Although leather aviator type hats work the best because they cover the whole head and enable tape to secure the Velostat, almost any type of hat that holds eight sheets of Velostat over your head will work.

You can also sew the Velostat to a cloth hat by using a sewing needle for leather which can be purchased at a fabric shop. Large hats with a band on the inside make good thought screens because all you have to do is cut and insert the Velostat into the inside hat band. You can then sew or tape the Velostat to the hat band.

Contact this website if you need directions for making thought screens from other types of hats.

Tape
Tape can be purchased at any hardware store, 2 inch wide tape is recommended. Suggested tape is Scotch Black Cloth Tape, part number 330BLK-NA. If you use duct tape, try to purchase a professional grade duct tape, which has better adhesive and is stronger than cheap duct tape.

Leather Hat
The hat shown, a leather aviator's hat, also known by Motorcyclists as a "Rocky Bullwinkle Hat", is manufactured by Henschel Hat Company, Part number 7471-60. This hat, and a similar model, part number 7471-41, are available at some motorcycle stores. The helmet also comes in size small/medium for small children. Similar leather hats are available from the suppliers listed below.

All Together Leather www.aleather.com
service@aleather.com

Wolftrax Inc.
2691 Unaweep Ave.
Grand Junction, CO 81503
Phone 800-965-3872
970-244-6988
Fax 970-248-9411
Email for sales sales@wolftrax.com
Wolftrax www.wolftrax.com

A similar helmet called a Trax Hat is available from Wolftrax for $39.99. If you order this be sure and get the optional version with light weight cotton lining. The standard fleece lining will make it difficult to insert the Velostat.

Leather Pilot Helmet
Aviation Leathercraft - Flying Jackets - a Division of Moto-Lita Ltd.
Thruxton Airport, Near Andover,
Hampshire, SP11 8PW, England.
Telephone: +44 (0)1954 718686
enquiries@flying-jacket.com

Aviator Cap With Quilted Lining
(You may want to remove the lining before installing the Velostat.)
Carolina Leather Works
13830 US 221 South
Fleetwood, N.C. 28626
Sales: 1-336-877-8771
http://store.yahoo.com/carolinaleatherworks

Unlined Snoopy Leather Flying Cap
U.S. Wings
3390 Kent Road
Stow, OH 44224
Sales: 1-330-686-5973
Fax: 1-330-686-5970
www.uswings.com

Leather Flying Helmets
Flight Suits
1675 Pioneer Way
El Cajon, CA 92020
Sales: 1-800-748-6693
Telephone: 1-619-440-2700
Fax: 1-800-748-6694
1-619-440-4618
www.flightsuits.com

Excellent source for cloth hats for day wear
Watership Trading Companie, Inc.
510 Carolina St.
Bellingham, WA 98225
Sales: 1-800-676-4305
1-360-671-4305
Fax: 1-360-676-8809
www.watership.com

The ruler, scissors, sharp knife, and felt tip pens are available in any large department store such as Kmart, Walmart, or a stationary store, etc.

 

Photo copyright Michael Menkin 2008

Michael Menkin holds a 150 foot long, 70 pound roll of Velostat which costs $215. He uses a roll about every nine months. Some suppliers sell Velostat by the yard for a good price. Shop around for the best deal.

Michael Menkin is 6 feet two inches tall and weighs 225 pounds. He is a college graduate, honor student, former military officer, and a technical writer.

VELOSTAT

Most suppliers only sell Velostat by the 150 foot roll. Some suppliers may sell Velostat by the square yard. You must contact individual suppliers to determine if they sell Velostat by the square yard.

You can use either 3M part number 1704, 1706, or 1708. If you purchase a roll of Velostat, get the shortest width, 36 inches. Some suppliers may ask for the manufacturer's part number which is:  054007-34570 for Velostat 1706.

Purchase a minimum of 3 linear yards if you are using 4 mil Velostat. It's a good idea to purchase an additional yard of Velostat just in case you make mistakes. If you use 4 mil Velostat, part number 1704, you must use 12 sheets for an effective thought screen.  If you purchase 8 mil Velostat, part number 1708, you only need 6 sheets for an effective thought screen.

To purchase Velostat in your area look in the yellow pages of your local phone book under Electronic Equip & Supls - Whsle & Mfrs  (Electronic Equipment and Supplies, Wholesale and Manufacturers).

Velostat is made by:

3M Electronic Products Division
Electronic Supply Specialty Markets
6801 River Place Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78726-9000

PartMiner, Inc.

80 Ruland Road

Melville, NY 11747

P: +1-631-501-2800

F: +1-631-501-2830

sales@partminer.com

http://www.jolitape.ca/

PartMiner China

25th/F, International Chamber of Commerce Building

Fuhua 1 Road, Function CBD

Shenzhen

Guangdong, China

P: +86 755 8302-7701 

F: +86 755 2652-3354

china@partminer.com

www.partminer.com.cn

Finland

Teamtron

Tikkurilantie 68C

01300 Vantaa

P: +358-9-823-4770

F: +358-9-851-6223-0

PartMiner, Inc

Hammarby Fabriksv臠 23

S-120 33 Stockholm

P: +46-8-55-60-41-80

F: +46-8-55-60-41-81

sweden@partminer.com

Singapore

PartMiner, Inc.

51 Mandalay Road

#07-01

Singapore 308231

P: +65-6259-7579

F: +65-6259-6588

singapore@partminer.com

Germany

PartMiner GmbH

Raiffeisenstrasse 30 

70794 Filderstadt

P: +49-711-90772-0

F: +49-711-90772-100

กก

germany@partminer.com

 Israel

PartMiner Israel Ltd.

Moshe Dayan 16 St.

4th Floor

Kiryat-Arye

Petach-Tikva, 49170

P: +972-3-921-1092

F: +972-3-921-1022

israel@partminer.com

LINQSTAT

You may also purchase a similar material made in Canada.

LINQSTAT VCF Volume Conductive Film

If you have trouble obtaining materials for the thought screen helmet, email the inventor at mmenkin@hotmail.com.  All requests for information will be answered.

Michael Menkin, the inventor, can help you find sources for materials although he can't give you specific recommendations because the website is a public service and instructional. There is nothing for sale on the website. The inventor has no financial connection with any of the sources provided on the website.