Western, anyone?

[Neophyte]

I agree with fmw. I like everything about the new shape, but the brim is too wide for any kind of city use. Trim a little off and it's a hat I'd wear anywhere.

 

[frussell]

It would be easier to tell how much you need to take off if you had a photo taken dead-on straight, and one from the side, not at an angle as shown. Looks like you did a good job, although I'm a sucker for the old school style it had in the "before" photo too. Nice work. Frank.

 

[gtdean48]

:arated:

... although I'm a sucker for the old school style it had in the "before" photo too...

 

[Yeps]

I liked the old style, and I like the new style. I do agree though, that with a flattish brim like that, you would need to trim it. If you curled it, it would also look really cool. Before you trim it down, you should see if you can put a kettle curl in it.

 

[bowlerman]

Yes, it is a rather HUGE hat, and the open crown has got to be 6+ inches. Although if I become a cowboy it wouldn't be totally unlike the dimensions of Ben Foster's hat in the recent 3:10 to Yuma... and HE looked cool!

I liked the old style too, but I just wasn't wearing it (I felt like like a kid wearing a full size fireman's helmet) and thought I'd try messing around to see if I got more comfortable with a different style.

a kettle curl-- that would be fun. I like that idea. How do you DIY a kettle curl?

now this is just silly head-on, but you asked for it!

[/IMG]

 

[frussell]

I just spent the day surrounded by both rodeo cowboys and Old West re-enactors. Unless you are going to start wearing full cowboy regalia, you could take some of that brim off. The kettle curl suggestion is good advice, but that's not so much of a DIY project. Surely there's a hatter in your neck of the woods who could do it, and you look like you have enough brim to work with, although it might look and work better if they put binding on the edge. I think the crown looks good on you, and I even like the wide ribbon. If it means you're going to wear it more often, by all means change it. I took down a custom hat that I have on display in my house yesterday, put it on, and realized that I'm never going to wear it. I can't imagine what I could do to change it without ruining the original look, as it's got a kettle curl with super wide binding. Flashy, but never going to be my style, unless I become a cowboy pimp. Your conversion is definitely doable. Good luck. Frank.

 

[fmw]

Did you say cowboy pimp?

 

[bowlerman]

LOL. Love that boot!

So what exactly is a cowboy pimp-- one who ropes cattle and is also a pimp, or one who pimps cowboys?

I saw a wooden hand tool for kettle curling online, but $180+ seems a little steep for something like that. Heck, that could be another hat.

 

[frussell]

fmw - I had a pair of Montie Montana's old boots when I was a kid that made those look downright tame. If I recall, they had multicolor butterfly overlays, with Montie's double M insignia. bowlerman - you live in cowboy country, there should be a hatter who could do a kettle curl for you somewhere nearby. If not, send it to Major Moore. You've got a potentially great western hat coming along there. Frank

 

[majormoore]

I sent my very old wooden tool to the guy several years ago and he has started to remake them and sale them online, trust me if you want to curl several hat brims, then you will need this tool, it works, when I got mine, which is very old, maybe from the 20's I thought why did some one make this wooden hat curling tool, when all my other brim curling tools were metal that you had to heat up on a hot plate and work around the brim, so one day the light went off in my head to use the wooden tool and I have never looked back. It is worth every penny he gets , try making one yourself some time and get the roll right.

Major Moore

 

[danofarlington]

Yes, it is a rather HUGE hat, and the open crown has got to be 6+ inches. Although if I become a cowboy it wouldn't be totally unlike the dimensions of Ben Foster's hat in the recent 3:10 to Yuma... and HE looked cool!

I liked the old style too, but I just wasn't wearing it (I felt like like a kid wearing a full size fireman's helmet) and thought I'd try messing around to see if I got more comfortable with a different style.

a kettle curl-- that would be fun. I like that idea. How do you DIY a kettle curl?

now this is just silly head-on, but you asked for it!

[/IMG]

That is a bodacious hat.

 

[bowlerman]

I sent my very old wooden tool to the guy several years ago and he has started to remake them and sale them online, trust me if you want to curl several hat brims, then you will need this tool, it works, when I got mine, which is very old, maybe from the 20's I thought why did some one make this wooden hat curling tool, when all my other brim curling tools were metal that you had to heat up on a hot plate and work around the brim, so one day the light went off in my head to use the wooden tool and I have never looked back. It is worth every penny he gets , try making one yourself some time and get the roll right.

Major Moore

I'm sure it is worth every penny if you're going to use it a bunch-- I certainly do not doubt your expertise!!! But for someone like me who's "tooling around" and experimenting, well maybe another time.

Frank, it would make sense that in these parts there would be someone who could do it for me, but every place I've been to in the area is pretty much just good at selling wool Baileys. I did get one of the guys to change a little of the brim "wing" height on one of them, but that's something I could have done at home.

Thanks for the advice, everyone! If I can ever stop bidding on Ebay stuff (which really needs to happen soon), then I might be able to save up for a professional reblock/brim treatment with you, Mike!

 

[randooch]

My Stetson 7X, a craigslist score:

The ribbon was missing, so I fashioned this band from the top ply of a faux snakeskin purse strap.

 

[bowlerman]

creative-- i like it!

 

[randooch]

Thanks, bowlerman! That 7X is so blinkin' comfy I forget it's up there.

Who's the maker of that megahat you're working over?

 

[bowlerman]

Thanks, bowlerman! That 7X is so blinkin' comfy I forget it's up there.

Who's the maker of that megahat you're working over?

I have yet to experience the infamous 7x!

the megahat :eusa_clap was made to order by a guy I think you can only really find on Ebay if you search for "vintage handmade hats," sort of an oxymoron to begin with. He's based in Lebanon, TN, and I believe he calls himself charles. you can see on Ebay that he makes some big ole brims~ have to say I really like the materials and craftmanship in his hats though!

 

[Lefty]

7X and 7XCB are very different animals.

 

[randooch]

Here is my new Stetson 10X

Mike, how would you describe the color on that beauty? The tone changed photo to photo, silverbelly to salmon pink. Has it spent any time on?

 

[randooch]

7X and 7XCB are very different animals.

I've yet to lay me hands on the latter. Someday!

 

[Neophyte]

He's based in Lebanon, TN, and I believe he calls himself charles. you can see on Ebay that he makes some big ole brims~ have to say I really like the materials and craftmanship in his hats though!

Gladhatter?