Akubra Overload

[Eliesti]

I love the color (Bluegrass Green), but I live in a small town in the middle of NOWHERE. The nearest hat shop is HOURS away and I have no idea where I'd get the crown shaped. Being a newb, I'm a little insecure about buying an open crown hat and attempting to do it myself...suggestions?
Thanks Michael and God bless!

I dry bashed my Bluegrass Green Campdraft after just watching a few videos online. It looks damn good if I do say so myself!

Here it is after a rain and in a few pics after it dried.

If you get an open crown and give it a go, I promise you'll be fine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jkingrph]

There used to be a gentleman in our small town that made custom hats, but he passed away many years ago, so the closest place is about 60 miles from me . I have gotten several of the open crown Campdraft hats and shaped them myself, one in a simple center dent, one somewhat like a cattlemens crease, but softer and finally a couple, my bluegrass green done in a bash like shown earlier in this thread. I simply wet it, shape it and let dry. If not pleased wet and shape again.

 

[Michael R.]

Once you start doing your own creases on Open Crown Hats , the factory creases look artificial , ... most of them . As moon says , he likes Organic . AKA : not perfect , but more natural . They actually look better . Plus you can say I creased it myself (bragging rights) , especially if they ask , and compliment you on a Nice Hat . Some guys like one style , some go with many styles depending on the Hats .

 

[Bob Roberts]

I dry bashed my Bluegrass Green Campdraft after just watching a few videos online. It looks damn good if I do say so myself!

Here it is after a rain and in a few pics after it dried.

If you get an open crown and give it a go, I promise you'll be fine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I day so to! Love what you did to that crown. Makes me want to change mine.

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

I dry bashed my Bluegrass Green Campdraft after just watching a few videos online. It looks damn good if I do say so myself!

Here it is after a rain and in a few pics after it dried.

If you get an open crown and give it a go, I promise you'll be fine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice looking hat and great job on the crease.

Fed

 

[Zombie_61]

I love the color (Bluegrass Green), but I live in a small town in the middle of NOWHERE. The nearest hat shop is HOURS away and I have no idea where I'd get the crown shaped. Being a newb, I'm a little insecure about buying an open crown hat and attempting to do it myself...suggestions?

At the risk of sounding like a Nike ad, just do it. As Michael R. wrote above, it really is relatively easy. Like him, I start by shaping the crown dry just to get an idea of how the crease will look on that specific hat. But I spray *distilled water onto the hat at room temperature with a spray bottle, let it soak into the felt for a moment or two, then refine the crease and set the hat aside to dry. The felt holds the new shape as it dries, though sometimes the brim will require a second or third shaping before it gets the idea. Regardless of whether you use steam or water (or get caught in a rainstorm, which is something Akubras enjoy), the one thing you never want to do is use a heat source such as a blow dryer or space heater to dry the felt faster; it can cause the felt to shrink.


*You can use tap water if your city or town doesn't put too many chemicals in the water. They put all kinds of stuff in ours here, and I'm concerned it might stain the felt as it dries which is why I recommend distilled water.

 

[Michael R.]

At the risk of sounding like a Nike ad, just do it. As Michael R. wrote above, it really is relatively easy. Like him, I start by shaping the crown dry just to get an idea of how the crease will look on that specific hat. But I spray *distilled water onto the hat at room temperature with a spray bottle, let it soak into the felt for a moment or two, then refine the crease and set the hat aside to dry. The felt holds the new shape as it dries, though sometimes the brim will require a second or third shaping before it gets the idea. Regardless of whether you use steam or water (or get caught in a rainstorm, which is something Akubras enjoy), the one thing you never want to do is use a heat source such as a blow dryer or space heater to dry the felt faster; it can cause the felt to shrink.


*You can use tap water if your city or town doesn't put too many chemicals in the water. They put all kinds of stuff in ours here, and I'm concerned it might stain the felt as it dries which is why I recommend distilled water.

