Softening an Akubra Federation IV

[Edward]

Certainly when you're dealing with an organic material, I'd expect there to be an element of variation from one batch / patch to the next.

 

[Maduma]

Thanks frussell. I actually rang Christys for advice on shaping the brim of my Christys Adventurer and they recommended just steam but definitely not water as it would mark the hat.

 

[Zombie_61]

...I don't think stiffness is consistent even within model and grade...

There are definite differences. My fourth Akubra was MUCH stiffer than the previous three--it actually took some effort to snap the brim down the first few times, and it took three times as long just to give it a rough dry crease because the felt kept wanting to revert to an open crown. Spraying it with distilled water helped a great deal, but it still put up a little resistance.