Chinook Hood Blocks

[SakerJack]

Spring, early summer has finally arrived here in Canada!! Today it is 75F, the weather is perfect and the Beer is cold, with the onset of warmer temps I am now taking orders for blocks. I only make them in the summer and only make 14 sets.. Blocks come with Dutch patterns, and Blocked Anglo patterns, updates thru out the year are available, as well as HELP and ADVICE..
Just to inform everyone Northwood's one of the largest Falconry and trusted Suppliers in the world will now be selling these blocks..
Shopping is easier than ever. You can order through Northwoods or direct from Falconry Hoods International..

[SpugHawk]

I will have a look and hopefully place an order

[Lee Slikkers]

I purchased a set of Ken’s blocks (with patterns provided) and have found them to be a wonderfully nice product. The blocks are top quality and the patterns fit the blocks nicely. I wouldn’t hesitate buying them again if I needed a set.

Here are a couple pics of one hood I recently make up to fit a rather belter (620 grams off the trap) of a passage Eastern Coopers Hawk. (sorry they are not crystal clear)

Great stuff Ken, thanks again for all the help & advice you’ve provided.

[SakerJack]

Thanks Lee, by the looks of it you are WELL on your way hoodmaking wise.. You have done very well..

[Lee Slikkers]

Hey Ken, here is a size 20 hot off the ChinookHood Blocks...I love the patterns and blocks, thanks again!

[Pogger]

Well done Lee. That's a beautiful hood. :D

[Lee Slikkers]

Thanks but it wouldn't be possible with a good set of blocks :supz:

[SakerJack]

Hey Lee as I said in a PM you have a real talent,, thank you for your comments on the blocks , they certainly are very important as you have seen but to make a hood like you have just posted takes a talent,practice and a serious WANT to improve..
Keep at it!!

[Lee Slikkers]

Hey Lee as I said in a PM you have a real talent,, thank you for your comments on the blocks , they certainly are very important as you have seen but to make a hood like you have just posted takes a talent,practice and a serious WANT to improve..
Keep at it!!

Thanks Ken, that means a lot coming from someone whose hoods are of such a high caliber...I'll keep at it.

[StormRider]

Stunning looking hood Lee. It looks like practice makes perfect. How long does it take you to the end result?

STU

[Lee Slikkers]

Stunning looking hood Lee. It looks like practice makes perfect. How long does it take you to the end result?

STU


Yes Stuu, practice, practice and more practice and I still need tons of it :supz:

I never record the amount of time it takes me, I think I would give it up if I really knew just how long I spend on each hood :roll:

[SakerJack]

SOLD OUT!! My wife and I just sent out our last set of blocks. Our goal was to sell 14 sets, we sold 15, so mission accomplished and that is it for the year!!
I may have a few series of smaller sizes but not many,,

[Grovsey]

this one is for lee or ken in the pic of lee's hood how is the yellow edging done as it make the hood stand out alot ,very inperessed with it
ian

[SakerJack]

I will let Lee tell you how he does it, he is becoming a very good hoodmaker, and he has a unique style all is own.
Lee likely won't check the forum till Monday.

[Grovsey]

I will let Lee tell you how he does it, he is becoming a very good hoodmaker, and he has a unique style all is own.
Lee likely won't check the forum till Monday.
come on ken tell me you know you want to :yawinkle:

[SakerJack]

No can do Grovsey that's Lee's hood so I will leave it up to him..
Sorry!!

[Gozzhawk]

thought a few hoodies might be checking this thread....

First nice hood , looks like a good pattern.

Anyone know where to get a copy of original Rollins pattern , that actually go with the blocks.
Oh...and another thing never really had the sizing explained .

size 1..... size 28..... size 79... size 118...?????????? confused

[SakerJack]

thought a few hoodies might be checking this thread....

First nice hood , looks like a good pattern.

Anyone know where to get a copy of original Rollins pattern , that actually go with the blocks.
Oh...and another thing never really had the sizing explained .

size 1..... size 28..... size 79... size 118...?????????? confused

Gozz,, I think I know what you mean.. The numbers can vary greatly depending on whose blocks you are using.. The Chinook blocks are numbered 1-34,, Ron Rollins old set went from 2-14 with a few smaller merlin sizes and a 14x for large ferrug.. as well as a few eagle blocks,, the numbers are simply a system used to determine what size block fits a certain species, really, you could number them, use letters or any graphic you wish, means little really unless they are numbered with head size and I have three like that, 6cm, 4cm etc..
That is why when I recieve an order for a hood and ask what number is on the inside it can tell me allot or very little,,
I have an old and a new set of eagle blocks from Dennis and they are numbered 0,1,2,3,4,5 and then 34N, 35N,36N,37N,38N,39N and 40N,, a 40N fits a female Stellars Sea Eagle..
I hope this helps

[Gozzhawk]

yeah , figured as much . Someone does theirs in millimetres (usual top of head).
Just wondered if there was any reason for other numbers.

