I'm in awe of people who can make their own tools. I love to drool over the offerings from Mundus, which I found on Instagram. The owner started making tools a few years ago while working as a Savile Row apprentice.
I actually made a sleeve board a few weeks ago. Not half as sophisticated as yours, but it's sturdy (very!) and does the job.For the chest board I'll have to find the time - which isn't easy, as new projects need to be worked on:We're expecting a little Georg to arrive around the end of November.
"Assembling" little Georg is done by my wife (thankfully, not sure if I'd cope). But I am now in the middle of (further) reducing my office space and expanding our daughter's sleeping room, so little Georg will be able to move in with her.So, instead of indulging in fitting and tailoring - it's dry wall galore here! 😂
Nevertheless: I'm always keen on German and Dutch stuff! Stuur maar op!
Today, I finished my chest board. in An old tailoring magazine from 1947 I found useful information on how to make the cushion. It’s filled with a mixture of wet sawdust and cork. The cushion is pressed with a hot iron . That helps to settle the sawdust and to make it firm and compact. After two days of drying I covert it with linen and mounted it on the second top board. The linen was moistured before putting on . So after drying it will give extra tension to the surface .
@Elly thank you my dear!!! There is so much knowledge in the old books. And with a bit of my own insight it became a great tool for my atelier 😃 So, I hope a lot of members will start to make chest boards 😉
A couple of weeks ago, I saw this blog post on making a chest board. The author calls it a "press buck," which is a term I've heard. I'm sure there are other tutorials online.
Interesting method! Thanks for the link. I think maybe I saw something similar using smaller and smaller pieces of padding in 'How to Make Men's Clothes' by Jane Rhinehart.
I've also seen some people stuff them with sawdust, and I'm inclined to try that. I think perhaps the sawdust would hold its shape better over time, and be generally firmer - ?
@Benjamin I've read about people using sawdust for hams. The blog post to which I linked is the first time I've read a description of how to construct a chest board, which seems like a very large ham on a stand. I wasn't saying that her way was necessarily the best way to do it, but it was a way.
This buck, which appears to have been professionally made, was given to the author by a friend who lives in The Netherlands, is stuffed with sawdust.
How do you construct/attach the padding? I've got a basic chest board which is fine, but was thinking of upgrading to a better one, also with a more curved surface. I think I read somewhere of people using sawdust to pack the cushion. Is that something you would recommend?
If you use sawdust make sure it is cedar or similar. Cedar keeps bugs away and stands up to moisture.
Sleeve board done. If I ever actually get round to making a coat, I'll make a chest board too...
Thanks for adding the link. I just order the chalk sharpener I always wanted
I'm in awe of people who can make their own tools. I love to drool over the offerings from Mundus, which I found on Instagram. The owner started making tools a few years ago while working as a Savile Row apprentice.
don't know what you mean 😉
just google 'Bügelbock" and you will find several sites in Germany with all kind of pressing tools like chest boards, tailor hams, sleeve boards, etc.
But making your own is much better, of cause. I also have a tutorial in Dutch from the magazine mentioned above. is misschien leuk voor jou 😊
Today, I finished my chest board. in An old tailoring magazine from 1947 I found useful information on how to make the cushion. It’s filled with a mixture of wet sawdust and cork. The cushion is pressed with a hot iron . That helps to settle the sawdust and to make it firm and compact. After two days of drying I covert it with linen and mounted it on the second top board. The linen was moistured before putting on . So after drying it will give extra tension to the surface .
Know it’s time to start a new coat.......
Made some sleeve boards, four different sizes. You just have to turn them the other side. Chest board with cushion will follow...
A couple of weeks ago, I saw this blog post on making a chest board. The author calls it a "press buck," which is a term I've heard. I'm sure there are other tutorials online.
What materials do we need to make it?
How do you construct/attach the padding? I've got a basic chest board which is fine, but was thinking of upgrading to a better one, also with a more curved surface. I think I read somewhere of people using sawdust to pack the cushion. Is that something you would recommend?
Small chest board