Akubra Campdraft

Cap_7597 said:

Thanks Preacher. I did have it in a diamond shape. But it made it look like an Aussie hat to me rather than an old school fedora. That's what I'd more like it like. This being my first Open Crown I know it's not going to be perfect. It is for sure going to be my own expression! Haha.


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Bob Roberts said:

The 2nd take looks absolutely great. Keep in mind its not supposed to be perfect.

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Cap_7597 said:

Thanks Bob! I was going for not perfect. It went this way first try! I wet it down really good and it was like clay. I like the diamond much better!


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Bob Roberts said:

Wlcm. So the 2nd try was perfectly not perfect.

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Bob Roberts said:

Wlcm. So the 2nd try was perfectly not perfect.

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Zombie_61 said:

Remember, the felt on a brand-new Akubra will rarely respond to shaping the way the felt on vintage hats and/or customs like Moon's will, especially considering the amount of stiffener Akubra uses. I really like the diamond crease you've created, but for the hat to have that "lived in" look that Moon has so wonderfully achieved you'll probably have to live in it for a while.

As for the front crease, you might be right about the hat not liking it. Sometimes you have to "listen" to the hat to find out how it wants to be shaped. For the first two years I had my Tawny Fawn Campdraft I struggled with warming up to it. I wanted to like it as much as I liked my Silverbelly and Bluegrass Green Campdrafts, and re-shaped the crown a few times, but decided the color must be the reason I didn't like it. Then it hit me--it wasn't the crown or the color, it was the way I had shaped the brim. I like the front of the brim snapped way down on most of my hats, and they're fine with that, but it just didn't work for the Tawny Fawn. The hat wasn't happy with the way I'd shaped it, and I hadn't been listening. So I re-shaped the brim (and it was really a minor change), and the hat and I became inseparable. The hat was much happier, and so was I. It sounds strange, but wait until it happens to you.

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Rogera said:

That's pretty much the gospel on Akubra shaping.

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Cap_7597 said:

...Also thinking about the Heritage in SB from HatsDirect.
Does the sweat on the Heritage shrink up like the Imperial?

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Cap_7597 said:

...Then there is the Fed IV's.....

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Zombie_61 said:

In my experience, no. But the Heritage Quality hats are also not as oversized as the Imperial Quality hats when they're new and unworn, so they don't need to shrink as much. Akubra seems to know just how much their sweatbands will shrink, and they take that into consideration when making their hats. That being said, I only have one Heritage Quality hat so my experience might differ from someone else's (which usually seems to be the case).

I suggest starting with Tawny Fawn and/or Moonstone.

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Cap_7597 said:

Thanks Zombie!!! I got the Blugrass ordered from Sam and the Moonstone Fed IV Deluxe from HD!!! Both in size 58.

That's what my Taupe Fawn CD is and its shrank up to fit perfectly!!!

My next will be the SB in either imperil or Deluxe. I'll see how I like the Fed first. Not sure when this purchase will take place though. I'll be in the dog house a while!!!! ..... I hope they don't show up on the same day!!! Hahahaha. That'll be bad... Hahah


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Bob Roberts said:

2 great hats. Did the same. Got my Bluegrass Green from Everything Australian and my Moonstone Fed from Hats Direct. I think you'll love them.

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Cap_7597 said:

Yours and Harvey's Feds are what sold me on the Moonstone! It looks like that hat will go with my black suit or my jeans and a button. Heck, you could probably wear a t shirt and shorts. Such a versatile color.

I like the width on that ribbon too.
Thanks.


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Sonero said:

View attachment 55596 View attachment 55597 Gentlemen,

I need some assistance please.

I just received my Silverbelly Campdraft from EverythingAustralian.com. Nice quality felt.

1. This is my first open crown purchase. I did a quick bash by hand. It seems like I need to bash the top rather deep for the look I want. So much so that the hat won't fit properly since the low bash sits directly on my head. Do you recommend that I add sizing tape into the hat band or better adjust to a higher bash ?

2. It seems like the front does not want to snap down into fedora mode. Do I force this or do I need to bring it to a professional to steam it down ? If I do bring it to a professional will I be able to wear it up like I have in the picture ? I would like to keep both options.

3. Would the brim on a Stetson Open Road Royal Deluxe be the same size ?

Thanks so much.

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Sonero said:

View attachment 55596 View attachment 55597 Gentlemen,

I need some assistance please.

I just received my Silverbelly Campdraft from EverythingAustralian.com. Nice quality felt.

1. This is my first open crown purchase. I did a quick bash by hand. It seems like I need to bash the top rather deep for the look I want. So much so that the hat won't fit properly since the low bash sits directly on my head. Do you recommend that I add sizing tape into the hat band or better adjust to a higher bash ?

2. It seems like the front does not want to snap down into fedora mode. Do I force this or do I need to bring it to a professional to steam it down ? If I do bring it to a professional will I be able to wear it up like I have in the picture ? I would like to keep both options.

3. Would the brim on a Stetson Open Road Royal Deluxe be the same size ?

Thanks so much.

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moontheloon said:

1) depends what crease you are going for ... if you want the crown low enough to where it touches your head I recommend a diamond or c crown so that you can push up the center of the crease and get it of your craney

2) sometimes Akubra are stubborn ... hit it with some steam ... I'll assume you don't have a steamer and tell you to light up the tea kettle ...

3) a CD is pretty much made to the specs of a vintage OR ... I believe Akubra was even licensed at one point to make Stetson ORs

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