Brim cutter

jeff · Sep 2, 2007

Hi all,

Long time forum reader, althought I rarely post (I'm one of them thar "Lurkers"). I've been soaking up all this wonderful info from FL for about two years, but haven't had anything that I felt was of value to contribute.

So today I was looking around for a brim cutter to reduce the brim on my Akubra Territory, which has a whopping 3 1/2 brim (what was I thinking?!). The pictures on Akubra website looked nice, so I figured I give it a try, see how a really big brim looks on me. Now I know

. I can post a picture if anyone wants to see how ridiculous I look in it.

So anyway, poking around on Google I found this:

Provinol Seam Cutter

I don't see a price on the site, but there's one on ebay for around $90.

It looks promising, and even lists felt as something it can cut. It says it can take off strips from 2mm (!) to 27mm.

I'm wondering if anyone has seen or tried this baby, or something like it? I'm particularly interested if it will leave an indentation on the felt where that knurled edge roller (?) is.

jeff

Art Fawcett · Sep 2, 2007

Jeff, I have no experience with this tool but it would scare the heck out of me. Try B&L Products in Grants Pass Oregon. Seems to me Kathy had some actual brim cutters for around $50 that are in increments of 1/4" and 1/8th" that would be less risky to use for the novice ( and pro for that matter).

fatwoul · Sep 2, 2007

Art Fawcett said:
...Try B&L Products in Grants Pass Oregon. Seems to me Kathy had some actual brim cutters for around $50 that are in increments of 1/4" and 1/8th" that would be less risky to use for the novice ( and pro for that matter).

B&L Products
1349 Redwood Ave
Grants Pass, OR 97527

(541) 956-0210

Is this the right one? I might give them a call myself, seeing as my brim cutting needs all the help it can get. Indycop might also be interested if he does decide to go ahead and cut down his black fed.

indycop · Sep 2, 2007

Yep! Convinced me to leave the brim alone and then this comes around.

fedoralover · Sep 2, 2007

On cutting brims

I used to be in the floor covering trade, you would NOT want to use that tool to cut fur felt.

Even using a tool specifically designed for the hat trade is tricky. A number of years ago I bought an Akubra Bushman, it had a wider brim than I wanted so I took it to a western supply store and the guy there pulled out a brim cutter and in less than a minute took off exactly what I wanted. It looked so easy when he did it.
Later on when I purchased another hat I wanted the brim cut on I took it back to the store for him to do it again. He wasn't there but a clerk got out the cutter and told me I could do it myself if I wanted. I thought why not, it looked so easy when I watched him. Long story short after numerous trys and botching the brim entirely, I took the hat home and had to fix it with some scisssors and some sandpaper.

So if one does decide to try it, I'd recommend practicing on an old beater first to get the feel of it before you do it on an expensive hat.

BTW Jeff, that hat you are wearing in your Avatar looks great, what is it?
fedoralover

jeff · Sep 2, 2007

Art - thanks for the advice. That's exactly what I wanted to know - if it's makes Art nervous, the chance of me screwing it up is high.

indycop said:
Yep! Convinced me to leave the brim alone and then this comes around.

Indycop, personally I think your black fed looks great as is. I wouldn't cut it if I were you.

jeff

jeff · Sep 2, 2007

fedoralover, thanks for the advice -- you've thoroughly scared me into NOT making my first foray into brim cutting on a good hat.

Hmm.. would you believe that I don't have a beater? I guess ebay is calling my name again

Thanks all, for your help!

jeff

Art Fawcett · Sep 2, 2007

Fats, that address looks right but I'm not sure of the phone #. Kathy Sturm is the owner and runs 2 businesses out of the same store. Her other business name is "Cowboy Corral" and that number is
541-476-8886 ( which is the one that I use). This is the only number I have for her. She DOES respond to email and I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if you use my name.
By all means follow Fedoralover's advice. Practice on a beater because SO much of it is "feel" rather than just trusting the tool.

indycop · Sep 2, 2007

jeff said:
Art - thanks for the advice. That's exactly what I wanted to know - if it's makes Art nervous, the chance of me screwing it up is high.

Indycop, personally I think your black fed looks great as is. I wouldn't cut it if I were you.

jeff

Thanks, I will be posting it in the what hat are you wearing today post in just a minute.

fatwoul · Sep 2, 2007

Art Fawcett said:
Fats, that address looks right but I'm not sure of the phone #. Kathy Sturm is the owner and runs 2 businesses out of the same store. Her other business name is "Cowboy Corral" and that number is
541-476-8886 ( which is the one that I use). This is the only number I have for her. She DOES respond to email and I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if you use my name...

I've found her email address and dropped her a line, so I'll see what she says. Thanks for the pointer.

Art Fawcett said:
...By all means follow Fedoralover's advice. Practice on a beater because SO much of it is "feel" rather than just trusting the tool.

Oh absolutely. After my first attempt I won't be cutting any more brims of "nice" hats until I really know what I'm doing. lol

SHARPETOYS · Sep 2, 2007

Another source...

http://site.netopia.com/americanboo...URL=http://site.netopia.com/americanboot/hats

Strip-Ease Brim Cutter
Brim Cutter - Rounding Jack
Has a ruler for precise brim trimming
Never wears out; razor blade can be replaced.
This is available on the web due to large demand from groups like TheFedoraLounge.com, even though it doesn't really belong on a western weddings site!
$12.98

Doh! · Sep 2, 2007

SHARPETOYS said:
This is available on the web due to large demand from groups like TheFedoraLounge.com, even though it doesn't really belong on a western weddings site!
$12.98

"See? Because of me, now they have a warning."
--Homer Simpson

Wolfmanjack · Sep 3, 2007

SHARPETOYS or others: Does anyone have actual experience using the Strip-Ease Brim Cutter?

I have had fairly good results using a compass to mark the cut, cutting with sharp scissors, then finishing-off with sandpaper. Is this tool better?

cooncatbob · Sep 3, 2007

Wolfmanjack said:
SHARPETOYS or others: Does anyone have actual experience using the Strip-Ease Brim Cutter?

I have had fairly good results using a compass to mark the cut, cutting with sharp scissors, then finishing-off with sandpaper. Is this tool better?

I also use a compass to scribe the line and then cut with scissors. Felt cuts very easily with sharp scissors and staying online is no problem if you go counter clockwise with right handed scissors.

Bob.

Wolfmanjack · Sep 3, 2007

One caveat: As Fatwoul has mentioned in another thread, when you cut down the brim of a fedora, the brim may lose some of its 'snap'. This is because you are cutting off some of the 'curl' at the edge of the brim.

When I cut down a brim, I use steam and a brim mold

to restore the curl to the brim and thus the 'snap'. These show-up on eBay fairly often. Watch for one in your size.

Aaron Hats · Sep 3, 2007

Brim cutter:
http://www.getahaton.com/proddetail.php?prod=01002&cat=20

Other hat accessories including brushes, sponges, sweatbands, etc:
http://www.getahaton.com/products.php?cat=20

jeff · Sep 3, 2007

Aaron Hats said:
Brim cutter:
http://www.getahaton.com/proddetail.php?prod=01002&cat=20

Other hat accessories including brushes, sponges, sweatbands, etc:
http://www.getahaton.com/products.php?cat=20

Thanks Aaron,

So is the type of tool that actual hatters use (as opposed to the goofy floor cutter that I posted

).

How does it work? Is there a round razor in there that rolls? Do you have to push down on the lever while cutting?

thanks!

jeff

Aaron Hats · Sep 3, 2007

The lever has two positions. One for the blade (not rotary style) up and one for the blade down.

Brim cutter

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