Akubra Overload

[RickP]

I have no need to buy a "crushable" hat... I just buy Pre-Crushed hats on ebay lol. I DO have apackable Pendleton wool hat that is my nasty weather hat..... like it a lot but its just too hot for summertime use here

 

[RickP]

A while back I picked up a nice used Akubra Stockman, But its a hair tight ( its a 58 and my other akubras are all 59's). It also feels a bit short and bottoms out on the point on my noggin . Im debating doing a little work including seeing if I can do something about reshaping a bit taller. I may decide NOT to molest it and just trade for something more appealing, but was curious if anyone had modified their Stockman?

 

[RickP]

Howdy Akubra lovers.....I picked up a really clean Akubra Stockman a while back, and unfortunately I didnt notice it was a size 58 and I wear a 59. I really hate the thought of Stretching and molesting this basically new condition hat just to get it to fit. If anyone might have a 59 Akubra hat thats too big and would be interested in a straight swap, just message me. Does not have the original braided leather hatband, but has a nice adjustable braided horsehair band. I really dont have any big preferences ( havent found an Akubra that I didnt like) Id even entertain things that ARENT Akubras. Rick

Hopefully this doesnt tread on any rules, but I couldnt find anything that said no so here goes!

 

[ADK]

I spend a lot of posts on the beret thread, but I’m nearly as much of a fan of my Akubra hats. I have around a dozen or so.

Here’s one I recently picked up that I’m proud of. I know purists might not like the modifications, but I’m pretty fond of the brim width, crown height, and certainly the color of a Slouch. Plus, it forms nice when shipped as an open crown.

Anyhow, here’s the original along with the finished hat with a center braid hat band from David Morgan.

This looks to be my new favorite hat (for now)!

Not sure why the photos are uploaded sideways. Apologies!

~ADK

 

[CRH]

I spend a lot of posts on the beret thread, but I’m nearly as much of a fan of my Akubra hats. I have around a dozen or so.

Here’s one I recently picked up that I’m proud of. I know purists might not like the modifications, but I’m pretty fond of the brim width, crown height, and certainly the color of a Slouch. Plus, it forms nice when shipped as an open crown.

Anyhow, here’s the original along with the finished hat with a center braid hat band from David Morgan.

This looks to be my new favorite hat (for now)!

Not sure why the photos are uploaded sideways. Apologies!

~ADK

My pics upload sideways too. Not sure you can screw up the looks of a slouch hat.

 

[Woodtroll]

I spend a lot of posts on the beret thread, but I’m nearly as much of a fan of my Akubra hats. I have around a dozen or so.

Here’s one I recently picked up that I’m proud of. I know purists might not like the modifications, but I’m pretty fond of the brim width, crown height, and certainly the color of a Slouch. Plus, it forms nice when shipped as an open crown.

Anyhow, here’s the original along with the finished hat with a center braid hat band from David Morgan.

This looks to be my new favorite hat (for now)!

Not sure why the photos are uploaded sideways. Apologies!

~ADK

I like what you did with it, looks nice!

 

[wsmontana]

being a leatherworker I have the fix.... two big bags of really thin lizard skins. cut and glued a bridge piece across the backside of the sweat. Got a bit of Pecards worked in and letting it sit for a while. After the glue has time to set Ill gently tap the surface down flat. will be perfectly usable as-is, since leather is an imperfect natural material, 1/2 of leatherwork is correcting ugly spots lol.... worst comes to worst I have a couple new leather sweatbands on hand. It will make a trip to the coffee shop in the morning

What glue do you recommend for a repair like this? Thanks!

 

[RickP]

What glue do you recommend for a repair like this? Thanks!

Id recommend a good contact cement like Barge cement. Moisture doesnt affect it. Apply to back of the sweat and to the flesh side of the patch piece. I use a very thin piece of scrap pigskin or snakeskin if it REALLY needs to be thin.Once dry just press it together and youre done. I fold the sweat out, put a piece of painters tape on the "head" side of the sweat to hold the edges where they need to be. Plan for about an inch of patch on either side of the split.

