one Blackbird.:cool:
A very much appreciated guide.
Anyone know where to get hood patterns from?

Thanks for taking the time to do it.

[Isis]

Top notch Tim:supz:

[Venividevenatio]

I hope that everyone appreciates the time and effort put into producing this informative and comprehsivly photographed instruction manual. Its got to be better than pages full of "I'm leaving the forum".
Thanks Blackbird, a job well done indeed.

[Tim Laycock]

Glad its well recieved :supz:

Worth a green square? :lol:

[Andy Cunningham]

nice one,good craft work, and easy to follow picture's.

[GriffMJ]

Excellent work Tim.... look after your blocks a bit more though:!: :lol:

[Tim Laycock]

Thanks Griff, the blocks were battered when the came into my hands, Good job I have an untouched set :yawinkle: :supz:

[Sandeep]

Decent hood. But what I liked is the way it was explained.... Very clear.... Thanks for putting it on the Forum...

Guys Its things like this that we out here should be sharing...

:supz: :supz: :supz: :supz:

[Tim Laycock]

Guys Its things like this that we out here should be sharing...

My thoughts exactly :supz: :supz: :supz: :supz:

[Claire]

excellent thread bb, best guide to hood making I have seen,
this is what the forum is all about :supz:

[Ant]

Excellent post BB. This is the kind of thing most of us joined the forum for. Well Done.
Tony.

[James_Falconry1]

Quality post.

Ive had a go at making some Dutch hoods but had to make it all up as i went along apart from GLasiers book but cant beat photos.
You a bit of a night owl BB.

Cracking.

[Paddy1]

thats superb bb for the novice really easy to understand and follow

[SakerJack]

BB Outstanding work, If I could figure out how to add pictures to threads I would show all how to tool a hood..
The hood looks great, good job!!
Sakerjack
Ken Hooke
Falconry Hoods International

[DeathFromAbove]

superb thread Tim mate... what thickness and what type of leather do you use for the dutch hoods?

[Tim Laycock]

superb thread Tim mate... what thickness and what type of leather do you use for the dutch hoods?

I use leather that is totaly unsuitable :!: :oops:

The body of the hood is the kangeroo that I use for covering bowperches and the eye pieces come from a butchered handbag that I bought in Oxfam for 45p :rolleyes:

Im too tight to buy "proper" leather so I scour charity shops for handbags and leather coats, Im loath to shell out for anything :oops:

[Quiver]

I scour charity shops for handbags and leather coats i used to do the same when i used to make alot of gloves for lining the glove.

[FlameHairedFalconer]

Excellent thread BB!!!!

I tried dental floss a few years ago, but was concerned that it is made to be thrown away after one use so wasnt sure what the long term prospects were. I started using beading thread instead, which works fine.


FHF

[Tim Laycock]

dental floss does not rot and is flat

(thought it might help with my bunched eye seams :oops: )

[FlameHairedFalconer]

Bunched eye seams??? I guess thats where years of doing cross stitch and embroidery come in handy...


FHF

[Tim Laycock]

My problem is that my stitching is too tight!

A bit like my grip on my wallet :rolleyes: :lol:

[StormRider]

Beautiful thread and very well explained. I make my own hoods now and again and aint any where near as good as that one on the pics. My problem is that I dont have the patience to faff around with the braces sometimes, and I have seen occassions when Ive just thrown everything in the bin cause of the braces part. Luckily for me I now buy my hoods cheap from a local hood maker Eddie Rendles, but knowing how to do these things is important.

[MattSpar]

Excellent thread Tim. Very clear and concise.

[W Jenkins]

Take my hood off to you BB lol i mean my hat m8 very good thread i bet you have the patience of a saint:supz:

[FlameHairedFalconer]

My problem is that my stitching is too tight!

A bit like my grip on my wallet :rolleyes: :lol:

Reeeelllllaaaaaxxxxxx BB!!!! Take it slowly. With other types of sewing you cant afford to make your stitches too tight as (you have found) it distorts the fabric. Sewing leather is no different. A light and firm touch is all that is needed.

