If you have the time

[Bud-n-Texas]

It may be worth the effort.
I bid on and won (or did I?) one of the panama fino's on ebaY, only to find out it was just a blank in a box. What to do? I felt mislead, but determined not to be beaten. So with much patience and questions asked, along with some time (quite a bit actually). This is the finished product. It is actually pretty nice and there is a certain amount of pleasure in wearing something that has ones own work in it. Without further ado, here it is.

I must add my thanks to those whos input have made this possible, a tip of the hat to you.

 

[DOUGLAS]

Nice hat,damn nice! It has good lines.

 

[Johnnysan]

I remember your earlier posts...you did just fine! Very nice hat! :eusa_clap

 

[Andykev]

Blank in the box

That is the best way to buy a straw hat, vintage! That means it was not worn, and never blocked. You obviously found out that you can turn a "hat body" into a wearable hat. Who blocked it for you? It looks nice.

 

[scotrace]

I hink he did that by himself - looks great. How'd you go about it, Bud?

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

Thanks to all

Scot you are right. I blocked the hat by hand with steam and patience. The sweatband came from a lounge member and I installed it. The ribbon is not as wide as what I had planned. The wider the ribbon the harder it is to stretch without getting a pucker in it. I may try the wider ribbon later, but for now this one works. The hat is light on the head and a pleasure to wear in the intense heat here.

 

[Razzman]

Wow! You did a great job. The hat look great. I agree with Douglas, nice lines. Congrats on a job well done. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Wow, that is a great hat with a very tight weave. Nice job, enjoy it

 

[squid]

That's a nice job.

 

[docholliday55]

Looks like a peach of a hat Bud. You certainly turned out a nice job on that blank.
doc

 

[RBH]

W O W

:eusa_clap You did great :eusa_clap
From the crown to the ribbon, a really wonderfull job !

 

[Mr. Rover]

Swell hat! Great job!

 

[Panamabob]

That is the best way to buy a straw hat, vintage! That means it was not worn, and never blocked. You obviously found out that you can turn a "hat body" into a wearable hat. Who blocked it for you? It looks nice.

I'm about 99% sure that that is a Cuenca Brisa that goes on ebay for about $6.99 and $15.00 shipping. That kid has been ripping people off for a little over a year.



Great work on the refinish job.

 

[Kilroy]

Were you able to do the sweatband with a regular sewing machine? Or did you do it by hand. It looks super.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

I'm about 99% sure that that is a Cuenca Brisa that goes on ebay for about $6.99 and $15.00 shipping. That kid has been ripping people off for a little over a year.



Great work on the refinish job.

Bob I do not know straw nearly as well as you, but we are probably talking about the same seller. It was listed as a "montecristi fino ecuadorian panama hat beautiful!!!!!!!", but I do not have the knowledge to tell the difference. The price is just about what I paid, I bought it back the first of the year, and at the time this seller had zero neg. feedback. That has since changed. I did feel ripped off when what I got was a blank in a balsa box and a piece of black elastic for a hat-band, not a hat as was advertised. Like I said being the optimist, I was compelled to make lemonade out of the lemon that I had. I am happy with what I have accomplished, but have no desire to repeat the process. Thanks for the kind words.

Here is a photo posted by the seller, trust me, it looked nothing like this when it arrived.

This is what it looked like when it arrived.

p.s. If you have never done a thread on the difference's between the straws, I am sure there are many of us that would be interested.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

Were you able to do the sweatband with a regular sewing machine? Or did you do it by hand. It looks super.

Everything was done by hand, I do not have a sewing machine, but I do have two hands.
Thanks for the kind words