Akubra Campdraft

[Seth Hawkins]

Steam usually "resets" the felt back to a stiffer condition.

FYI - when I'm going to change the bash, I use steam to soften the crown, then push it out til it's an open crown shape. I get it as smooth as possible - no dents. I let that cool - and it stiffens a little when cooled down - then start a new bash. I found that I had the same problem you were having - the crown wouldn't take a new bash until I removed the old one. You can also use the steam on parts of the crown as you're going thru the shaping process. The steam "sets" the felt. I've had to do this a few times on my BG CD. It wants to be a "C" crown naturally. It took a little coaxing to get a diamond in it. My fawn CD likes the diamond, and gives me fits when trying to get a "C" crown. LOL. I've read of other folks talking about a hats "natural" bash. I guess that's what I've encountered with both my CDs. All of my Fed IV's took a "C" crown naturally, and I haven't changed them since giving them their initial bash. All of my Beaver's like a teardrop. Go figure.

 

[monbla256]

I don't have any shots from the side handy, but here's one (from earlier in the thread) that shows the crease. Very simple and I think it works well with the CD.

My FAVORITE crease ! And you did it well ! Not to PERFECT but rather a "wearing" crease so to speak. I hate PERFECT creases on hats, far to a**l for me

 

[Neophyte]

Thank very much, Monbla.

 

[DJH]

My FAVORITE crease ! And you did it well ! Not to PERFECT but rather a "wearing" crease so to speak. I hate PERFECT creases on hats, far to a**l for me

Same here, most of my hats have a crease similar to this one - for me it just works. The VS hat in my avatar has much the same crease.

I try to get the side dents to look how I want them, but tend to let the center crease do its own thing.

When I first got the CD, I was trying to make a perfect Jimmy the Lid teardrop. Looked OK, but wasn't me.

 

[Dundee]

Has anyone tried a modified "Gus" bash on your Camp Draft?

 

[Harry Gooch]

Has anyone tried a modified "Gus" bash on your Camp Draft?

I have, but I don't have any pictures. It worked out well, as I don't like the super-high gus bashes anyway. The hat currently has a pencil curl, with a pinched telescope. This weekend I may try putting in a traditional montana peak. See http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?56700-Squatter-vs.-Bushman/page3 for details.

Cheers,

Harry.

 

[Neophyte]

I did one as well. It worked very well, except that my head would push out the dent during rain showers. One the average day, though, it worked just fine.

 

[gtdean48]

Has anyone tried a modified "Gus" bash on your Camp Draft?

I did just before selling it for funds for the Heritage. Worked well for me. I'll probably do the new one that way.

 

[Dundee]

Thanks. That is what I was thinking. I may do the same with the Heritage that is coming.

 

[Harry Gooch]

I did just before selling it for funds for the Heritage. Worked well for me. I'll probably do the new one that way.

I'd love to see that. I've been thinking of a silver belly CD for a warm weather lid, bashed gus-like.

Harry.

 

[gtdean48]

I'd love to see that. I've been thinking of a silver belly CD for a warm weather lid, bashed gus-like.

Harry.

I wish I'd taken a photo before boxing it up after selling it.
Here is my most recent VS Custom that is similar in dimensions to a CD, 5 3/4" open crown, 2 7/8" brim =

Here is my late 1980s modern Stetson Open Road in a Gus crease as well =

 

[tonydi]

Well I've ordered a silverbelly campdraft, and I know this has been talked about, but should I order a 61, or 62? I sit right at a comfortable 61, or slightly snug 60.5. Everyone says they run large, so if a 61 is really 61 1/4 or so the shrink might be perfect? Or will a 61 shrink down to 60? I just think the 62 will really be floating around my head. gtdean gave me advice (thanks again), just looking for extra practical experience with campdraft size. I think I would rather stretch it once in awhile rather than pad it up to make it fit. Hatsdirect tell me they might find a "small" 62 for me.
Thanks in advance for the advice

 

[gtdean48]

