Federation IV sizing

[jthix]

On any given day, I'm just under 59cm if dehydrated, and a little over 59cm if measuring the fattest part of my head, or before a haircut. 60 works good for me, and I have to say, did well without felt, does fine with felt, and the hat or my head grows or contracts with the temp outside. Who knows? Or maybe just my Ego.

So do you order all your hats size 60 (with a 59 head measurement), or are we just talking about the Federation IV?

 

[jthix]

Ordered it! Now the worst part...the waiting....

 

[gtdean48]

So do you order all your hats size 60 (with a 59 head measurement), or are we just talking about the Federation IV?

I measure 24" which converts to 60.96 centimeters. I always order size 61.
If I was a "little over" 61, I'd order 62 = always better to be slightly over than have to stretch from the jump....

 

[jrbobbyh]

I seem to be in between a 58-59 by measurement. I ordered the Fed IV in the Heritage Deluxe in 58. It arrived with a cardboard band block that was holding the band tightly open, and right off the bat it was a size large. But within only a few hours, it settled in to just larger than a 58 and has stayed there. Great hat!

 

[jthix]

I emailed hatsdirect and said that I measure just a tiny bit under 59 cm and told them that I wanted some room to allow it to shrink and they emailed me back saying to get a 60. I expect it to be nice a roomy, plenty of room to conform. If I ever get a Federation Deluxe, I'll be sure to just get a 59.

So anyway, now I'm anxiously waiting for the hat to arrive, but as soon as it gets here, I'll be anxiously waiting for the next rainstorm so I can get it wet naturally.

 

[gtdean48]

A spray bottle of distilled water is good in case another dry spell hits the Southeast.
I soak my open crowns well to crease them which gets the shrinking process going ahead of any rain....

 

[jthix]

It was POURING here in Alabama yesterday morning - I should have ordered the Federation a couple of weeks ago!

I think I might try to use steam when I crease it (with my Squatter I just waited a week for it to rain). I'm really not too worried about trying to shrink it immediatly, I'd rather just let it happen over time. We'll see though.

Oh, man just checked weather.com, looks like it's going to get dry for a couple of weeks here in the Southeast.

 

[jthix]

Ah, they're currently out of moonstone! Have to wait a few weeks then.

Unless they have carbon grey....

Which color do you prefer?

 

[blazerbud]

jthix,

Yeah, I pretty much always get a 60cm or 7.5 American sized, be careful of 7.5 British which is 61cm. I think you'll do fine with the 60, don't worry about it.

 

[blazerbud]

MoonStone.

 

[Picante]

Yesterday I ordered an Akubra Federation IV DeLuxe in Moonstone color from Hats Direct, they E-Mail back to acknowledge my order and to tell me that is in stock, and that will leave next post via Air Mail as requested, I haven't got a tracking number though.

Tino.

 

[jthix]

Yesterday I ordered an Akubra Federation IV DeLuxe in Moonstone color from Hats Direct, they E-Mail back to acknowledge my order and to tell me that is in stock, and that will leave next post via Air Mail as requested, I haven't got a tracking number though.

Tino.

Yeah they offered to give me a small discount on a Deluxe, but it's still going to be more than I want to pay right now. I'm okay with waiting for the imperial.

Their customer service is excellent, it more than makes up for having to wait. Very prompt, friendly, and helpful with their emails.

And the wait for the carbon grey is even longer, so I feel better about sticking with moonstone, the color I really want anyway.

 

[g.durand]

jthix--Congrats on ordering the Fed IV. I think you're going to be very happy with it and the wait will be worth it. I love mine. I've tried both steaming the crown and wetting the crown to shape it, and for me wetting it works best. After some experimenting, I've found that it's better to avoid wetting the whole crown. In other words, I just soak it down to right above the ribbon. A word of advice--if you wet it, try to avoid getting the sweat band wet unless you want it to shrink. The nice thing about this hat, as I mentioned before, is that it's one tough hat and will take just about whatever you and the elements throw at it. You can experiment and still not hurt the thing if you stick to water and/or steam.

 

[jthix]

jthix--Congrats on ordering the Fed IV. I think you're going to be very happy with it and the wait will be worth it. I love mine. I've tried both steaming the crown and wetting the crown to shape it, and for me wetting it works best. After some experimenting, I've found that it's better to avoid wetting the whole crown. In other words, I just soak it down to right above the ribbon. A word of advice--if you wet it, try to avoid getting the sweat band wet unless you want it to shrink. The nice thing about this hat, as I mentioned before, is that it's one tough hat and will take just about whatever you and the elements throw at it. You can experiment and still not hurt the thing if you stick to water and/or steam.

Yeah I'm really looking forward to creasing it. I'm getting a lot of inspiration from the Diamond Crease Authority thread. I really want to put some nice sharp creases in it, like what you see in movies such as the Big Sleep or the Maltese Falcon.

 

[Woodfluter]

I really want to put some nice sharp creases in it, like what you see in movies such as the Big Sleep or the Maltese Falcon.

Just a word of warning...if you put softer creases in, you can steam the hat and undo that. Sometimes will take some pressing, as with a rounded glass, to smooth it back to open crown or remove what you did before.

But with many hats, and especially the modern ones (including the Feds), once you put in really sharp creases you're sort of committed. You can change your mind and partially undo what you did before, but not entirely satisfactorily. In my experience anyway. The felt will remember...

Good luck and please show us a photo when you get it as you want it!

 

[jthix]

Yeah, I'll be playing around with it probably for a few days before "setting" the crease. And though I think I want a tight crease in the front, I'm probably not going to want to go Raiders tight. If you've ever seen Groose's Federation IV's, I really like what he's done. I want to do something similiar, just a little tighter in the front, I think. I want nice straight lines. Something that can proudly belong here: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...-Authority/page14&highlight=diamond+authority

And if I can't change it...all the more reason to get that next hat!

Actually, now I kind of wish the Fed III's were still available, it looks like you can get a very nice deep diamond crease in the 6" crown.

 

[blazerbud]

Did your fed IV arrive yet?
I ordered one around the same time and it came today.

 

[jthix]

Did your fed IV arrive yet?
I ordered one around the same time and it came today.

No, not yet. They didn't have any standard moonstones in my size when I ordered. They are going to send me an email when they get it to confirm the order. Hopefully, they wil get it sometime this week. The suspense is killing me!

How do you like yours, blazerbud?

 

[jthix]

Hatsdirect got my Fed from Akubra! Now they just have to mail it to me!

Although unfortunatly I may be out of town when it gets here. Blazerbud and Picante, how long did delivery take on your feds?

 

[blazerbud]

It took about 10 days total, 7 business days