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Blech...holey hat.

Jerekson

One Too Many
Messages
1,620
Location
1935
Alright...this really pissed me off.

If anyone remembers the legacy of my beloved Akubra Federation - one of my dearest, closest friends, it has been literally everywhere with me, it has done everything I have ever done.

Well, this afternoon I was just sitting on the couch and I had it in my lap. I started stroking the felt at the crown and there is a spot of flimsy, thin, weakened fiber at the top of the crown. It could develop into a hole so easily it's noteven funny. I would probably consder it a hole already, but there is no actual penetration.

What bothers me is that the hole is from the old pinch - my original off-center pinch that I ditched a long time ago in favor of a centered one.

What bothers me even more is that while I had this crease, I made extra special care to never handle the hat by the crown!!!

I go through all the trouble of not grabbing the pinch for years, and I still get a hole?!? WHAT GIVES?!?!

Right now I have the hat reversed on my head so the weak spot is in the back. I also hid the spot inside the crown by using a c-dent. So now my hat has an Aussie look to it...which I like, but...it's not my hat. Not the one that I've had for years.

I'm not sure what to do. This is insanely depressing to me.
 

HarpPlayerGene

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,682
Location
North Central Florida
Wow, J, I hate to hear you sounding so bummed about your Fed.

Maybe there's a trick of the trade for a repair before you have to resign yourself to it being a beater rather than a dress hat. You're in the right place to find out! It's been my experience though, that people respond more warmly and positively to the beat up, holey hats I've got than the pristine museum pieces. "Character" and all that...

G'luck!

Gene
 

kiltie

Practically Family
Messages
732
Location
lone star state
Stick an arrow into the hole. People will either think you're a Steve Martin impersonator, or that you were attacked by Indians - both are pretty cool. OR, you could send a testimonial to Akubra with a mushroomed bullet and a letter that says their hats are so tough that it saved your life.
 

PabloElFlamenco

Practically Family
Messages
581
Location
near Brussels, Belgium
Look, if there is no actual penetration, then I would not consider that, yet, a hole. It may be close, but not yet accomplished. Of course I understand your disappointment but these are the facts of life. Zen is what you need :rolleyes: or, a hands-on approach.
Why don't you "consolidate" the little felt hat is left (before it becomes a true hole) from the underside, maybe by gluing on the underside of the would-be-hole a small "cutout" of old felt from another hat, or "wool / hobby felt". The repair would be invisible from the "outside" of the hat.
Would you not agree that a "patched" hat is better than a hat with a hole?
Good luck!
Paul
 

indycop

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,325
Location
Jacksonville, Florida
If it truly is an old friend that has been everywhere with you then let it show its signs of adventures! :D You can say you:D literally wore it out.

Of course now may be the time to get a Fed IV to put that crease you love in and just let this one have a diamond or something.:)
 

jake_fink

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,279
Location
Taranna
You were sitting on the couch with a hat on your lap... stroking it?

You need to get a cat. They rarely develop holes from stroking.
 

MississippiLong

One of the Regulars
Messages
187
Location
Atlanta, GA/Columbus, MS
jake_fink said:
You were sitting on the couch with a hat on your lap... stroking it?

You need to get a cat. They rarely develop holes from stroking.


don't be so sure!



I agree with Indycop. Wear the old one as your everyday beat-around and get the new Fed to be your "hat"

ml.
 

J.T.Marcus

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,354
Location
Mineola, Texas
kiltie said:
Stick an arrow into the hole. People will either think you're a Steve Martin impersonator, or that you were attacked by Indians - both are pretty cool. OR, you could send a testimonial to Akubra with a mushroomed bullet and a letter that says their hats are so tough that it saved your life.

I seem to remember that, when I was in high school, I took an old beat up hat and shot it, with a rifle. Of course, the only firearm I had access to was a "22." Everybody thought it was a moth hole! lol
 

DrSpeed

One of the Regulars
Messages
128
Location
Netherlands
Be glad! You now have THE legitimate reason to buy a new lid. And you don't even have to throw your old one out. AND you don't have to be careful with it anymore. So patch it up and keep on raiding!
 

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