Thanks for that!
where is the best place to get patterns , I am using photocopies of rollins and also have anglo indian but i'm sure they are not quite right, proportions sem out a little.

[SakerJack]

yeah , figured as much . Someone does theirs in millimetres (usual top of head).


Thanks for that!
where is the best place to get patterns , I am using photocopies of rollins and also have anglo indian but i'm sure they are not quite right, proportions sem out a little.

Yes Gozz I have a friend that makes blocks and has them set up in various cm.. I hope to get a set from her,, as I said I have 3 and want a complete set..I will not hold my breathe though,, she makes them for fun and makes them if and when she is in the mood.




Patterns?? Many have been put on this forum and others and if you look around there are lots as well, if and when you purchase blocks ask the person if they offer others..I offer t many for my customers and that hood that Lee made was one of my patterns,, but they are only as good as the hood maker as you see Lee makes a fine hood..

[Gozzhawk]

yeah cheers .
I have access to many different blocks here from rollins to arab hand carved , wood , glass etc.
will trawl the forum looking for patterns . was planning to try the Nick Fox pattern ( dunno where he got it from) , seen his hoods and he does an interesting thing with the stitching .....inside on the stitch line he makes a cut ( i usually mark it in pencil) , when stitch put in in falls into the line , cant see stitching when finished ! nice idea , dont have the skills myself tho.....maybe one day.......

[Grovsey]

hi lee and chance of you explaining how u did the yellow pipping on your hood mate
ian

[Lee Slikkers]

Opps, sorry about the delay in getting back you...

That is just a standard hood, I tooled it to make those patterns and then used a paint brush to dye the Tan (yellow) that you called piping. It's all a single piece pattern, a standard Chinook from Ken's blocks and patterns that I purchased. It's not overly difficult, just time consuming to make.

Good Luck~

[Grovsey]

cheers for that i have just noticed that its a single piece patern is this the normall pattern for this block or is there a 3 piece pattern also
ian

[SakerJack]

That hood Lee made is a one pce pattern but you can make many styles of hood on my blocks one pce or three pce. You would be able to do the same on the Stoddart blocks as well, or Rollins or Taits

[SakerJack]

Another spring/summer has arrived and my wife and I are back making Chinook blocks for the next few months.
Pictured is a hood John Moran has on e-bay at the moment, pictured with the hood is the CHINOOK BLOCK used to form this magnificant "DAZZLER".
These are a great block. They have been used by Hood maker Dennis Maynes for over 30 years as well I make 6 different styles of hoods on them.

I would like to take this opportunity to say to the hood maker that bought a set, loved them and raved about them, then made a copy of them, then sold the originals on e-bay to a gent in Germany , then bad mouthed the blocks.

"" Funny, the greatest hood maker of ALL-TIME is using CHINOOK blocks and is extremely pleased with the results"".

LMAO!! Sakerjack

[SakerJack]

Moran Hood from the front. The Chinook blocks come with 4 Dutch patterns.

[SakerJack]

Dayton Dutch hood on my saker , this Dayton is made on the Chinook blocks.

[SakerJack]

Another view

[Pirate Of Penzance]

your hoods are very nice gentle men ,its great to see them thank you .still trying to make the odd one , first two barbary chicks have hatched so its getting more tricky for a week or two to find the time but i will be back. keep showing us your great hoods :)

[Lee Slikkers]

Another view

Looks great as usual Ken...how's life?

Lee

[SakerJack]

your hoods are very nice gentle men ,its great to see them thank you .still trying to make the odd one , first two barbary chicks have hatched so its getting more tricky for a week or two to find the time but i will be back. keep showing us your great hoods :)

POP, thank you for your kind words, great to hear about your falcon chicks AND after seeing your hoods in person, your ODD ONES are FIRST CLASS!!

[SakerJack]

Looks great as usual Ken...how's life?

Lee

JEEZZ LOUIS,, wher ya been Lee?? Send me an e-mail!!

[SakerJack]

This is to all wanna be hood makers or to ones that are making hoods but wish to obtain a different set of blocks, whether they be Chinook, Rollins, Tait, Stoddarts etc.
I started using Rollins blocks 5 years ago, then acquired and started making Chinook blocks , I then bought a set of Tait blocks, Rollins New Millenium blocks and have recently purchased a set of Stoddart blocks.
I have been making hoods for 5 years now and pretty much have a routine on how I make a hood. Pretty much the SAME routine for all the styles I make. I have preferences of course and now make certain hoods on certain blocks.
I have been chatting with Clayton Smith over the past few months and the way he makes them, his style of blocks etc are totally different as to how I make them, I MEAN TOTALLY DIFFERENT,, are his blocks ****? Is the way he makes a hood ****? OF COURSE NOT,, in my mind Clayton is in the top 3 in the world, BUT I COULD NEVER make a hood the way he does and his blocks would be almost impossible for me to work with as his style and blocks are DIFFERENT, Just because I would feel awkward using them does not mean I would bad mouth and say they are garbage..That is Bull ****!! I have had to sell one of the sets I mentioned, WHY, I just cannot get a "FEEL" to how they should be used,,,, They are supurb blocks,, and have been used by other hoodmakers for decades but they are just not a block for Ken Hooke, PLAIN & SiMPLE nothing more..
So if you are getting a second set of blocks or your first,, it takes time to learn how they work, it took John three years to get real comfortable using my Chinooks rather than the set he has used for over 40 years,, he now loves them..
DIFFERENT does not mean BETTER or WORSE it means DIFFERENT!!

