I love the Fed IV!!

[Dave E]

Is that the standard brim or did you cut it down? Looks good on you but definitely not as wide as mine out of the box.

Standard brim, I haven't modded it at all. The bash is getting there slowly as well.

 

[scottyrocks]

Got my FedIV on Friday (carbon grey), and am quite impressed. Still working on the bash at the moment (needs more snap on the brim at the front):

Yep, that hat needs a bit of a good working over. FedIVs look best, imho, after theyve taken on some 'character.'

 

[Woodfluter]

Standard brim, I haven't modded it at all. The bash is getting there slowly as well.

Great hat Dave.

I have a charcoal grey Banjo Paterson, and like it a lot. First Akubra I got.

By the way, I have now modified three of my four Feds to be a uniform 2-1/2" brim all around. Only the moonstone has been spared...so far. I started with the Fed III and liked the result so much that I did it to the tan Fed IV. Then a long spell, and the past month did it to the brown Fed IV. YMMV and it's all good, but I gradually came to prefer the uniform brim width.

If you go this route, don't expect to go into a western shop and have them trim it. They'll take the same amount off all around and you'll be left with a smaller dimensional brim. You have to measure and mark carefully, trim outside the marks with sharp scissors, then even things up with a small woodworking plane (!?! yep, heard me right, best tool I've found) or rasp or file, then carefully singe the stray hairs with a lighter...then repeat as necessary until perfectly uniform and smooth. Good part is, it goes quite fast after you get the hang of it.

Also BTW, if you beat the daylights out of it as Scotty implies, your Fed will only be softer and more responsive to shaping. (Did some illustrated threads about that...) Don't worry, it can take it!

- Bill

 

[Dave E]

Great hat Dave.

I have a charcoal grey Banjo Paterson, and like it a lot. First Akubra I got.

By the way, I have now modified three of my four Feds to be a uniform 2-1/2" brim all around. Only the moonstone has been spared...so far. I started with the Fed III and liked the result so much that I did it to the tan Fed IV. Then a long spell, and the past month did it to the brown Fed IV. YMMV and it's all good, but I gradually came to prefer the uniform brim width.

If you go this route, don't expect to go into a western shop and have them trim it. They'll take the same amount off all around and you'll be left with a smaller dimensional brim. You have to measure and mark carefully, trim outside the marks with sharp scissors, then even things up with a small woodworking plane (!?! yep, heard me right, best tool I've found) or rasp or file, then carefully singe the stray hairs with a lighter...then repeat as necessary until perfectly uniform and smooth. Good part is, it goes quite fast after you get the hang of it.

I'm not inclined to mess with the brim at all, I quite like it as is. Being in the UK, western stores are not exactly common either!

Also BTW, if you beat the daylights out of it as Scotty implies, your Fed will only be softer and more responsive to shaping. (Did some illustrated threads about that...) Don't worry, it can take it!

- Bill

It has been rained on a couple of times now and that has softened it up a touch, I know it will only improve with wearing

 

[kowalskt63]

Others here have done that, can't direct you to the threads. I've been tempted to myself. There's a local tack and western wear store that trims brims for a nominal fee. If you'd wear it more, it might be worth considering.

Well, I finally got up the nerve, and grabbed the best shears in the house. I took off 1/2 inch all the way around. It was way easier than I imagined. Did some touch up with my wifes nail file. Looks pretty good for a first timer.

 

[Big_e]

Wow! Great job there!
Ernest

Well, I finally got up the nerve, and grabbed the best shears in the house. I took off 1/2 inch all the way around. It was way easier than I imagined. Did some touch up with my wifes nail file. Looks pretty good for a first timer.

 

[CircuitRider]

I've had pretty good luck with an exacto knife on a glass surface also.

 

[Joeyeah_right]

FedIV

Just got my brown FedIV Deluxe a couple of days ago:

It's SO nice and dry-bashed perfectly for the way I liked it

 

[Duper]

Joeyeah_right, I'm glad you are so pleased with the new Deluxe. Looks good.

 

[djgo-cat-go]

I love mine!!

 

[daizawaguy]

I love mine!!

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[elvisroe]

I'm likely to be treading over old ground here but does anyone own both the standard and deluxe for a comparison?

Is it worth the extra $$$?

 

[Bird's One View]

I'm likely to be treading over old ground here but does anyone own both the standard and deluxe for a comparison?

Is it worth the extra $$$?

The sweat band is noticeably nicer in the Deluxe. The felt is different but I don't have a preference yet (after 1.5 years). Carbon gray is a better shade for me than Moonstone, so I've been wearing the standard more than the deluxe lately ... but the moonstone is more comfortable in hot, sunny weather.

 

[KY_RudeBoy]

After reading up on the Fed IV, I decided that I needed one. I debated with myself for a couple days on which color, brown or dark gray. I decided for brown (mostly just a coin toss) since I plan to wear it as a casual, work-in-the-yard hat. My brown Fed IV arrived yesterday and well, now I think I am going to order the dark gray, just so I can have one of each.

I've put a diamond crease in because it seems to be my favorite (at least right now). I may tighten the pinch in the front a little more, but it is mostly where I want it now. I looked at a bunch of the different creases people are giving this hat and it's incredible how different it looks with a different crease. Hey, maybe that's my rationale for getting another color - so I can give it a completely different look.

This is the largest brimmed hat I have now, and I was a bit concerned about how it would look on my thin face. It's certainly wide, but I think it works for me. Even if it doesn't, I love the hat and will continue to wear it.

Mug Shot

Diamond Crown

The bright sunlight really messed with my camera in this shot.

Jason

 

[FurFeltFedora]

It's nice bash and it looks fine (brim wise) with your face. Getting used to the broader brims can be a bit scary at first, but soon you can't picture them any other way

 

[scottyrocks]

It looks perfectly natural with your face. Great choice!

 

[djgo-cat-go]

Diamond Crown

The bright sunlight really messed with my camera in this shot.

Jason

You've put a nice diamond in your lid..:eusa_clap

 

[KY_RudeBoy]

Thanks folks!
This thing is already starting to shape to my head. Of course, I haven't taken it off except to sleep since it got here. I've even been tempted to sleep in it. lol

 

[deenis]

Would placing a new Fed IV into a washing machine help give it a good working over and improve its looks? Of course, no dryer could be used due to shrinkage.

Just wondering if anyone has tried putting it into a washing machine.

Mine should be here in a day or two.

 

[Gunk]

i sold mine last year....kind of regret it now