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Yes, it is surprising how much either crown height or brim width is taken up when a tapered hat is blocked on a non tapered block.....it eats up felt rapidly.Agreed 100%. It feels like a nice middle ground. I'm fond of the deep creases but need a bit more cleanness/symmetry than the handmade look. On the other side of the spectrum are the perfect factory pressed hats, but they can feel a tad impersonal and samey (just in my personal view - there are loads of hats that are exceptions to these rules and look great).
That plan sounds lovely. Can't wait to see the finished product, or better yet the work in progress!
The hatter who's sprucing up my current hat said that reblocking it so that it has no taper would further reduce the crown height. This steers me further from wanting to find an old Borsalino- even if the starting OC height was tall, it would get reduced when blocking it to taper-free sides. Whereas I feel like this would be less the case with an converted western. Maybe I'm wrong, or it's wishful thinking (I kind of like the idea of thick felt, really.)
That is wise to keep those around! I have a great deal of admiration for such craftsmanship. This inspires me to want to keep trying (hats are just part of it; I want to get skilled in tailoring) - but ultimately I get overwhelmed and decide, at this stage, I'd be best off just making money at things I already know how to do and pay someone for the tailoring services. Who knows; like you say the winter months are approaching, and that's when our type gets bored and decide to get creative and experimental. Haha
A sincere thanks to -everyone- who was taken the time to reply. You're helping me slowly but surely zero in on exactly what I want.
For some of us, it is purchasing many hats and picking a favorite. For me, it's modifying a hat or two, getting ever closer to the ideal specs. Either way, it takes some time and expenses.