Recent content by townaj

I agree with most of these sentiments, except for the waxy look you mentioned. I see it all the time and its a bear to get rid of. Most of the customers that come into my shop for cleaning and reshaping have at least one hat with that on it. Usually its under the brim where their ears touch the...

Thank you! It was challenging getting a decent finish out of the rabbit but I'm fairly happy with it all things considered. I really was trying to go with a classic western look to match the Gus crown.

Finally finished one of my hats. First full build, done. Ended up going with a Gus/Montana peak crown on it. The block is so straight sided that anything else looked a little funny. It would push the point of the crown out over the brim break Fairly happy with it other than the ribbon. I need...

Had a customer bring her late father’s Resistol in for a new sweat and light reshape. The color is very striking. Almost a light denim blue, the original tag inside said granite gray. Original price appeared to be $20

Very interesting. I’ve had 4 guys in the last couple months call and ask if we made hats that size. I got asked all last year at rodeos if I carried anything that large. I’ve sold 5 or 6 cheaper commercial hats in size 8 just this year. It’s definitely a niche side of the market but the demand...

Thats what I was thinking as well. I'll ask him next time I'm on the phone with him. They're producing some white label hats for us since none of the big manufacturers have closed their books. Should get our first run from him next week. I can work with stiff, just need the size. I can't get my...

I had priced FEPSA bodies because I think they’re much larger. Allowing me to get the 6” crowns and 5” brims that guys are wanting. I have a lot of inquiries with 8” heads that want a full brim. Are the MW as big? If so that would be a great alternative

If only Winchester hadn't locked their books down. At $600 Id barely make anything off them considering the prices of felts at other suppliers. Chaz Mitchell is at that price point as well I believe. Or at least he was a year ago when a customer of mine got her western from him.

Thats a great output. If I ever get to making that many I'll be surprised. The closest place to me used to be called Silver Tip Hat Co, the owner passed away a few years back and someone else took it over. I believe her hats start at $1100 from what I've heard. As far as my conformateur...

My market consists of the same people, which is nice as I grew up in Texas and ranching so I'm familiar with them. They don't want fedoras or soft bodied hats, they want a working quality western hat that they can wear on the range 10 months a year or even all year that is stiff and repellant...

Honestly that’s pretty reasonable considering all the commercial western full beaver hats are $1200. American, Rodeo King, Bailey, Stetson, etc are all at least that much. And they’re not even custom fitted. Makes me wonder what I should be charging when bodies cost me $4-500 a piece and...

I've seen a lot of those for north of $5,000. Its quite crazy. But if people can get that price more power to them I guess.

I've commissioned a set of 51s from Poland so we'll see how those turn out. I think I'm still on Clints books for a set of 52s but I'm not sure what his lead time is. I've got people chomping at the bit for hats so I gotta get to it on figuring out my pouncing process. I think I was using too...

Its pretty much a 52 I think. I told him to give me something I can make classic westerns on and this is what he came up with for me. Works well for the classic shapes but anything more modern needs some taper to it in order to not end up with the crown poking out past the brim break. I tried...

All by hand. I don't trust myself with a sander if I can't even figure it out by hand. I stopped using the block for the crown too until I get a better feel for it all. I talked to Drew at MW last week about it while talking about private label hats for the shop and I think I've been using too...