I thought there were only moths in your wallet in any event, it hasnt been opened for so long! :lol: :lol:

FHF

[Tim Laycock]

Take my hood off to you BB lol i mean my hat m8 very good thread i bet you have the patience of a saint

Patience of a saint m8 :lol:

I posted it all once and then deleted it by accident :rolleyes:

The noise I made woke the entire house :-x :lol:

[Tim Laycock]

I thought there were only moths in your wallet in any event, it hasnt been opened for so long! :lol: :lol:


The moths cant get in for all the cash! :rolleyes: :-P

[W Jenkins]

Patience of a saint m8 :lol:

I posted it all once and then deleted it by accident :rolleyes:

The noise I made woke the entire house :-x :lol:

Nice one BB

[Yorkshire Hawker]

Hope the one in the frame is for me dude (Still waiting )
A nice job all round tim well done I think we should have you make one at the NEFC one night

[Jastreb]

Tim this is one of the best thread I ever read!!!!!!
Cheers Viktor

[Tim Laycock]

Hope the one in the frame is for me dude (Still waiting )
A nice job all round tim well done I think we should have you make one at the NEFC one night

Al, Do you still want one making for Jake or do you want to wait until you know if you have bred an eyass female to take up this season? ;)

[Tim Laycock]

Tim this is one of the best thread I ever read!!!!!!
Cheers Viktor

Thanks Viktor 8-)

[GregMik]

Patience of a saint m8 :lol:

I posted it all once and then deleted it by accident :rolleyes:

The noise I made woke the entire house :-x :lol:

I heard him way over here!!!!

Greg

[Ladyhawk]

At last a thread that is helpful and informative. Thanks

[Dude]

Thanks for sharing this process with us Tim :) U make an exelent job ;)

Dan.

[Fawkes]

BB - excellent thread! Dont know how I managed to completely miss it until now. I'm still puttering with my anglo-indian patterns from SakerJack but would love to try dutch hoods - just have to see if I've got money for blocks this year or not!

[FredrickFogg]

I know that quite a few forum members now have hood blocks and patterns :yawinkle:

So I thought it was appropriate to do a "How To" dutch hood thread.

My hoods are not the best but the basic principles of manufacture are the same for a good hood and what I produce.

The only difference is refinement so here goes :lol:

Hey Blackbird,

The pictures were removed when the site got hacked! Any chance you can dig them up and repost them? This thread was here before I joined and I never got a chance to see it.

Thanks,
Fred

[Gozzhawk]

I would second that motion , PLEASE can we have the pics back . also is there a way to get a 'print' version , just the notes and photo's without the bumph , my ink will dye!!

[Tim Laycock]

Just seen this :-x

I will sort it out soon :wink:

Busy, Busy, Busy :lol:

[Gozzhawk]

thank you kind master

[Claire]

bump :D

[Tim Laycock]

bump :D

As in "upload the pics again you lazy swine" :lol:

[Claire]

lol dude couldn't find it pics or not so I bumped it, but the pictures would be great :heart:

[Falconry Equipment International]

bump :D

??? Claire what does this mean?? thankx

[Claire]

internet jargon for bringing a thread back to view, the top of the forum, I think its an acronym for Bring Up My Post

[Falconry Equipment International]

internet jargon for bringing a thread back to view, the top of the forum, I think its an acronym for Bring Up My Post

thanks for that Claire old numpty here:roll: :lol:

[SycamoreBirds]

test

[FalconPrincess]

pic dosnot worked can any one re uplode it ?

[JayInOz]

Can we see the pictures somehow please? Jay(InOz).

[FlameHairedFalconer]

Sorry, the photos are no longer available.

I am making a few hoods over this weekend and will put up a tutorial early next week.

FHF

[JayInOz]

Much appreciated Hattie! Jay(InOz).

[Flea]

Sorry, the photos are no longer available.



:lol:

[SakerJack]

Sorry, the photos are no longer available.

I am making a few hoods over this weekend and will put up a tutorial early next week.

FHF

Look foward to it, I would like to learn how others make their hoods.

[Zvizda mora]

I want to make my first dutch hood and I found that Tim wrote about that procedure very well two years ago on this forum. Pictures are not there any more but I can see that FlameHairedFalconer preparing something like that.

I am witing Flame's post but does anyone have Tim's pictures please?

[GodIt]

the pics is not apear..

[FlameHairedFalconer]

I want to make my first dutch hood and I found that Tim wrote about that procedure very well two years ago on this forum. Pictures are not there any more but I can see that FlameHairedFalconer preparing something like that.

I am witing Flame's post but does anyone have Tim's pictures please?

the pics is not apear..


http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=54530

[James Q]

wheres the piccys!

[Bateleur J]

I don't have pictures either :(

[Alkaabi_Qatar]

cheeres:supz:

[Zvizda mora]

Thanks Flame,

I was absent for a few months due to connection problems but never is too late for such a nice and detailed thread.

[Aman]

also cant see the pics:cry: