Round
Use when the head is close to equal front-to-back and side-to-side proportions. It is not simply a smaller or larger standard oval—it is a different starting shape.
Start with the fit
Hat block sizes and ovals: choose the right starting shape.
Before you print a hat block, settle two basic questions: the intended finished size and the head oval it needs to serve.
Choose a size in the workshopSize is the intended finished fit
Start with a dependable measurement or the finished hat size you are trying to make. A block is a forming tool, so the result can also be influenced by the material, sweatband allowance, felt behavior, steam, finishing, and the individual technique used at the bench. When in doubt, test the fit before committing to a final production print.
Round, standard oval, and long oval
Standard oval
A common middle ground, with a moderate front-to-back length relative to side-to-side width. It is the practical default when a head is neither notably round nor notably long oval.
Long oval
Use when the front-to-back length is noticeably greater than the side-to-side width. A long-oval head on a round or standard-oval block can feel tight at the forehead and back.
Use the same words at the bench and in the generator
Blocksmith Works makes the head shape explicit so you can choose it on purpose instead of having a generic circle quietly decide the fit. Select the oval first, then decide the crown height and profile. Those later choices affect the form you work over, but they should not be used to compensate for the wrong base shape.
When you are ready, use the free 3D printable hat-block generator and follow the printing guide before slicing the STL.