Hey Bond:
Nice go on that one Regan!I tried to take some pictures today of a conversion I just finished up; the lighting was too poor inside for a black hat, and all the snow and ice outside made it tough to get good pictures...
I needed a black hat for the occasional funeral, etc., but I don't wear one often enough that I wanted to sink the money into a custom. So when a friend gave me a beat-up, dirty Resistol 4x in my 7-3/4 size that had seen better days, I thought I would give it a try. The hat was really dirty and dusty, and had some wear on the edges of the sort-of cattleman crease, and had a couple of "break" lines in the felt of the brim from where it had been folded or creased harshly when dry. I wish I had taken "before" pictures, but suffice it to say that this hat was in bad enough shape that I didn't mind mutilating, I mean, converting it.
I wanted the brim just a little narrower than my normal wide brims so I chose 2-7/8", got a modest 4-3/4" tall crown with teardrop crease out of the crown I had to work with, and found a piece of vintage dark navy ribbon for just a little color. (I shamelessly stole the color scheme from @TJones; thanks Terry!)
The bow work didn't turn out quite as neat as I would have liked, and the wide hatband ribbon still has a few wrinkles where I tried to iron the "swirl" into it that I will have to try again to steam out, but overall it's okay for a hat I won't wear often. The flange had to be steamed and formed by hand over repetitive sessions as I don't own a flange block, but this felt was surprisingly malleable and easy to work with for a western-weight felt.
This is still all a learning experience for me, so I really appreciate everyone that posts here and elsewhere on the board with all of the good pictures and information about how to "do it yourself".
Take care,
Regan
I tried to take some pictures today of a conversion I just finished up; the lighting was too poor inside for a black hat, and all the snow and ice outside made it tough to get good pictures...
I needed a black hat for the occasional funeral, etc., but I don't wear one often enough that I wanted to sink the money into a custom. So when a friend gave me a beat-up, dirty Resistol 4x in my 7-3/4 size that had seen better days, I thought I would give it a try. The hat was really dirty and dusty, and had some wear on the edges of the sort-of cattleman crease, and had a couple of "break" lines in the felt of the brim from where it had been folded or creased harshly when dry. I wish I had taken "before" pictures, but suffice it to say that this hat was in bad enough shape that I didn't mind mutilating, I mean, converting it.
I wanted the brim just a little narrower than my normal wide brims so I chose 2-7/8", got a modest 4-3/4" tall crown with teardrop crease out of the crown I had to work with, and found a piece of vintage dark navy ribbon for just a little color. (I shamelessly stole the color scheme from @TJones; thanks Terry!)
The bow work didn't turn out quite as neat as I would have liked, and the wide hatband ribbon still has a few wrinkles where I tried to iron the "swirl" into it that I will have to try again to steam out, but overall it's okay for a hat I won't wear often. The flange had to be steamed and formed by hand over repetitive sessions as I don't own a flange block, but this felt was surprisingly malleable and easy to work with for a western-weight felt.
This is still all a learning experience for me, so I really appreciate everyone that posts here and elsewhere on the board with all of the good pictures and information about how to "do it yourself".
Take care,
Regan
I tried to get some good pictures, but a clearer photo would have made my lack of skill obvious. Your conversion looks good to me.I tried to take some pictures today of a conversion I just finished up; the lighting was too poor inside for a black hat, and all the snow and ice outside made it tough to get good pictures...
I needed a black hat for the occasional funeral, etc., but I don't wear one often enough that I wanted to sink the money into a custom. So when a friend gave me a beat-up, dirty Resistol 4x in my 7-3/4 size that had seen better days, I thought I would give it a try. The hat was really dirty and dusty, and had some wear on the edges of the sort-of cattleman crease, and had a couple of "break" lines in the felt of the brim from where it had been folded or creased harshly when dry. I wish I had taken "before" pictures, but suffice it to say that this hat was in bad enough shape that I didn't mind mutilating, I mean, converting it.
I wanted the brim just a little narrower than my normal wide brims so I chose 2-7/8", got a modest 4-3/4" tall crown with teardrop crease out of the crown I had to work with, and found a piece of vintage dark navy ribbon for just a little color. (I shamelessly stole the color scheme from @TJones; thanks Terry!)
The bow work didn't turn out quite as neat as I would have liked, and the wide hatband ribbon still has a few wrinkles where I tried to iron the "swirl" into it that I will have to try again to steam out, but overall it's okay for a hat I won't wear often. The flange had to be steamed and formed by hand over repetitive sessions as I don't own a flange block, but this felt was surprisingly malleable and easy to work with for a western-weight felt.
This is still all a learning experience for me, so I really appreciate everyone that posts here and elsewhere on the board with all of the good pictures and information about how to "do it yourself".
Take care,
Regan
That looks great! Good work!I tried to take some pictures today of a conversion I just finished up; the lighting was too poor inside for a black hat, and all the snow and ice outside made it tough to get good pictures...
