The Conversion Corral

[TheDane]

Still not sure about the ribbon, though.

Looks like the 6-ply brown. Maybe a two- or three-ply with only a knot and "two loose ends" would be better for that look - like the original(?)

 

[T Jones]

Looks like the 6-ply brown. Maybe a two- or three-ply with only a knot and "two loose ends" would be better for that look - like the original(?)

A good friend gave me that brown 6 ply. It's a hard one to come by these days. Yeah, I like the 2-3 ply thin ribbons. I would have probably went with one but I'm a little ribbon shy at the moment. Always good to hear from you. Hope all is well.

 

[Scooterz]

If you are looking to buy some new ribbon what do you call the thin ribbon used on open roads and clones? Some of it looks tubular. Is there a tutorial on ribbon making or tying?

 

[T Jones]

If you are looking to buy some new ribbon what do you call the thin ribbon used on open roads and clones? Some of it looks tubular. Is there a tutorial on ribbon making or tying?

The thin ribbons on Open Roads would have been 3/8 grosgrain ribbon. The bows aren't actually tied. They're just made to look that way. A couple folds here, a stitch or two there, add a loop, (keeper), and you have an optical deception that looks like a tied bow.

Could be that the tubular looking ribbon that you're describing maybe ply ribbon? Although I do have a Bradford Westerner that has a very thin round ribbon. Is that what you were referring to?

 

[Scooterz]

The thin ribbons on Open Roads would have been 3/8 grosgrain ribbon. The bows aren't actually tied. They're just made to look that way. A couple folds here, a stitch or two there, add a loop, (keeper), and you have an optical deception that looks like a tied bow.

Could be that the tubular looking ribbon that you're describing maybe ply ribbon? Although I do have a Bradford Westerner that has a very thin round ribbon. Is that what you were referring to?

Well some look flat and on the ends that set on the brim some look slightly hollow like they are sewn into a small tube/round. I am not sure I may have seen that on clones by other brands. Just did not know if there was a name for that type of ribbon I could google to figure out where to get some. I did find a couple of old hats online. One is a statesman which looks just like an akubra snowy river and I assume it was probably made by them and I got a stagecoach. Now I am trying to think about how to trim the brims without a hatjack. I keep envisioning a piece of plywood with a hole for the crown and the hat upside down in the hole, and then finding one of my wife's dinner plates or cooking pot lids that is close to the diameter and centering that on the hat and using it as a form. Probably can't find one with the right oval (I am just a regular oval as far as head shape). Would a totally round brim (ie like using a pie pan for a form) give you an ok looking and functioning brim? A lot of brims look pretty round when they are flat but that may be slightly deceptive. I know some of folks mark off the brim and cut with scissors, I would like something to cut against just to make the curve smoother. Maybe someone should start fabricating french curves for hat converters. Probably wouldn't be profitable since we are too tight to buy hats the way we want them in the first place

 

[T Jones]

Well some look flat and on the ends that set on the brim some look slightly hollow like they are sewn into a small tube/round. I am not sure I may have seen that on clones by other brands. Just did not know if there was a name for that type of ribbon I could google to figure out where to get some. I did find a couple of old hats online. One is a statesman which looks just like an akubra snowy river and I assume it was probably made by them and I got a stagecoach. Now I am trying to think about how to trim the brims without a hatjack. I keep envisioning a piece of plywood with a hole for the crown and the hat upside down in the hole, and then finding one of my wife's dinner plates or cooking pot lids that is close to the diameter and centering that on the hat and using it as a form. Probably can't find one with the right oval (I am just a regular oval as far as head shape). Would a totally round brim (ie like using a pie pan for a form) give you an ok looking and functioning brim? A lot of brims look pretty round when they are flat but that may be slightly deceptive. I know some of folks mark off the brim and cut with scissors, I would like something to cut against just to make the curve smoother. Maybe someone should start fabricating french curves for hat converters. Probably wouldn't be profitable since we are too tight to buy hats the way we want them in the first place

As far as brim cutters, this one would be effective and easy to use. It takes off only a little brim at a time, though, making it slower than a rounding jack...but it's also far less $$$$ than a rounding jack.

