Finally cracked: a present to myself...

[Edward]

.... I've been sitting on some birthday money from my grandmother for a few months, and not five minutes ago I finally cracked and put the extra to it to order an Akubra Fed Deluxe in dark brown..... I should expect that a chunk of my impending Christmas break will involve my tentative efforts to pull off a passable "idol grab" bash.... Photos to follow.

 

[indycop]

lol :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[carter]

.... I've been sitting on some birthday money from my grandmother for a few months, and not five minutes ago I finally cracked and put the extra to it to order an Akubra Fed Deluxe in dark brown..... I should expect that a chunk of my impending Christmas break will involve my tentative efforts to pull off a passable "idol grab" bash.... Photos to follow.

Edward, Good for you! Please post photos your Fed Deluxe when it arrives! You'll enjoy doing your own bash.

 

[airforceindy]

Congrats, Edward, I'm sure you'll like it. The lid in my avatar is my 'new-to-me' Fed Dlx that I got this week. Great hat!

Regards, Andy

 

[Edward]

It's actually the pinch I'm a bit more concerned with - the top bash seems easy, but I'm not sure about getting the pinch as sharp as it is on Ford's hat (which is the way I really like fedoras!). Seems from reading the appropriate threads, though, I just need to damp the hat well with warm water then squeeze to shape and leave to dry??

 

[indycop]

I used a chip clip. I wet it and shaped it by hand and then let it dry with the chip clip on it.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Be sure to use water that you can trust, like distilled. "Trust me."

 

[RBH]

You will love your Federation!
As to the pinch, I use cold water and just wet it down and work your pinch in, you may have to re-wet it a time or two till you get what you want. Check the Campdraft in my avatar, that is a pretty sharp pinch on it.
Good Luck!

 

[imoldfashioned]

Hurrah! I can't wait to see pictures of you in your new hat.

Also, a chip clip--who knew it could be used to alter a hat? Clever, that.

 

[Edward]

I used a chip clip. I wet it and shaped it by hand and then let it dry with the chip clip on it.

Uhm...... chip clip? Is that a US term? Sounds like an ingnious solution, whatever it is!

You will love your Federation!
As to the pinch, I use cold water and just wet it down and work your pinch in, you may have to re-wet it a time or two till you get what you want. Check the Campdraft in my avatar, that is a pretty sharp pinch on it.
Good Luck!

Yeah, very "idol grab."

Cold water would be much easier to deal with....

Be sure to use water that you can trust, like distilled. "Trust me."

I was considering buying some cheap bottled table water from the supermarket as my tap water is hard - don't want limescale marks all over the hat (at least, not ones that aren't the result of a few adventures.... ).

 

[fatwoul]

...the top bash seems easy...

It does indeed seem that way, and it is, but don't be fooled. A couple of the tutorials around the internet talk about creasing the centre dent, but my (limited) experience is that method doesn't work. Instead, you might find more success if you "lock" the shape in place with a small, perpendicular crease at the rear of the centre dent, and the front of the dent held in place with the pinch. It's difficult to explain, but I find that works much more effectively than actually creasing the dent directly.

Reading that back, I don't know how clear it is. I think its what most people do anyway. Maybe. I don't know.

 

[indycop]

Uhm...... chip clip? Is that a US term? Sounds like an ingnious solution, whatever it is!
.

Maybe same as a clothes pin?

 

[RBH]

A CHIP CLIP

hope this helps...

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/935/ckchipclipda7.jpg" border="0" alt="clip"/></a>

 

[Tango Yankee]

Uhm...... chip clip? Is that a US term? Sounds like an ingnious solution, whatever it is!

Think "crisps" instead of chip. The clip that RBH posted a photo of is used to hold opened crisps bags (known as potato chips over here) closed after folding down the top of the bag. Helps keep them from going stale.

Oh, and congratulations on your decision! I used birthday money from a couple of birthdays to buy one of my hats as well.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Edward]

Ah! Thanks, guys.... I'd figured the translation of "chips", but not seen such a device before.... a couple of clothes pegs should have the same effect, though i'll remember to put a duster or something between them and the felt in case they mark it....

It's a slight scary prospect, doing my own first bash but I'm sure I'll get used to it very quickly.

 

[indycop]

I was nervous about mine too, it was so new and pristine. Then I wadded it up and it did not hurt so I went to it ater that! But the clip makes it easy to get the pinch since it holds it in the shape until it is dry.

 

[SinatraStyle]

Well, I don't have any advice on the tight pinch, but I did want to congratulate you on your new hat. I purchased the same hat a couple of months back and am very happy with it. Make sure you post some pictures after you've had a chance to experiment with it.

 

[Edward]

It's probably going to be after Christmas I get it now, but I'll certainly be ding photos before, during, after - and wearing! The plan is (whether I have the matching jacket by then or not ) for this hat to accompany me to China in May/June.

 

[fatwoul]

Hey Ed - what's the latest? Got it yet?

 

[Edward]

Hi there! I'm just back online today (combination of poor connection at my folks place and none at mine due to ISP issues.... back in the office today, though...). The hat arrived on the 21st (sod's law - the day after I shipped out for Christmas), and was taken in by my friendly neighbour. So I got it when I arrived back in Blighty on Monday (31st Dec). The felt quality is beautiful, much thicker than most rabbit fur hats I've encountered. I've been wearing it round the flat in the hope that this will speed up the shrinkage: I ordered my regular size, and as advised it's a little big because there's an element of shrink to fit in an Akubra. I'm not sure how long to expect this to take, though? I do have the foam insert, but I'm reluctant to put that in if I can avoid it.

I haven't yet attempted the shaping - I think I'll sit down and look into that at the weekend - just need to get hold of the right clip for doing the pinch first. I suspect that I'll have to use some steam... it appears to be soft enough that the rough shape will go in dry, but I should think it'll need a little steam to be sure of keeping it in place, and especially the get the front pinch as sharp as an 'idol grab.'

Overall, this one is going to be a larning experience for me as my first open crown hat.... the next will be on the way as of tomorrow: Santa gave me a few envelopes with lists of things in them that are to be ordered now Christmas is over and I'm back in Blighty (to save me carrying a lot of stuff over from Ireland after Christmas). One of my envelopes is a grey Federation which I plan to give a sharp front dent, and a diamond crease.