Akubra Overload

[ManofKent]

Macbeth - I prefer to dry-crease, get it roughly right then steam to finesse, others wet the hat and shape straight off - both seem to work. In terms of creases mine I've always gone for centre-creases on Feds and teardrops on campys but they'll look good with a variety of creases, have a browse through this and the other Akubra threads and see what you fancy. Getting the drops on the bims can take a bit of work, but they'll get there.

Enjoy your hats and playing with them. They're resilient enough to take a reshape if you don't like your first attempt.

 

[1mach1]

Awesome. You will love the CD in bluegrass. I use mine all the time, and it takes a heck of a beating. I do the same as Richard, dry crease to start, and work out the kinks with steam or lightly sprayed water. The fun is in making the crease your own. Enjoy!

 

[Macbeth]

Thanks Mach1 and ManofKent!

I'll look thru this thread and see which crease I like. Just seems a center crease would be easier for me, but I don't know. And I like the idea of a dry crease first, them steam and get all the details right and let it dry.

I think that will be my weekend project. Although, now I'm retired, every day is the weekend.

Tomorrow, I give my brother his first hat....he's got a lot of CAPS.....an Akubra Banjo Paterson that I picked up second hand, almost brand new. Thank goodness it's already shaped!! That, plus a Bass Pro lunch, ought to make his day!

 

[Rogera]

Welcome to the Campdraft Club Macbeth! Bluegrass Green is the best! I have always had the best luck with a dry crease then hitting with the steam to set it. I always start with a center dent as well to see what it looks like then work the center dent out to a tear drop. Have fun with it! One thing I learned is don't try to hard to lower the crown height. Just put a crease in it and let the felt dictate the natural height.

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

Today I got a package from Sam in Australia....Wow! 5 days from the order!

My first Campdraft.....and in Bluegrass.......couldn't wait for the Silverbelly. And, I'm glad I got this color. Outstanding.

Having never bashed a Campdraft before.....do you guys wet or steam it first? Or just go about it dry?

I was thinking of a center crease, with pinched front. Turned down brim. Fedora style?

And, of all things, last night, at midnite, I ordered a Federation IV from Hatsdirect in Moonstone. I'll have to bash that one too.

I'm stoked! And like Zombie suggested, I went down to Hobby Lobby and picked up 2 wrought iron hat racks....half price sale! Also some felt and cork for adjusting sizing on some of my hats: 4 squares of Felt (9inch by 12 inch) any color you want, and a roll of cork for half price....about $3.

While the wife's out of town, I'm going to surreptitiously place the hat racks with a hat on them. See how long it takes for her to notice them.

Glad to hear that your order was quick and that you are happy with the BlueGrass. I ordered the Silverbelly and after waiting for months, I added a BlueGrass.. Both are good, but my favorite is the BG.

As to shaping, I will give the counterpoint to the dry method. I held mine in a slightly warm shower for a few seconds. Got just the crown damp and began shaping that area. I dampened the brim later. There are a lot of different shapes described in detail in various threads. Search the type that suit your head, body or chosen style. I experimented on a couple of beaters first, so I had an idea of what I wanted.

6 point Diamonds are my favorite (Jimmy Stewart style from The FBI Story) but C crowns and center dents are mentioned a few times in the Ask a Question or Diamond Authority threads. I think Jimmy The Lid did the best tutorial of doing a good crease. There is also a good video showing Roy Rogers doing a cowboy hat in his signature style. Yours will not be quite the same, (although Jimmy The Lid did do a fedora in a similar manner once!) but it gives basics, helps understand one sequence for the process and adds confidence. Besides, he was always a delight to see.

Basically, wet the crown; set the center and the height of the front pinch oriented from your nose.
(Pay attention to this whole nose orientation of the front pinch thing - Having an off center crease to a hat is wasteful in time and effort. It is also frustrating.)

Then set the height of the rear to define the slope. From there, the style will drive whether you set the width or sides, but either way, the sides should be checked to be of even height. Side dents to your chosen pinch should be uniform and then you clean up and adjust as it dries.

There are 2 schools of thought. Some want a perfect look - almost factory quality, but suited to their style. Others want the look to be casually dry pressed in and left as is. Both have value and are admired. Share a couple of photos here for feedback. Once you have the style dialed in that suits you - wear it with confidence and without further care. It is truly yours at that point.

I would search for a few better descriptions of your particular choice, but this process works for me.

Here is one in early stages of being worked while the other waits.



Here is the pair in early work. They are a bit wet to keep fussing with - got better finish as they dried:



I have been wanting the Fed IV in Moonstone as well. The color and shape seem to work quite well. Might go that route as well.

Hat racks at Hobby Lobby? Photos of the rack would be nice...

Good luck with your hat shaping!

Fed

 

[Zombie_61]

Macbeth - I prefer to dry-crease, get it roughly right then steam to finesse...

...I have always had the best luck with a dry crease then hitting with the steam to set it. I always start with a center dent as well to see what it looks like then work the center dent out to a tear drop...

I've initially dry-creased my hats as well, but followed that up with *distilled water instead of steam because I don't have a teapot or other way to focus the steam where I want it. In my opinion dry creasing is a good way to get a rough idea of how your hat will look with whichever shape you've chosen (or whichever shape the hat has chosen, in some cases), then you can refine it with steam or water once you've decided which shape you like best.



*I use distilled water because the tap water in this part of southern California is loaded with chemicals that could leave a visible residue on the felt as the hat dries; just something to consider before you stick your new hat under the tap or shower.