 

[Redwoodjedi]

This is a conversion of an old Resistol Roundup I found on eBay for $20. It had the nice tan/taupe color and some character on it already that I was looking for. I also needed a nice, thick felt for use at work. I work in a Lumber Dept. at Lowe's and so my lid needs to be a bit tougher than traditional felt fedoras. So I trimmed and sanded the brim down to 3" and put a nice Diamond crease in the straight, untapered 6" crown. I also put a new moss colored ribbon on it that was fairly thin to accentuate the tall crown. Finally, I gave the brim a nice curve and swoop and "Voila!" an instant Daily Beater. She has been my trusty rusty for about a year and a half now and by far it is my favorite hat. Goes well with any of my Carhartt Jackets....

Thanks for lookin',

Erik

 

[RJR]

This is a conversion of an old Resistol Roundup I found on eBay for $20. It had the nice tan/taupe color and some character on it already that I was looking for. I also needed a nice, thick felt for use at work. I work in a Lumber Dept. at Lowe's and so my lid needs to be a bit tougher than traditional felt fedoras. So I trimmed and sanded the brim down to 3" and put a nice Diamond crease in the straight, untapered 6" crown. I also put a new moss colored ribbon on it that was fairly thin to accentuate the tall crown. Finally, I gave the brim a nice curve and swoop and "Voila!" an instant Daily Beater. She has been my trusty rusty for about a year and a half now and by far it is my favorite hat. Goes well with any of my Carhartt Jackets....

Thanks for lookin',

Erik


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Nice job.

 

[Redwoodjedi]

Nice job.

Thanks a bunch, RJ!

 

[bond]

Good work everyone. Here's a couple of homburg conversions I just finished for a fellow lounger. Grey one is Stetson lighter one is Borsalino , both very nice hats to begin with as far as felt quality goes not to mention having enough brim to work with.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Redfokker]

Good work everyone. Here's a couple of homburg conversions I just finished for a fellow lounger. Grey one is Stetson lighter one is Borsalino , both very nice hats to begin with as far as felt quality goes not to mention having enough brim to work with.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great job on these, love the Homburg especially.

 

[steur]

The work is very well done, but I'm always a bit sad to see a beautiful homburg go. Such an elegant hat.

 

[Scooterz]

This is a conversion of an old Resistol Roundup I found on eBay for $20. It had the nice tan/taupe color and some character on it already that I was looking for. I also needed a nice, thick felt for use at work. I work in a Lumber Dept. at Lowe's and so my lid needs to be a bit tougher than traditional felt fedoras. So I trimmed and sanded the brim down to 3" and put a nice Diamond crease in the straight, untapered 6" crown. I also put a new moss colored ribbon on it that was fairly thin to accentuate the tall crown. Finally, I gave the brim a nice curve and swoop and "Voila!" an instant Daily Beater. She has been my trusty rusty for about a year and a half now and by far it is my favorite hat. Goes well with any of my Carhartt Jackets....

Thanks for lookin',

Erik


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That looks great. Yes it will be nice to have a quality hat that can be a beater and take the rain. I am sure I will end up with something nice and vintage or custom one of these days but if I drop too much money on it I will be reluctant to put it at much risk. The conversions are going to be fun projects.

 

[T Jones]

I went for yet another reblocking and reworking of this brown Resistol Stagecoach. I went with a Gus crease again, lowering the front of the crown and raising the back of it. I also did a little more reshaping of the brim to give it more of a down turn in both the front and the back. I finished it off with the same 2 ply thin ribbon with a simple knot and tails.

A collection of Western tunes, 1947...

 

[Chepstow]

nice work Terry


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[RJR]

nice work Terry


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+1

 

[T Jones]

nice work Terry


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Thanks buddy. Always good to see you.

 

[Redfokker]

I went for yet another reblocking and reworking of this brown Resistol Stagecoach. I went with a Gus crease again, lowering the front of the crown and raising the back of it. I also did a little more reshaping of the brim to give it more of a down turn in both the front and the back. I finished it off with the same 2 ply thin ribbon with a simple knot and tails.

A collection of Western tunes, 1947...

Great work Terry! That brim edge binding looks interesting is it the stitching that stands out? Or are there two colors?

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Great work Terry! That brim edge binding looks interesting is it the stitching that stands out? Or are there two colors?

The ribbon have the two colors.

It matches the original ribbon that Terry removed.

 

[Scooterz]

First project hat. It came squished in box but popped back into shape ok. A Statesman rabbit fur looks like an Akubra. The first two photos are it with sample bands to try to figure out which way to go on ribbon/band.