Copluation Hat

[Marra]

There have been a couple of threads asking about copulation hats for falcons of late, so I thought I would post a couple of pics of a new one I am just finishing at the moment.
I have also made a slightly smaller one for tiercel peregrines, but this size will do for any size falcon.
Made from latex and with the maximum number of indents to ensure semen capture, nothing worse than loosing a sample you need on a flat surface.

Chris

[Batwing]

youll have fun with that this season ted i think you missed ah hole there to the right.lol

[Marra]

youll have fun with that this season ted i think you missed ah hole there to the right.lol

You should have one to wear around the house Stevie, your lass would love it:D

Chris

[Rico1]

Thank you Chris to show as this photo.
Are you so kind do expain shortly haw you made it?
Thank you again
Paolo

[Marra]

Thank you Chris to show as this photo.
Are you so kind do expain shortly haw you made it?
Thank you again
Paolo

Hi Paolo,

First you need a good amount of air drying modeling clay, this is important as you need the clay to still be soft when you remove it from the mould.

Make the shape you require out of the clay, this takes time to do by eye but worth the effort.

Then use a devise of the right size to make the indents in to the clay, again takes time to do right but keep the holes even and uniform depth.

Once the mould is complete, you then fill each indent with glass fiber resin. It is very important to make sure each hole is filled to the top with resin.

Once the 1st resin is hard you then apply 2 coats of glass fiber with more resin, again it is important to make sure that no air bubbles are left under glass fiber.

When the glass fiber is hard you then turn the mould over and remove the clay from inside, we found the best way was to remove the bulk by hand then use a jet wash to clean the remainder.

Then you have your mould, cover the inside of the mould with a thin smear of liquid Vaseline to stop the Latex sticking to it.
Brush liquid Latex in to the mould making sure you get a good coverage, repeat every time a coat is dry until you have the desired thickness.

Simply peel the hat from the mould once it is fully set, then build as you require.

Hope this helps

Chris

[Falcons7]

Love me 2 new hats :yawinkle:




Hi Paolo,

First you need a good amount of air drying modeling clay, this is important as you need the clay to still be soft when you remove it from the mould.

Make the shape you require out of the clay, this takes time to do by eye but worth the effort.

Then use a devise of the right size to make the indents in to the clay, again takes time to do right but keep the holes even and uniform depth.

Once the mould is complete, you then fill each indent with glass fiber resin. It is very important to make sure each hole is filled to the top with resin.

Once the 1st resin is hard you then apply 2 coats of glass fiber with more resin, again it is important to make sure that no air bubbles are left under glass fiber.

When the glass fiber is hard you then turn the mould over and remove the clay from inside, we found the best way was to remove the bulk by hand then use a jet wash to clean the remainder.

Then you have your mould, cover the inside of the mould with a thin smear of liquid Vaseline to stop the Latex sticking to it.
Brush liquid Latex in to the mould making sure you get a good coverage, repeat every time a coat is dry until you have the desired thickness.

Simply peel the hat from the mould once it is fully set, then build as you require.

Hope this helps

Chris

[Gav.Hawks]

you should be putting them on the market marra.they look very well made.atb

[Chicquera]

Chris, have you found any benefit to the shape of the top two hats ?



Hi Paolo,

First you need a good amount of air drying modeling clay, this is important as you need the clay to still be soft when you remove it from the mould.

Make the shape you require out of the clay, this takes time to do by eye but worth the effort.

Then use a devise of the right size to make the indents in to the clay, again takes time to do right but keep the holes even and uniform depth.

Once the mould is complete, you then fill each indent with glass fiber resin. It is very important to make sure each hole is filled to the top with resin.

Once the 1st resin is hard you then apply 2 coats of glass fiber with more resin, again it is important to make sure that no air bubbles are left under glass fiber.

When the glass fiber is hard you then turn the mould over and remove the clay from inside, we found the best way was to remove the bulk by hand then use a jet wash to clean the remainder.

Then you have your mould, cover the inside of the mould with a thin smear of liquid Vaseline to stop the Latex sticking to it.
Brush liquid Latex in to the mould making sure you get a good coverage, repeat every time a coat is dry until you have the desired thickness.

