MONTECRISTI panama on the bay

[tuco1963]

ive seen theese MONTECRISTI panama's on the bay from $32-$39 they ship rolled or in a cardboard box unrolled.
will rolling a straw hat ruin it?

 

[alanfgag]

Hats at this price range are not montecristi.

Raw woven hat bodies were rolled in bamboo tubes. Once blocked and shaped, a straw hat will not enjoy being rolled.

 

[tuco1963]

that was my thought it can be had both ways i have a bay card from christmas burning a hole in my pocket and im wanting the most bang for my buck

 

[tonyb]

Keep in mind also, should you ever find yourself in possession of a straw hat body you'd like to have turned into a hat more to your liking, that straws and felts are very different animals. Doing a proper job with a straw involves shaped (as contrasted with open crown) blocks and their corresponding tippers, and a distinct set of skills. Sewing sweatbands and ribbons to straw bodies is quite unlike executing the same jobs on felts.

It appears that relatively few hatters are so equipped and skilled. I certainly ain't. Fortunately, I am well acquainted with a couple of hatters who are darned good with straws, so any requests for straw hats coming my way result in referrals to those fellows.

 

[tuco1963]

thanks for your insight tony
i guess if something sounds to good to be true it isnt