New Campdraft ordered...how do I bash it?

[Blackhorse]

Just ordered the Campdraft from Everything Australian in the "stock" (ie. always in) color...Roo Poop Fawn (or something like that), like others here reported. The comments re: the high cost of shipping seem odd to me I guess as the charge was, like just under $14 US. If I were to send the hat back the USPS would charge me something like $24 US - so it seemed OK to me. The time predicted was 8-10 days. Total cost of the hat with shipping was just under $88! This seems really good to me. Very eager to get the hat and do the project! I've got a Biltmore Royal in Black Diamond that has that same full crown feel to the style and get lots of good comments...I needed a medium brownish.

As to the real intent of my post...more info on "bash proceedure". So, you mist it well and then "go to work" on it? OK, I get the misting...now more about the "going to work on it" please. Just exactly what does one do? Is it a massage kind of thing? Is it more "pushing" the fabric into the new shape? Is it between the thumb and index fingers? Do you use a mold? Do you avoid too much rubbing to minimize flattening the felt? How do you avoid putting any unwanted wrinkles or whatever into the fabric? Do you let it dry totally without heat, etc., etc., etc.?

 

[Feraud]

My Akubra Federation Deluxe arrived with an open crown and very stiff. I used steam from a kettle to get the felt to soften up. Once you feel it is pliable just put the bash you want on it. You are not going to damage or wrinkle the felt. Shape, pinch, or push it into your desired look.
When finished set the hat aside until it sets. I bashed my hat in the evening and let it sit overnight.

 

[Rick Blaine]

No Fear

Just ordered the Campdraft from Everything Australian in the "stock" (ie. always in) color...Roo Poop Fawn (or something like that), like others here reported. The comments re: the high cost of shipping seem odd to me I guess as the charge was, like just under $14 US. If I were to send the hat back the USPS would charge me something like $24 US - so it seemed OK to me. The time predicted was 8-10 days. Total cost of the hat with shipping was just under $88! This seems really good to me. Very eager to get the hat and do the project! I've got a Biltmore Royal in Black Diamond that has that same full crown feel to the style and get lots of good comments...I needed a medium brownish.

As to the real intent of my post...more info on "bash proceedure". So, you mist it well and then "go to work" on it? OK, I get the misting...now more about the "going to work on it" please. Just exactly what does one do? Is it a massage kind of thing? Is it more "pushing" the fabric into the new shape? Is it between the thumb and index fingers? Do you use a mold? Do you avoid too much rubbing to minimize flattening the felt? How do you avoid putting any unwanted wrinkles or whatever into the fabric? Do you let it dry totally without heat, etc., etc., etc.?

First off, you aren't going to hurt this hat, uh huh, no way short of punching a hole in it. These felts can take it. Pls. see here: Kepler mauls a fedora
scroll down to the bottom of the page click the white "click here" link and see a man manhandle some felt.

As I understand it steam is the thing, rather than mist from a spray bottle, as the warmer the air the more H20 vapor it can hold. With steam the felt really becomes quite plastic & pliable. There is nothing hard & fast as to how you might accomplish a bash, it is largely a subjective sort of thing, responding to the sculptural qualities of the material and I suspect that there are as many techniques & processes as there are hat wearers. Execute a search 'round here & over on COW & I guarantee you will find a wealth of info.

 

[Prairie Shade]

Karate Chop

I think steam is probably better than wetting the felt. I have shaped (or re-shaped) many a wet hat and it does work. The wet came from rain and the shrinking part came from drying in room air. Not the best of combinations. Steam from a kettle, karate chop it fore 'an aft, put a pinch in the front and thats good enough for yours truly. I am waiting on an Australian Military Hat from Everything Australian. It has an open crown also. Think I'll do the same for it when it arrives. I DO LIKE the looks of the Campdraft and was tempted greatly. Just didnt want anymore fawn hats, and didnt want to wait 3 months for a silver belly. David Morgan maybe for one of his moonstones. nope, little woman is watching the checkbook.

 

[Feraud]

I advocate steam but will say the best results I have had was after my hat got soaked in a downpour!
Shape, hang dry, and fantastic results.