Simply peel the hat from the mould once it is fully set, then build as you require.

Hope this helps

Chris

[RandusBaby]

Interesting stuff this marra. Very informative, thankyou for showing an ignoramus like myself your techniques!

[Rico1]

Very useful !:lol:
Thank you Chris!:lol:

Paolo

[Keith Barker]

see you at ascot in the spring.
keith

[Marra]

Chris, have you found any benefit to the shape of the top two hats ?

Hi Gary, only on some tiercels, they will turn less on the hat and locate their legs to either side of the centre ridge then deposit the semen in the same area.
I am going to make a larger version of this for gyrkins as well, should get it done this week. Will post some pics when finished.

Chris

[Marra]

you should be putting them on the market marra.they look very well made.atb

Hi Gav, for years I have used home made hats with silicon coverings, I thought it about time we had some better ones.
These new versions take a lot of effort to make correctly but are worth it, the 1st one I used last season never lost one shot of semen through smudging.

I am doing this now while I have the time, in a few weeks the breeding season will be here and I won't have a chance to do more.
That’s why I can't really put them out on the market, I am making a few for people but getting any number done will have to wait for autumn.

Chris

[Marra]

A couple of pics of one of the moulds.

Chris

[Marra]

Love me 2 new hats :yawinkle:

You only have one head son, a big un, but just one :lol:

Chris

[Chicquera]

Never two birds the same. It's a wonder no one has really got stuck into making these to market as I guess once you have made the mould the hard work has been done.
How do you mount it onto the hat, I take it it's not rigid if made from laytex ?


Hi Gary, only on some tiercels, they will turn less on the hat and locate their legs to either side of the centre ridge then deposit the semen in the same area.
I am going to make a larger version of this for gyrkins as well, should get it done this week. Will post some pics when finished.

Chris

[Marra]

Never two birds the same. It's a wonder no one has really got stuck into making these to market as I guess once you have made the mould the hard work has been done.
How do you mount it onto the hat, I take it it's not rigid if made from laytex ?

Hi Gary, you are right that the mould is the hardest part of the construction, the latex takes 3 days to get to the right thickness and this takes about 7 or 8 coats.
If you try to put too much on in one go it wont dry correctly, I get about 2 mm on at a time.
I use pipe insulation (neoprene) for the circle around the outside, I put rubber hose pipe inside this to keep the shape better.
You can then just glue the hat to an excisting hat, (the type with the flaps on the side) or make it by gluing canvas on the inside and adding straps to the the sides to hold on to while on the head.
I am going to sell a few of these this season but won't have time to do many, maybe once the breeding is over I will produce more then.

Chris

[Falcons7]

yeh, just stretch it over a bucket mate and cut the ear holes oot lol

jeff


You only have one head son, a big un, but just one :lol:

Chris

[Chicquera]

Hi Chris, I've tried various hats over the years and now prefer a skull riding hat as a base, they are a tight fit and the neck strap can be pulled down to add that extra support when you have a big male bouncing around on top.



Hi Gary, you are right that the mould is the hardest part of the construction, the latex takes 3 days to get to the right thickness and this takes about 7 or 8 coats.
If you try to put too much on in one go it wont dry correctly, I get about 2 mm on at a time.
I use pipe insulation (neoprene) for the circle around the outside, I put rubber hose pipe inside this to keep the shape better.
You can then just glue the hat to an excisting hat, (the type with the flaps on the side) or make it by gluing canvas on the inside and adding straps to the the sides to hold on to while on the head.
I am going to sell a few of these this season but won't have time to do many, maybe once the breeding is over I will produce more then.

Chris

[Judd Casper]

There have been a couple of threads asking about copulation hats for falcons of late, so I thought I would post a couple of pics of a new one I am just finishing at the moment.
I have also made a slightly smaller one for tiercel peregrines, but this size will do for any size falcon.
Made from latex and with the maximum number of indents to ensure semen capture, nothing worse than loosing a sample you need on a flat surface.

