Project: Making your own block spinner for millinery work

One useful tool for milliners--particularly those who block hats--is called a block spinner or head spinner. A spinner is basically a sturdy base with a peg which supports a dolly head or hat block while a milliner works, lifting it up and stabilizing it while allowing her/him to spin the block or dolly head around the peg for 360-degree access.

You can buy new block spinners ranging in design and price--the cheapest most utilitarian are little more than a dowel seated perpendicular in a piece of planking, whereas woodworking artisans like Mark DeCou do beautiful hand-turned, stained, carved bases with wooden or brass pegs. (You can see some images of DeCou Studio block spinners here.)

I just finished a batch of my own handmade spinners made from turned pine buns purchased at a woodworking shop. Pine buns are intended for use as feet for heavy furniture like bureaus and cabinets, and range in cost between $0.50-$5. You can get buns turned from other wood as well, like ash and poplar and walnut.

I stained each bun and covered the top with a leather pad, equipped it with a spinner post, and furnished it with a cork bottom.

( Process shots... )