 

[Blackhorse]

OK - steam it til it's pliable and then have at it...what was I thinking? I guess I was trying to make it more complicated than it is. Thanks guys!

 

[RBH]

my method for bashing uses a spray bottle of cold water here is a pic of my Camp Draft after bashing
my avatar is with the Campdraft on..
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/2355/cd4bn0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

What I do is wet the crown of the hat real well, not drippy wet but wet to the touch. I then put the hat on and procede to shape it the way I like, including the c- crown and side dents.
Work your hat as you think you want it to be, you will not hurt it. They can take a lot of bashing and this includes the vintage hats.
I use the same ' spray and bash ' on all my hats.

Here is a link to the thread.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=12834

GOOD LUCK on your bash job !!!!

 

[Blackhorse]

Yes, seeing your Campdraft was what spurred me to my order...I knew it as unstructured, but their humerous gaucho bash had kept me from pulling the trigger on it. I was also nervous about the color...but your photos showed me it was quite reasonable - I wanted lighter than their other Fawns...and this seemed to be so.

One critical question on yours...how accurate was the sizing? Was it right on...or "Akubra large"?

 

[RBH]

One critical question on yours...how accurate was the sizing? Was it right on...or "Akubra large"?

I wear a size 7 1/2, mine fit very good. The more I wear it the better it seems to fit my head.
Good luck with yours, I think you will be glad you got it.
p.s. one thing I forgot to add was that after my hat dried and I had worn it a few days I sprayed it well with
'' Scout Felt Hat Rain & Stain Protector''
I think the little extra protection doesnt hurt any, I have already worn mine in some good rains and it takes a lot of rain to make the hat 'wet'.

 

[Blackhorse]

OK - Disaster - contacted by vendor to let me know their website is in error...no CD's "in stock" - all are a three month wait! Ar-r-r-r-rgh!!! :eusa_doh:

Now I'm looking at a at David Morgan and found the following...very interesting!

http://www.davidmorgan.com/bashinghat.html?products_id=82&

The "squatter" (reminds me of several choice hunting stories) is described as follows, and is obtainable in black, some fawnish color and MOONSTONE (gray). Hmm-m-m-m!

The Squatter is a classic Australian town and country hat. The brim is 3 inches wide, bound edge, and may be worn snapped down in front or as a drop brim down all around. Imperial Quality pure fur felt, 1-1/4 inch ribbon band, fully lined, with chin strap hooks set inside the crown for attachment of a chin strap. 5-1/4 inch open crown. Reeded roan leather sweatband. Made in Australia.

Anyone out there have any experience with this one? It's a BIG hummer! I was actually looking more for a city hat with less brim...any thoughts?

 

[RBH]

OK - Disaster - contacted by vendor to let me know their website is in error...no CD's "in stock" - all are a three month wait! Ar-r-r-r-rgh!!! :eusa_doh:

As a side note, every site I checked told me a 3 month wait. I actually recieved my CD in about 2 months.
Here is the place I ordered mine from
http://shop.valleycountry.com.au/catalogue/category1/category13/category54/product334
I did order it early so I would be sure to have it by fall. But let me tell you it is a fine fedora, and after getting it I can say it was worth the wait.
Good luck in you search...

 

[RBH]

Miller hats

http://www.millerhats.com/derby2.htm
has this
Style: 469 "Douglas Hat"
Finish: Smooth Finish Fur Felt
Brim: 2 3/4" Bound Edge
Crown: 4 3/8" Front 3 3/4" Back Teardrop
Band: 3/8" Grograin Double Bow
Colors: Fawn (Shown), Silver Belly, Black,
Gray, Brown
Sizes: 6 3/4 - 7 3/4
Price: $125.00
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/4196/thinribbonos5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

 

[Blackhorse]

Thanks Bud. I've looked over Miller's stuff on several occasions - some good options there. I think I'm just gonna drag my lower lip around here for a day or so. I've got a Stetson to take back in to John Helmer's today and exchange - so thay will pretty much keep me from being a danger to myself and others.

Let's see...it's a blustery day in Stumptown today...what will I choose? Hmm-m-m-m-m. :cool2: