The Wiser Hatter
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,765
- Location
- Louisville, Ky
Another Hat saved by the block and flange you are putting them to good use.
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The Conversion Corral
- Thread starter Davidson
- Start date
- Messages
- 15,238
- Location
- Somewhere south of crazy
My first Akubra was a tawny fawn Campdraft that I bought a few years ago. It got soaked quite a few times (it rains a lot here) and tapered up pretty bad. I relegated it to yard work; etc. But now that I have a real block and flange, I decided to re-do it. The original ribbon was unsalvageable, so I put a wider ribbon on it. I like the results:
Nice job, J-1.
monbla256
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,239
- Location
- DFW Metroplex, Texas
My first Akubra was a tawny fawn Campdraft that I bought a few years ago. It got soaked quite a few times (it rains a lot here) and tapered up pretty bad. I relegated it to yard work; etc. But now that I have a real block and flange, I decided to re-do it. The original ribbon was unsalvageable, so I put a wider ribbon on it. I like the results:
Really NICE job on that one. I like the wider contrasting ribbon alot
MikePotts
Practically Family
- Messages
- 837
- Location
- Tivy, Texas.
Very nice Jaunty, I'm really enjoying this conversion stuff - much fun. I did another one today for a friend of mine, just a cheap black cowboy hat to C Crown fedora but with a nice ribbon it'll be wearable. Or maybe I just enjoy the methanol fumes.............hmmm[huh]
MP
MP
BR Gordon
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,152
- Location
- New Mexico
This was my first attempt at a conversion. This hat started out as a Stetson Gun Club, Dune. I was never happy with the hat consequently I never wore it.
This is the original hat. I didn’t take any photos, so this is a stock photo.
First I trimmed and reshaped the brim, and reshaped the crown to a center dent. I hated to trim off the edge binding, but I like the slightly smaller brim.
The sweatband on the Gun Club is not leather and very uncomfortable, so I changed it to real, un-dyed leather and changed the ribbon to a 16 ligne brown.
This is the original hat. I didn’t take any photos, so this is a stock photo.
First I trimmed and reshaped the brim, and reshaped the crown to a center dent. I hated to trim off the edge binding, but I like the slightly smaller brim.
The sweatband on the Gun Club is not leather and very uncomfortable, so I changed it to real, un-dyed leather and changed the ribbon to a 16 ligne brown.
Last edited:
MikePotts
Practically Family
- Messages
- 837
- Location
- Tivy, Texas.
...........to my eye too BR, excellent job, and very brave to attempt the dreaded sweat replacement! - I'm not 'there' yet.
scottyrocks
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 9,161
- Location
- Isle of Langerhan, NY
Beautiful job, BR.
Sam Craig
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,356
- Location
- Great Bend, Kansas
Great Job, Mr. Gordon.
The hat turned out super!
At the price of replacement sweats, I can't compete with Wichita Hat Works. They've done several for me and use terrific material.
I just know a couple of hours into trying to replace one myself I would consider the $8 or $10 that I am saving and feel like one of those old Warner Brothers cartoons where a character's head disolves into a jackass.
But I admire anyone who can take on the chore. I'm just lucky to be within easy driving of someone who can do the job.
Sam
The hat turned out super!
At the price of replacement sweats, I can't compete with Wichita Hat Works. They've done several for me and use terrific material.
I just know a couple of hours into trying to replace one myself I would consider the $8 or $10 that I am saving and feel like one of those old Warner Brothers cartoons where a character's head disolves into a jackass.
But I admire anyone who can take on the chore. I'm just lucky to be within easy driving of someone who can do the job.
Sam
redhawks2
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 171
- Location
- Long Beach, CA
Resistol conversion
This is a 3X that I picked up off the bay. It is actually an ivory color although it looks white. The 2" wide band is charcoal but I'm thinking of changing it to a 2" wide dark brown band with a little more style than the current one. It's a very stiff felt and the open crown us 6.5" tall !
randooch
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,869
- Location
- Ukiah, California
redhawks, it's hard to tell that was ever a western. very nice job! despite its stiffness, were you able to make it fit comfortably? I have a couple of westerns that are quite stiff, but with several steamings, and letting them dry upon my head, they fit well.
redhawks2
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 171
- Location
- Long Beach, CA
Yes it fits comfortably although it is a bit on the heavy side. I sprayed it down with some denatured alcohol and it became a little less stiff. I'm working on a brown hat band for it and will probably get it on this weekend. the brim is only 2-1/4" but looks larger due to the light color. It was originally a 3-1/2" brim and I cut it down to 2-1/2" but it still looked too large. All my hats have at least a 2-1/2" brim except this one.
Thanks for the comments.
Thanks for the comments.
Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,409
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Resistol Stagecoach Transformation
I bought this Resistol Stagecoach because it came factory with a 6 1/4 inch crown and a very straight/flat topped block. The crown's felt is very mailable for a western and of course the brim is stiff as cardboard. I must say though, the quality of felt was very nice and there was no "wrinkling" in the felt from the stiffener. I feel as if this felt is a little thinner than a standard western weight.
