Dimensional to Conventional Brim

[Old Fogey UK]

I've taken a quarter-inch off one of my Akubra Feds using the method on the COW site. It was quite straightforward once I got into it.
The problem is that I don't like the dimensional brim look all that much and would prefer an authentic uniform width brim a la 1930's and 1940's.
Has anyone tried such a conversion ? How did you do it ? Was it successful ?

 

[Matt Deckard]

Never converted... though I too prefer a normal non dimentional brim.

 

[scotrace]

In fact

I did this two weeks ago. Not difficult. I used a sewing ruler (that you can use to lock in a certain width) all the way around, measuring out from the crown 2 5/8". I marked it every 1/2" or so all the way around with tailor's chalk, then used an exacto knife to cut the brim. Finished with sandpaper.

You can do it.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Old Fogey, I can't add much to Scotrace's response but I will take a second to dispell the miss info. Most hats in the 30's 40's were actually wider at the sides than at the front- back. This is because of the rounding jack used to cut the brim. It has a curved surface that rides on the crown, so when cutting, the center of the curve is at it's deepest point at the front & back but flares at the straight sides, making it a bit wider on the sides. The flare can be adjusted for less or more curve but will almost always have some difference.

 

[scotrace]

Ha! I had no idea! Thanks Art - that makes sense.

It just seems like the Indiana Jones hat is... off balance? Almost like a cowboy hat? They seem oversized, somehow. It rarely looks that way on Ford, but on many of us, it does. Every time my sister saw me in the Federation, she shook her head and said "too big." I like it beter cut down and evened out a bit.

 

[HamletJSD]

It's probably just my big round face, Scot, but I had the opposite happen. When I first started wearing full-fledged fedoras my wife was uncertain of the look, but my brown Federation changed her tune. It's her favorite of my hats even though she doesn't like the "cowboy hat" look any more than I do.
Odd how those things happen