ChrisThere's just no end to your talents me lad:lol:



ATB
Sam

[RobCole66]

Hi Chris , thank you for the pis"s , i have been fiddling about with one on the same sort of disgnes , athougth i know very little ( jack:roll:) on A. I , yet anothere learning curve so to speak . This is my first attempt althought i would also try one with the location points ?after watching falcons copulating , any thoughts and help more than welcome , good , bad, or indifferent.

rob cole..........

[RobCole66]

Hi Chris , i have just bought latex pro-thickening gel , would this be any good for later coats ??

rob cole ......

Hi Gary, you are right that the mould is the hardest part of the construction, the latex takes 3 days to get to the right thickness and this takes about 7 or 8 coats.
If you try to put too much on in one go it wont dry correctly, I get about 2 mm on at a time.
I use pipe insulation (neoprene) for the circle around the outside, I put rubber hose pipe inside this to keep the shape better.
You can then just glue the hat to an excisting hat, (the type with the flaps on the side) or make it by gluing canvas on the inside and adding straps to the the sides to hold on to while on the head.
I am going to sell a few of these this season but won't have time to do many, maybe once the breeding is over I will produce more then.

Chris

[Marra]

Hi Chris, I've tried various hats over the years and now prefer a skull riding hat as a base, they are a tight fit and the neck strap can be pulled down to add that extra support when you have a big male bouncing around on top.

Hi Gary, my male 3/4 gyr x peregrine is like a rapist on a mission on the hat, but he never moves these more than a little. To be honest we have one hat with just a strap on each side to hold on to, it has not moved or slipped with gyrkins on it.
I do prefer the hat with the flaps on the side, they fit snug and hold the hat in place no problem without fastening the straps under your chin.

Chris

[Marra]

Hi Chris , thank you for the pis"s , i have been fiddling about with one on the same sort of disgnes , athougth i know very little ( jack:roll:) on A. I , yet anothere learning curve so to speak . This is my first attempt althought i would also try one with the location points ?after watching falcons copulating , any thoughts and help more than welcome , good , bad, or indifferent.

rob cole..........

Hi Rob, I’m sure that will work perfectly well, the only problem I have found is that if you have any flat area with no indents you can loose semen through smearing. It always seems to happen when you most need a shot, they drop the semen in a good area time after time until you have a falcon that needs a shot and they splatter it on a flat surface :mad:
I have not used the Latex thickener but would like to try it, the neat Latex seems to work fine.

Chris

[RobCole66]

Cheers Chris , i will get prototype number 2 started:wink: and also i will try the pro-thickener and let you know if its any good

rob cole.......
Hi Rob, I’m sure that will work perfectly well, the only problem I have found is that if you have any flat area with no indents you can loose semen through smearing. It always seems to happen when you most need a shot, they drop the semen in a good area time after time until you have a falcon that needs a shot and they splatter it on a flat surface :mad:
I have not used the Latex thickener but would like to try it, the neat Latex seems to work fine.

Chris

[Marra]

A clay mould from start to finish.

Chris

[Marra]

Holes filled with resin then fiber glassed, now to dig out the clay and done.

Chris

[RobCole66]

Cheers Chris , excellent info , did you use a preform under the clay ? as i was going to use a foam oasis and then lay the clay over the top and then use 1inch pipe lagging for the rim , this way i would save on clay and it would be easier to de mould ??

rob cole......

[Marra]

Cheers Chris , excellent info , did you use a preform under the clay ? as i was going to use a foam oasis and then lay the clay over the top and then use 1inch pipe lagging for the rim , this way i would save on clay and it would be easier to de mould ??

rob cole......

Hi Rob, no I just used solid clay, it had been used for 3 moulds so I got my money's worth from it.
You need to have a good eye and such to get the shape right, thats the last mould for me now, had enough.

Chris

[Pirate Of Penzance]

very nice you guys still alive up north,its all starting to happen:):)

[Batwing]

Hi Rob, no I just used solid clay, it had been used for 3 moulds so I got my money's worth from it.
You need to have a good eye and such to get the shape right, thats the last mould for me now, had enough.

Chrislol had enough

[Pete Smith]

Chris, why does everyone use hats? A couple of my imprints have gone through the motions of trying to copulate [Ive not encouraged them], but they seem more focused on my hand or arms.
Would have thought it easier to manage if you could see what was occuring?
Pete.


You should have one to wear around the house Stevie, your lass would love it:D

Chris

[BlackFalcon]

Chris, why does everyone use hats? A couple of my imprints have gone through the motions of trying to copulate [Ive not encouraged them], but they seem more focused on my hand or arms.
Would have thought it easier to manage if you could see what was occuring?
Pete.

Hi Pete, you can have some falcons copulate on hands and such but! the more jumpy, nervous males don't like it. If they are on the hat and the hat is lower than some perches in the chamber they feel safe, one of my tiercels would explode from the hat if I did not bend down.
Every male falcon I have turned in to a semen donor has naturally orientated to the hat, shown no interest in copulating until shown the hat.
It works well, the falcon is relaxed and at ease, the semen gets collected well on a cleanable surface.

Chris

[RobCole66]

Well heres this evenings attempt , but as i am an idiot i forgot to buy resin hardener so i will have to finish it tomorrow . The dome was made useing a oasis foam sphere cut in half , once again cheers to Chris :supz:

rob cole.......

[Marra]

very nice you guys still alive up north,its all starting to happen:):)

Hi Pirate, yes things are starting to kick off up here too, 7 pairs of gyrs with scrapes and some imprints getting active. They need to slow down a bit, spring is here early I think.

Chris

[Marra]

Well heres this evenings attempt , but as i am an idiot i forgot to buy resin hardener so i will have to finish it tomorrow . The dome was made useing a oasis foam sphere cut in half , once again cheers to Chris :supz:

rob cole.......

HI Rob, that will do the job, you will need to tilt the mould as you fill the holes to make sure each is fulll to the top. I did this with my last mould and still lost 11 of the spike when cleaning out the clay, I just made more spikes with resin and stuck them on with more resin.
Completed mould and 3 coates of Latex.

Chris

[Rico1]

This one I made this night, today I'll put the resin .:lol:
Very useful thread!!!

Rob, have you finished your?


Paolo

[Falcons7]

Hi Pete , I had a tiercel that copulated on my arm for which I had a special sleeve made .One thing you couldnt do was dare look at him when he was gettin freekie .The others were all on the hat and to be fair it was less bother and I could see more going on as I fix a mirror to the chamber wall so I can see perfectly what is going on
atb jeff

HiChris, why does everyone use hats? A couple of my imprints have gone through the motions of trying to copulate [Ive not encouraged them], but they seem more focused on my hand or arms.
Would have thought it easier to manage if you could see what was occuring?
Pete.

[Marra]

And finely the completed hat ready to use, hope some have found this thread of use in making your own hats.
I will get some photos up of tiercels and gyrs on these hats once the season is underway, probably on another thread.

Chris

[RobCole66]

Not quite Paolo , i am still getting the bloody clay out as my jet washer as desided not to work :twisted:, also i hate working with fibre glass :lol: . I will see if i can get it done over the weekend , but there is the matter of a big game of rugby tomorrow
Also as chris said about , i have to add about 10 dimples that have gone missing?,once again cheers Chris:supz:

rob cole.......

This one I made this night, today I'll put the resin .:lol:
Very useful thread!!!

Rob, have you finished your?


Paolo

[RobCole66]

Sorry Paolo , i forgot to say it is a pitty you could"nt come over for the wales v italy match as i would have given you a pair of spars as a consalation prize;)

rob cole.......

[Falcons7]

looks spot on Christffer , Bryns made a great job there , hope you were payin attention hehe
jeff


And finely the completed hat ready to use, hope some have found this thread of use in making your own hats.
I will get some photos up of tiercels and gyrs on these hats once the season is underway, probably on another thread.

Chris

[Marra]

looks spot on Christffer , Bryns made a great job there , hope you were payin attention hehe
jeff

Hey up Son, yes Bryn has made a good job of them, yours is ready when you are.
You will look like a propper breeder in yours, or somehting like that :lol:

Chris

[Falcons7]

Mate , whats breeding got to do with it , its a fashion statement at the club lol
Be down very soon dude
jeff


Hey up Son, yes Bryn has made a good job of them, yours is ready when you are.
You will look like a propper breeder in yours, or somehting like that :lol:

Chris