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Akubra Overload

Messages
11,912
Location
Southern California
Right Zombie, the slight brim modification really changes it up, doesn't it?
It really does give it a different vibe, especially with those feathers. It reminds me of the narrower-brimmed western hats used in movies and television shows from the 50s and 60s, which I prefer to the "traditional" Hollywood wide-brimmed western hats.

...Now if I can just find some distilled water in Asia - they don't seem to know what it is here and certainly don't sell it in the local shops.
If their tap water doesn't have a lot of chemical additives, you might be okay using that. In this part of the world we have "hard" tap water with so many chemicals added to it that it occasionally smells like it's being pumped out of a swimming pool. :eek:
 

Nathaniel Finley

A-List Customer
Messages
328
Location
World wide
It really does give it a different vibe, especially with those feathers. It reminds me of the narrower-brimmed western hats used in movies and television shows from the 50s and 60s, which I prefer to the "traditional" Hollywood wide-brimmed western hats.

If their tap water doesn't have a lot of chemical additives, you might be okay using that. In this part of the world we have "hard" tap water with so many chemicals added to it that it occasionally smells like it's being pumped out of a swimming pool. :eek:

There are no chemicals in the tapwater in SE Asia except the ones run-off from the factories! ;) No, it's not nearly that bad in most places, but you can't drink it. The apartment where I currently live has a filter on the tap and if I boil that and then spray the whole brim evenly it will probably be alright. I found out with the Banjo Paterson that if I don't spray the whole hat I'll get a streak stain.

I know what you mean by the 50's brims. Ideally, I'd like to get mine looking like Steve McQueen's in Wanted Dead or Alive, except without taking the bite out of the front. I find that after I curl the sides the front still snaps down and creates a nice little slope in the front center. My aim is to exaggerate that sloping center effect more.

IMG_1232.JPG
 

Nathaniel Finley

A-List Customer
Messages
328
Location
World wide
That's a Kettle Curl Nathaniel @Nathaniel Finley . Any Hatter should have a brim curl tool , or you could buy one . Depending on what you want there are pencil curl , kettle curl , and homburg curl tools . A guy on Etsy makes all kinds of Hatters Tools , and other stuff . Mark DeCou decoustudio , check him out .

Thanks for the information, Michael, I didn't know such tools exist!
 

Nathaniel Finley

A-List Customer
Messages
328
Location
World wide
I'm not sure if this will work , but this link might go right to them Hat Making Brim Curling 15 , you might figure out how to make one . They're called Tollikers *Toe Licker

You read my mind Michael, I was just considering the possibilities of making a tool for this purpose. I've got the FED under a stack of books right now, seeing if a dry shaping will take on the brim. Tomorrow morning I'll know if I want to experiment further.

Besides, my feeling is that I would want an old beater to practice on before I took a toelicker to the FED, and I don't have one of those, unfortunately.
 

mustangman3000

One of the Regulars
Messages
239
Location
louisiana
I added a curl to my Kianda in what most would consider the most horrific way possible. I soaked the brim under a faucet and curled it with my hands. It was just a 2nd hand beater I picked up cheap, so I wasn't too attached to it if it didn't work out. Definitely not something I'd do to a nicer hat.
The curl isn't perfect but I like a rough/rugged look.
c255ba65619530dc00aab12c29f8de26.jpg

fad65ed62937c75cd8037a39e7717f20.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

RJR

Messages
10,620
Location
Iowa
I added a curl to my Kianda in what most would consider the most horrific way possible. I soaked the brim under a faucet and curled it with my hands. It was just a 2nd hand beater I picked up cheap, so I wasn't too attached to it if it didn't work out. Definitely not something I'd do to a nicer hat.
The curl isn't perfect but I like a rough/rugged look.
c255ba65619530dc00aab12c29f8de26.jpg

fad65ed62937c75cd8037a39e7717f20.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A good job,imo.
 

Bob Roberts

I'll Lock Up
Messages
11,201
Location
milford ct
So I took Bob's advice and put the FED under some books overnight. I still didn't use any water and I love how it came out!


View attachment 83905



View attachment 83906


View attachment 83907

I think it's just the slightest bit off center but I can live with that. I'm particularly happy with the profile shot. All in all a happy experiment!
So glad it worked easily. A unique new look for a Fed. Plenty of curl as is but you can always use water later if needed. Bravo.
 

FedOregon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,134
Location
Oregon

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