[SakerJack]

As we approach Fall I have two full sets of Chinook Blocks for sale. These will be the last ones available from my wife and I until next spring. You can order them from Northwoods Falconry Supplies though.
They come with two sets of patterns and I offer advice if needed. Some of the best hood makers are using them , including Dennis Maynes (the inventor) Jeremy Bradshaw, Bryant Tarr, Scott Webster, myself, several fine hood makers the UK, Spain and Europe and of course John Moran, who calls them the best commercial blocks out there.
They are both finished sets of 34 blocks and are ready for immediate ship.
Price for the set is 575.00 US plus shipping.

[Lee Slikkers]

Some of the best hood makers are using them , including Dennis Maynes (the inventor) Jeremy Bradshaw, Bryant Tarr, Scott Webster, myself, several fine hood makers the UK, Spain and Europe and of course John Moran, who calls them the best commercial blocks out there.
.

Hey Ken, you forgot to add my name to that list of accomplished hood makers, grin.

Hope things are well on your end...

[SakerJack]

Hey Ken, you forgot to add my name to that list of accomplished hood makers, grin.

Hope things are well on your end...

AND YES,, Lee Slikkers for those who have not seen his hoods,, you are missing a treasure!!
Best

[Lee Slikkers]

Too funny Ken, good to see you on here...I need to catch up with you via email. I'll try to fire one off to you this week, take care my friend.

[SakerJack]

Too funny Ken, good to see you on here...I need to catch up with you via email. I'll try to fire one off to you this week, take care my friend.

I am serious,, in fact the hood you sent me, inspired me for an eagle hood I just finished for the UK,, To You Lee Thanks!!

[Lee Slikkers]

I'd love to some pics of your hood if its not too much trouble?

[SakerJack]

I'd love to some pics of your hood if its not too much trouble?

Here ya go, just finished. Lee I used the colors of the fine hood you sent me with the black outside "X" Stitch.

[SakerJack]

Carved and dyed Geo metric back.

[SakerJack]

Hood from the side. This is for a male Golden eagle

[Lee Slikkers]

Super work Ken! It must be nice to work with something that large once in a while, but going from that to a Merlin hood may be a real nightmare :cool:

[SakerJack]

Here is a Dazzler Deluxe by John Moran that just sold on e-bay.

[SakerJack]

Top of the hood

[SakerJack]

Front showing carved beak opening

[SakerJack]

The Dazzler on a size 17 Chinook Block. So,I would like to take this opportunity to say to the ARROGANT hood maker who copied the set I sold him, then sold the originals and still bashes them and said I quote, "The Jury is still out on these Blocks"


THE*** JURY*** HAS*** SPOKEN***!

[Saunders]

Hi have two sets of some ron rollensing and now these , they are great shap and the hoods I have seen made on them are top class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DeadDogs]

The Dazzler on a size 17 Chinook Block. So,I would like to take this opportunity to say to the ARROGANT hood maker who copied the set I sold him, then sold the originals and still bashes them and said I quote, "The Jury is still out on these Blocks"


THE*** JURY*** HAS*** SPOKEN***!

Wonder who that was Ken your side of the pond or mine ???

[SakerJack]

Hi have two sets of some ron rollensing and now these , they are great shap and the hoods I have seen made on them are top class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Saunders,, Good luck with your hood making,,I am always here to help you.

[SakerJack]

Wonder who that was Ken your side of the pond or mine ???

Hey DD,, the Arrogant one is on your side of the pond.

[Pirate Of Penzance]

nice hood still dream of owning one .you must have dozens now ken ?:)

[SakerJack]

nice hood still dream of owning one .you must have dozens now ken ?:)



Hey POP,hope you are well, I trust you had a good breeding season? I think I have 28 of John's hoods( still have a long way to go) including 4 Dazzler Deluxe, one with a painting on the inside. John has had about 6 in the last while on e-bay this was his first Dazzler in a long while.

[DeadDogs]

Hey DD,, the Arrogant one is on your side of the pond.

Think I know who you mean Ken

[SakerJack]

Think I know who you mean Ken

I am sure you are spot on with who you think it is..