I needed a black hat for the occasional funeral, etc., but I don't wear one often enough that I wanted to sink the money into a custom. So when a friend gave me a beat-up, dirty Resistol 4x in my 7-3/4 size that had seen better days, I thought I would give it a try. The hat was really dirty and dusty, and had some wear on the edges of the sort-of cattleman crease, and had a couple of "break" lines in the felt of the brim from where it had been folded or creased harshly when dry. I wish I had taken "before" pictures, but suffice it to say that this hat was in bad enough shape that I didn't mind mutilating, I mean, converting it.
I wanted the brim just a little narrower than my normal wide brims so I chose 2-7/8", got a modest 4-3/4" tall crown with teardrop crease out of the crown I had to work with, and found a piece of vintage dark navy ribbon for just a little color. (I shamelessly stole the color scheme from @TJones; thanks Terry!)
The bow work didn't turn out quite as neat as I would have liked, and the wide hatband ribbon still has a few wrinkles where I tried to iron the "swirl" into it that I will have to try again to steam out, but overall it's okay for a hat I won't wear often. The flange had to be steamed and formed by hand over repetitive sessions as I don't own a flange block, but this felt was surprisingly malleable and easy to work with for a western-weight felt.
This is still all a learning experience for me, so I really appreciate everyone that posts here and elsewhere on the board with all of the good pictures and information about how to "do it yourself".
Take care,
Regan
Nice job Regan. I like it.I tried to take some pictures today of a conversion I just finished up; the lighting was too poor inside for a black hat, and all the snow and ice outside made it tough to get good pictures...
I needed a black hat for the occasional funeral, etc., but I don't wear one often enough that I wanted to sink the money into a custom. So when a friend gave me a beat-up, dirty Resistol 4x in my 7-3/4 size that had seen better days, I thought I would give it a try. The hat was really dirty and dusty, and had some wear on the edges of the sort-of cattleman crease, and had a couple of "break" lines in the felt of the brim from where it had been folded or creased harshly when dry. I wish I had taken "before" pictures, but suffice it to say that this hat was in bad enough shape that I didn't mind mutilating, I mean, converting it.
I wanted the brim just a little narrower than my normal wide brims so I chose 2-7/8", got a modest 4-3/4" tall crown with teardrop crease out of the crown I had to work with, and found a piece of vintage dark navy ribbon for just a little color. (I shamelessly stole the color scheme from @TJones; thanks Terry!)
The bow work didn't turn out quite as neat as I would have liked, and the wide hatband ribbon still has a few wrinkles where I tried to iron the "swirl" into it that I will have to try again to steam out, but overall it's okay for a hat I won't wear often. The flange had to be steamed and formed by hand over repetitive sessions as I don't own a flange block, but this felt was surprisingly malleable and easy to work with for a western-weight felt.
This is still all a learning experience for me, so I really appreciate everyone that posts here and elsewhere on the board with all of the good pictures and information about how to "do it yourself".
Take care,
Regan
Nice set of tools Terry. I was wondering how you deal with the moth nibbles.The OR's off the block and it's ready to be put back together. I'm not too thrilled with the crown height, though. When I reblocked it I left it at its original height. I have another later vintage OR that has the same lower crown and it creased out pretty good. I'll see when I put it back together. If not, I have other plans that will work out quite nicely. I also had to make up a new sweat for it, which I expected would be the case. I'll also reuse the original ribbon and bow work, plus the original liner and sweat band bow....
Tools made by a couple of our own talented Loungers: Block and stand made by "Rockwater". Rounding Jack made by "humanshoes", (Rick). It doesn't get any better than this!
I was kicking around ideas on a gray felt hat. I had been looking for something that could be a year round felt but I was reluctant to purchase a high end hat sight unseen. I decided to purchase a gray Silver Canyon outback style hat. It has a 3 inch brim which is larger than the 2 1/2” brims I usually wear. Overall I like it in the pictures except the feathers, those were the first thing to go.
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Yesterday I received my hat. The color is a rich gray and I absolutely love it. The hand of the felt is very nice and lightweight.
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I decided to change the crease to a diamond from it’s factory teardrop crease.
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I converted it from an underwelt too a raw edge, cutting the brim too 2 3/8” from it’s original 3”. I’m really pleased with the way it turned out. The gray color, diamond crease and a tight front pinch really give me the look and feel of a classic fedora for only $49.
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Steven
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style.
Terry yet again your work is amazing. The conversion looks excellent. How did you get rid of the moth eaten areas? I can’t see a trace that they were ever there in your after pictures.I finally finished sizing up and refurbishing this soiled and once moth bitten '60s era 3X Open Road. I reused as much as I could that was original to the hat, 3/8 ribbon and bow, sweat band bow,...and I even put the original 7 1/8 size tag back in it even though it's now a 7 1/4. I also put in a new sweat and another liner that is like the original that came out of it. The old liner had small holes all through it. I lost a little brim width with the reblocking and size up. The original brim width was 2 3/4 but now sports a 2 5/8 reflanged snap brim. It has a straight medium tall crown that is creased in my preferred tear drop crease. There's always satisfaction whenever old classic can be saved and worn again. It turned out to be a nice hat that's comfortable to wear.
Here's a few 'Before and After' pics:
After:
On the head:
Thank you, Steven!