 

[wsmontana]

Id recommend a good contact cement like Barge cement. Moisture doesnt affect it. Apply to back of the sweat and to the flesh side of the patch piece. I use a very thin piece of scrap pigskin or snakeskin if it REALLY needs to be thin.Once dry just press it together and youre done. I fold the sweat out, put a piece of painters tape on the "head" side of the sweat to hold the edges where they need to be. Plan for about an inch of patch on either side of the split.

Thanks for the details — very helpful!

 

[DaveProc]

Fed IV

 

[DaveProc]

Adventurer

 

[GuitarGuy99]

Has anyone been on the Hats Direct page lately? They are down to three colors for the Fed iv. Just wondering if they are phasing the hat out. Sizes are limited as usual, but before they had all the colors listed.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

Has anyone been on the Hats Direct page lately? They are down to three colors for the Fed iv. Just wondering if they are phasing the hat out. Sizes are limited as usual, but before they had all the colors listed.

I can’t imagine it being phased out, but with new ownership, who knows.

I have often wondered where the Fed IV sits on Akubras’ priorities list. The Hattery sometimes seems to only receive two shipments of them a year - maybe it’s even less now?

 

[GuitarGuy99]

I can’t imagine it being phased out, but with new ownership, who knows.

I have often wondered where the Fed IV sits on Akubras’ priorities list. The Hattery sometimes seems to only receive two shipments of them a year - maybe it’s even less now?

It would be a shame. That hat seems to be very popular.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

It would be a shame. That hat seems to be very popular.

Agreed. It must sell well, even if only outside Australia. That’s why I ask about Akubra priorities, though - if they decided to prioritize those models that sell best in Australia (which, honestly, I could understand), then the FED might not be high on the list at all.

 

[RickP]

There a Salvation Army Store online in Australia (think its called SALVO?) where I found a couple Austrailian Only market Akubra hats, or hats in colors I hadnt seen over here. They list on Ebay pretty frequently. There is another Austrailian thrift store named Buddys.vintage that lists on Ebay... I found a couple interesting things from him as well.

Funny that all three times Ive ebayed from Austrailia, they got here in less than a week!

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

There a Salvation Army Store online in Australia (think its called SALVO?) where I found a couple Austrailian Only market Akubra hats, or hats in colors I hadnt seen over here. They list on Ebay pretty frequently. There is another Austrailian thrift store named Buddys.vintage that lists on Ebay... I found a couple interesting things from him as well.

Funny that all three times Ive ebayed from Austrailia, they got here in less than a week!

The Aussies shorten everything. Salvation Army becomes Salvo, an afternoon is an "arvo", a barbeque is a "barbie", etc.

One week from Australia is dang fast - less than is amazing! the last item i ordered took right at 14 days from Sydney.

 

[RickP]

The Aussies shorten everything. Salvation Army becomes Salvo, an afternoon is an "arvo", a barbeque is a "barbie", etc.

One week from Australia is dang fast - less than is amazing! the last item i ordered took right at 14 days from Sydney.

Amazed me as well.... All three times it went from Sydney, to Chicago, to Dallas to me here in the middle of nowhere East Texas within 7-8 days.... I cant get things here from Houston 90 miles away in less than two weeks lol

 

[rogueclimber]

I have often wondered where the Fed IV sits on Akubras’ priorities list

I would think it can't be too high on the list. The Fed IV is a Hattery exclusive so that naturally makes the market smaller

I will say that my Fed IV made it from The Hattery to SoCal in 6 days

Pretty dang impressive

 

[RockyR]

I stumbled across a 'relatively' new hattery (i.e. since last September) in Robertson, NSW (Aus):

The Highland Hattery

Lovely owner, Michelle, and a beautiful store. Also plenty of Akubra and Avenal hats. It has real atmosphere, much like The Hattery at Katoomba. Loved it!

I'll definitely be visiting again, and it's great to see another small hat store pop up.

Worth a stop in if you're travelling in the Southern Highlands.

There was a size 58 Akubra Kentucky Rancher in stock (sand).