 

[MothPrey]

Akubra Bushman in Moonstone... Much darker than I expected.

My impression too, the moonstone Heritage Campdraft I bought was much darker than I expected. And, as I mentioned elsewhere, much softer and more supple than the Heritage Silverbelly, which really couldn't be dry-bashed at all it was so stiff.

I'm finding the moonstone a difficult hat to pair with my currently-casual wear, at least with the stock band it seems to "want" to go more formal. It also seems to clash with a few hatbands I had in warmer colors, brown and tan.

Packed with foam to protect when nested, it makes me think a white ribbon would be good, alas don't know how to do that other than a pug.

Hmmm. I think I have an ivory pug around somewhere. Maybe I'll just see...

 

[Neophyte]

Got some good photos of the new Cattleman in Sand. These hats are nice, makes me wish I'd gotten one much sooner.

The Sand color is best represented in the pic on the right.

 

[ManofKent]

Looks good Alexander

 

[Macbeth]

Neophyte,
I see you have many Akubras. Do you prefer the Cattleman over the Snowy River?

I really liked the Lightning Ridge on you a ways back on the forum. In fact your pic was one of several that convinced me.

I wore mine today and was complimented several times.

What are your favs so far?

 

[Neophyte]

I have owned, I think, the following at one time or another:
-Banjo Paterson (Heritage Fawn)
-Lightning Ridge (Sand, glad you like yours, btw)
-Campdraft (Tawny Fawn and Bluegrass Green)
-Sydney (Charcoal)
-Squatter (Forest Green)
-Fed IV (dark brown)

I haven't yet purchased a Snowy River, although from the crown shape I think it's basically the same hat as the Cattlemen with the addition of an upturned brim.

To your other question, my corny response would be that my favorite Akubra is the one that's on my head. To answer more seriously, because I wear brimmed hats for their function and prefer an outdoors-y aesthetic, I'd say the Lightning Ridge and Cattleman are my tops. Lightning Ridge might edge out the Cattleman since it's in the Heritage line and I like the opal. I plan on getting some loop-style chinstraps for the Cattleman, though, 'cause that stiff brim catches the wind like a sail lol.

 

[PHIL1959]

Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a stylemaster hat for a forthcoming river cruise, but can decide between carbon grey or moonstone!
does anyone have both? and which in your opinion is the better looking colour?
I've read that the carbon can look too dark, and the moonstone can be too light!!
any side by side photos would help.
thanks

 

[gtdean48]

Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a stylemaster hat for a forthcoming river cruise, but can decide between carbon grey or moonstone!
does anyone have both? and which in your opinion is the better looking colour?
I've read that the carbon can look too dark, and the moonstone can be too light!!
any side by side photos would help.
thanks

I have the Glen Grey which is between the Moonstone & the Carbon Grey in darkness.
I've never bothered with Carbon Grey in any style due to comments here about it being so dark & close to black.
I have Fed4, Bushmann, & Deluxe Campdraft in Moonstone.
My Glen Grey Imperial Campdraft has been in the box since getting my Moonstone Heritage one.
I definitely don't consider Moonstone too light. I have a VS in Dove for that spectrum.
It is closer to my VS ArtLite in Granite... http://www.vintagesilhouettes.com/Fur_Info.htm

 

[ManofKent]

Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a stylemaster hat for a forthcoming river cruise, but can decide between carbon grey or moonstone!
does anyone have both? and which in your opinion is the better looking colour?
I've read that the carbon can look too dark, and the moonstone can be too light!!
any side by side photos would help.
thanks

I've not got a Stylemaster, but I've got the Fed IV in Moonstone and the Squatter in Carbon grey - I'll try and post a comparison shot.

Here you go:

Shade:



Flash (sorry no sunlight here!):



I like both... Both have a blue-ish tone. The Carbon grey is darkish but no way could you confuse it with black.

 

[ingineer]

Thanks all for the advice and pics of colours,
Wish the vendors did this, All your help makes decision making much better than a tiny image on the vendor's site.
Took out the teapot (who drank all my Kenyan tea? Have to settle for Twinings)
Little steam on the top and thus bent down the brim.
Twice in the rain and started to shape.
Yes, both Glen Grey and Moonstone definitely have a blueish tint.
One of the Engineers I worked with had told me that fabric greys and blacks were always produced by blues greens and browns.That there were no real black dyes other than heavy metal mortant dyes.
Pedantic link:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41938/41938-h/41938-h.htm

I have 96 inches of Elephant hide out with my wristwatch strapmaker, perhaps there might be enough left over for a headband.
As of today , I'll get there eventually.


Again Thanks
Richard

 

[PHIL1959]

Thanks for the photos, the trouble is, its made me even more confused!! The carbon grey looks rather nice!

I've not got a Stylemaster, but I've got the Fed IV in Moonstone and the Squatter in Carbon grey - I'll try and post a comparison shot.

Here you go:

Shade:



Flash (sorry no sunlight here!):



I like both... Both have a blue-ish tone. The Carbon grey is darkish but no way could you confuse it with black.

 

[PHIL1959]

thanks for your help

 

[ManofKent]

Thanks for the photos, the trouble is, its made me even more confused!! The carbon grey looks rather nice!

They're both nice colours to my eyes. The obvious answer is to take advantage of the shipping saving and go for one of each

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Pity there is no sombrero with those colors

 

[Rogera]

They're both nice colours to my eyes. The obvious answer is to take advantage of the shipping saving and go for one of each

That sir is one of the best ideas I have seen all day you enabler you