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Martvjp

New in Town
Messages
37
Hello everyone,

I hope you're doing well. I'm currently having trouble flattening the brim of my hat. I've tried several methods, but the brim still holds an uneven shape, making it difficult to achieve the flat, uniform look I'm aiming for.

Felt is a Fepsa 120g, 100% beaver.

Do you have any tips or specific techniques you could recommend to help solve this issue?

Thank you in advance for your help!
 

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TWKundrat

One of the Regulars
Messages
104
I just finished my first fedora. I've always made western hats in the past but I ended up picking up a few short brim nutria felts from sunrise that were seconds for cheap. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I'm going to put a handful of hats together to try to sell soon at an open studio deal we're having at my work soon.
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Martvjp

New in Town
Messages
37
I just finished my first fedora. I've always made western hats in the past but I ended up picking up a few short brim nutria felts from sunrise that were seconds for cheap. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I'm going to put a handful of hats together to try to sell soon at an open studio deal we're having at my work soon.
View attachment 650735 View attachment 650737 View attachment 650738 View attachment 650739 View attachment 650740 View attachment 650741
It’s very nice congratulations !
 
Messages
10,862
Location
vancouver, canada
Hello everyone,

I hope you're doing well. I'm currently having trouble flattening the brim of my hat. I've tried several methods, but the brim still holds an uneven shape, making it difficult to achieve the flat, uniform look I'm aiming for.

Felt is a Fepsa 120g, 100% beaver.

Do you have any tips or specific techniques you could recommend to help solve this issue?

Thank you in advance for your help!
The felt you are working with is very soft and light weight. Thus hard to get a sharp, flat brim. Firstly you need to shellac it. Secondly you need to make a brim press (a piece of plywood 3/4" thick - 2'x2' with a hole cut for the crown. or buy a flat flange. I wrote a piece on this in the HaTalk eMagazine with pictures.
 

Martvjp

New in Town
Messages
37
The felt you are working with is very soft and light weight. Thus hard to get a sharp, flat brim. Firstly you need to shellac it. Secondly you need to make a brim press (a piece of plywood 3/4" thick - 2'x2' with a hole cut for the crown. or buy a flat flange. I wrote a piece on this in the HaTalk eMagazine with pictures.
Thanks a lot !
 

Martvjp

New in Town
Messages
37
I neglected to mention that you need 4 large C clamps in order to apply the pressure needed to press the board on the hat. This replicates at least some of the pressure needed to flatten the brim.
Ok, thanks a lot. I will check it out :)
 
Messages
10,862
Location
vancouver, canada
flanges2.jpg
I received d a big box of vintage flanges a few weeks back. Finally getting around to restoration. This batch is about 1/3 of the lot but the one requiring the most work. Lots of work filling in the cracks and gouges, sanding and now the final Spar varnish coating. The balance just need sanding and the varnish. Good for another 100 years!!
 
Messages
10,862
Location
vancouver, canada
silk screeners and embroidering companies here want upwards of $15 per liner for my logo. I ended up using sublimation printing transfers of my logo on to satin crowns and a coloured fabric for the side panels. Cost is about $4 per liner.
I have switched to embroidered liners. I pay $9 for each embroidery....if I buy 50 at a time. Using vintage Japanese silk my liners cost about $25 complete.
 
Messages
10,862
Location
vancouver, canada
I am pleased to announce that the December issue of HaTalk eMagazine will have my article on how to sew brim binding. I think my wife and I have come up with a format of text and pictures that will adequately explain the process. Stay tuned. View attachment 658773
This hat is one of my experiments. A natural Indigo dye job that did not turn out as planned. The ribbon dye job worked out well.....but not the felt. I will see if I can make something wearable out of it.
 

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