Listen to Al , he told you an easy second or first option , plus other important info I left off . Thanks Zom

And I'll add , I wasted a lot of money for Hats costing 3X as much and got a Way Inferior Hat compared to the Akubra Campdraft , and you don't have to baby them either . When you get one it should feel loose , just add the foam sizing as much as you need , then in 2-3 weeks it will have shrunk enough to remove it , and it might take another week to feel totally right . But rain is your friend as long as you take Al's advice on proper drying , it will conform to your head like a custom fitted Hat . Drying it properly is the key , but that's with any Hat .

 

[Seb Lucas]

Bought a new Campdraft today in light brown (whatever they call it) the felt is much better than I'm used to with recent Akubras. Nice and firm and soft. In recent years I have been disappointed in Akubra felt. The felt they used back in the 1980's when I first started buying them new was much better.

 

[Frunobulax]

 

[RJR]

Listen to Al , he told you an easy second or first option , plus other important info I left off . Thanks Zom

And I'll add , I wasted a lot of money for Hats costing 3X as much and got a Way Inferior Hat compared to the Akubra Campdraft , and you don't have to baby them either . When you get one it should feel loose , just add the foam sizing as much as you need , then in 2-3 weeks it will have shrunk enough to remove it , and it might take another week to feel totally right . But rain is your friend as long as you take Al's advice on proper drying , it will conform to your head like a custom fitted Hat . Drying it properly is the key , but that's with any Hat .

Agree.

 

[addison]

I dry bashed my Bluegrass Green Campdraft after just watching a few videos online. It looks damn good if I do say so myself!

Here it is after a rain and in a few pics after it dried.

If you get an open crown and give it a go, I promise you'll be fine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lookin' great, Eliesti!

 

[tropicalbob]

I love the color (Bluegrass Green), but I live in a small town in the middle of NOWHERE. The nearest hat shop is HOURS away and I have no idea where I'd get the crown shaped. Being a newb, I'm a little insecure about buying an open crown hat and attempting to do it myself...suggestions?
Thanks Michael and God bless!

I know what you mean, but they're pretty tough hats and the creasing's a lot easier than you think it'll be. When I got my first open-crown I was afraid I'd screw it up, but I was surprised how easy it was. If it isn't right the first time it doesn't matter: you can just mess with it until you've got it the way you want it. You can't really do them permanent harm by shaping the crown with your fingers. Once you start, you'll see what we're talking about.

 

[Bob Roberts]

View attachment 52247​

+1!!!

 

[wedgetail]

ok so here's my latest akubra - a sombrero. I got it off nugar trading for AU$115 but that was after a fight due to a previous order. I had to bully him into keeping his word and I can safely say he is bordering on being a crook and at the least is a very difficult, lying and forgetful person. I would not advise using the store...

Anyway, I do at least have a second work hat now. I love the new woomera, but almost too much. I can bring myself to abusing it and also the sombrero colour leads itself better to being dirty. Besides if I rotate them they'll last even longer (should got 20years plus between the pair).

Out of the box it doesn't do much for me.

So I pulled the sides down, gave the front more curl and pulled the band off. The glue slowly peels off with a finger nail but I'll put a 3/4" leather band over it so I didn't go too far. Shame they have to glue it though.

I've ummed and arghed for a while about a bash and have gone for this. Not necessarily 100% on it yet though so it may change...

The band will be this red hide (well red hide look a like) probably split in two joined by two brass rings and Kimberely knots, similar to the band on an Akubra Pilbara.

 

[Cap_7597]

ok so here's my latest akubra - a sombrero.

Nice!!!! Those hats are so versatile!! I really like the leather band addition.


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[Mm25]

I was never interested in a Sombrero until I saw what you did here with the brim. I am thinking I may need one now. Very nice

 

[FedOregon]

I dry bashed my Bluegrass Green Campdraft after just watching a few videos online. It looks damn good if I do say so myself!

Here it is after a rain and in a few pics after it dried.

If you get an open crown and give it a go, I promise you'll be fine.

That looks great!

 

[RJR]

That looks great!

+1

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Great look you got on in!

 

[Redshoes51]

ok so here's my latest akubra - a sombrero.

I've ummed and arghed for a while about a bash and have gone for this. Not necessarily 100% on it yet though so it may change...

How did you get that outrageously good looking pencil curl on the brim?? That is SO good looking!!!

~shoes~