I did all this work last night in several hours. I did NOT have a flange or rounding jack. The only hatters tools I had was a 5 inch block and needle/thread. I used the block that I received from Resistol at FF3 just to smooth out the top of the crown and get rid of the old creases. I used a stiff brush and soft brush for the felt. I flanged the brim by hand and just kept working the felt until I got the proper curve and flange height that I wanted. I used sandpaper to sand the raw edge once it was cut just to make sure that every part of the brim was perfectly round. I then sanded the edge on a 45 degree angle to give the edge a more finished fedora look and also to give the appearance that the felt isn't as thick as it really is. I then used a ribbon from a badly mothed 50's Resistol. I took some time and carefully frayed the edge of the ribbon for that 30's effect and hid the ribbon stitches for a cleaner look. I really like the way this hat came out. I love how it looks like a late 20's/30's hat.
Open Crown: 6 1/4 inches tall
Brim Width: 2 1/4 inches wide (Raw)
Ribbon Width: 2 inches wide
Crown Front creased height: 4 3/4 inches tall
Crown Rear creased height: 5 1/8 inches tall
Tallest part of crown (creased) 5 5/8 inches tall
BEFORE:
DURING:
BRIM CUT:
I bought this Resistol Stagecoach because it came factory with a 6 1/4 inch crown and a very straight/flat topped block. The crown's felt is very mailable for a western and of course the brim is stiff as cardboard. I must say though, the quality of felt was very nice and there was no "wrinkling" in the felt from the stiffener. I feel as if this felt is a little thinner than a standard western weight.
I did all this work last night in several hours. I did NOT have a flange or rounding jack. The only hatters tools I had was a 5 inch block and needle/thread. I used the block that I received from Resistol at FF3 just to smooth out the top of the crown and get rid of the old creases. I used a stiff brush and soft brush for the felt. I flanged the brim by hand and just kept working the felt until I got the proper curve and flange height that I wanted. I used sandpaper to sand the raw edge once it was cut just to make sure that every part of the brim was perfectly round. I then sanded the edge on a 45 degree angle to give the edge a more finished fedora look and also to give the appearance that the felt isn't as thick as it really is. I then used a ribbon from a badly mothed 50's Resistol. I took some time and carefully frayed the edge of the ribbon for that 30's effect and hid the ribbon stitches for a cleaner look. I really like the way this hat came out. I love how it looks like a late 20's/30's hat.
Open Crown: 6 1/4 inches tall
Brim Width: 2 1/4 inches wide (Raw)
Ribbon Width: 2 inches wide
Crown Front creased height: 4 3/4 inches tall
Crown Rear creased height: 5 1/8 inches tall
Tallest part of crown (creased) 5 5/8 inches tall
BEFORE:
DURING:
BRIM CUT:
Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,409
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Resistol Stagecoach Transformation (cont...2)
BRIM CUT (cont...):
RIBBON ON & UNCREASED:
FINAL PRODUCT:
BRIM CUT (cont...):
RIBBON ON & UNCREASED:
FINAL PRODUCT:
Joshbru3
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,409
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Resistol Stagecoach Transformation (cont...3)
FINAL PRODUCT (cont...):
ME WEARING THE HAT:
FINAL PRODUCT (cont...):
ME WEARING THE HAT:
Sam Craig
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,356
- Location
- Great Bend, Kansas
Josh,
That is a beaut!
Great job.
I know they are heavy, but man that Resistol felt makes a fedora that you can wear forever and never worry about conditions.
This summer I did one up in navy blue and I put a tight "Rader" pinch in the front with a "C" shape to the rear. It turned out great!
And I don't have to worry about it getting creased or dirty. It makes the perfect hat to wear when I go out of town for the weekend and don't want to worry about something getting dumped on top of a dress hat at the kids' house or whatever.
Good project and I'm sure you'll get a lot of wear out of it.
Sam
That is a beaut!
Great job.
I know they are heavy, but man that Resistol felt makes a fedora that you can wear forever and never worry about conditions.
This summer I did one up in navy blue and I put a tight "Rader" pinch in the front with a "C" shape to the rear. It turned out great!
And I don't have to worry about it getting creased or dirty. It makes the perfect hat to wear when I go out of town for the weekend and don't want to worry about something getting dumped on top of a dress hat at the kids' house or whatever.
Good project and I'm sure you'll get a lot of wear out of it.
Sam
monbla256
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,239
- Location
- DFW Metroplex, Texas
That's a VERY , VERY NICE job on that one ! Well done The brims to short and crown to tall for me ( I'm not a fan of 30's styled fedora's) but it WORKS on you ! Way to go
The brims to short and crown to tall for me ( I'm not a fan of 30's styled fedora's) but it WORKS on you ! Way to go 
HatsEnough
Banned
- Messages
- 1,142
- Location
- Cincinnati, Ohio
Wow is that a transformation, Josh.
randooch
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,869
- Location
- Ukiah, California
Terrific work, Josh. That first photo was an *EGAD* moment for me, and the final product an "OOoooooh!"
RBH
Bartender
- Messages
- 15,237
Very good work Josh!!!