Well I've ordered a silverbelly campdraft, and I know this has been talked about, but should I order a 61, or 62? I sit right at a comfortable 61, or slightly snug 60.5. Everyone says they run large, so if a 61 is really 61 1/4 or so the shrink might be perfect? Or will a 61 shrink down to 60? I just think the 62 will really be floating around my head. gtdean gave me advice (thanks again), just looking for extra practical experience with campdraft size. I think I would rather stretch it once in awhile rather than pad it up to make it fit. Hatsdirect tell me they might find a "small" 62 for me.
Thanks in advance for the advice

The 61 CD in open crown will fit all the way down on your ears when you take it out of the box & put it on. When you crease it & depending on that crease, it will snug up a touch. A deep diamond or teardrop will use up some felt more so than a Montana/Gus. I need felt spacers after creasing & some noggin time & the CD all but forms to fit my head. I am a dead on 24". Dundee & dawgvet are 2 Loungers that are our size as well. I have a 62 that my mother bought in Australia back in the mid 1980s that I have "shrunken" to fit = soak the felt & sweat & let it dry quickly.
An Imperial grade Campdraft out of the box will be slightly larger, at least the 3 that I have bought new are. Good luck Tony.

 

[T Rick]

First up, I would listen to Mr. Dean, he's one of the more knowledgeable folks here in The Lounge, and wouldn't steer you wrong (has been of MUCH help to myself and many many others here!).

That said, I understand your desire to hear more experiences with the hat to get a consensus sort of feel and ease your mind on ordering.

While my own head is only a 57, I did buy an Imperial grade Camp Draft just last December, and will share my experiences with you. When I pulled it out of the box, and slipped it on my head, I was at first worried I'd gone too big. It was quite loose, but I'd heard here of how a "few good sweats" and/or soakings would make it fit just right.

What I did was, after creasing it (sprayed with distilled water, creased and let it dry on my head), I took a shower and placed it on my head with my (rather long) hair still damp (towel dried). Within a half an hour or so, I had dry hair and a wonderfully fitting Camp Draft. It worked that fast, and like magic.

My normal size is a 7 1/8 or a 57. The only hat I plan to intentionally go larger with is the Fed IV, which Hats Direct specifically says runs a half size or so small. So that one will be a 58. I'd suggest sticking with the 61 as GTDean has recommended. And that also embodies sizing advice I got here from him and several others when I was considering this same question myself.

 

[monbla256]

After 32 years wearing Akubra's , as others have said, go bigger with an Akubra. With, sweat, rain and heat they shrink down to fit PERFECTLY.

 

[gtdean48]

After 32 years wearing Akubra's , as others have said, go bigger with an Akubra. With, sweat, rain and heat they shrink down to fit PERFECTLY.

NOT with a Campdraft. Order your size & it will be larger out of the box & snug up nicely. If you go a size larger with a Campdraft, you will be swimming under it.

 

[tonydi]

Done deal, its the 61. Tom thanks once more, maybe I'll get a better nights sleep! I'll report back when I've got that thing on my head. In stock by the way at Hatsdirect. Cant wait to shape it and try the "shower" trick!
Thanks again all, Tony

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

NOT with a Campdraft. Order your size & it will be larger out of the box & snug up nicely. If you go a size larger with a Campdraft, you will be swimming under it.

I agree with Tom here. I'll post a picture of my Campdraft later tonight but it was very loose on me. I just folded up a couple of tissues and put them in the sweat and it fit perfect. The tape distorted the sweat too much for my liking. I wear a 7 5/8 LO in everything else but I could have probably gotten by well with a 7 1/2 in the Campdraft.

 

[jkingrph]

NOT with a Campdraft. Order your size & it will be larger out of the box & snug up nicely. If you go a size larger with a Campdraft, you will be swimming under it.

I e-mailed Jenny about that issue when I got in on the Heritage felt Campdraft buy, and she said to order the correct size and it would work fine.

 

[Terry "The Hat"]

I've posted this in a couple other threads (What Hat Today and New Hats) but hey, I like this hat (LOL)! Here is my Camp Draft I purchased from Dundee on the lounge a couple of weeks ago. I was the hit at my Step Daughter's Wedding yesterday in my New Hat, New Suit, Pink Tie and Allen Edmonds. My wife wasn't that thrilled when she figured out I spent more on my outfit than the bride did

And My Father N Law liked it so much I wasn't sure I was gonna get it back. He is now referred to as the "Godfather" in our family!