While waiting for my AB Deluxe...

Frenchie · Post by **Frenchie** » Sun May 11, 2008 6:23 pm

Hi there fellow Fedora wearers and entousiasts!

While not new to the forum as I have been having great pleasure reading the posts and learning a great deal about the Fedora, here's my first post to this forum! I have to say that I am very happy to be a member of this forum and I hope to make friends!

)

Excuse me in advance IF my English is NOT without many spelling and words mistakes as English is not my first language! So, While I am ONE of the MANY customers waiting for my AB Deluxe by the very friendly and extremely talented Mr.Marc Kitter, I have ordered, a few weeks back, a Raiders Fedora by the no-less friendly and greatly talented Mr.Jimmy Pierce.

I received it last Friday and, Oh boy, what a joy!

) the hat is fantastic, extremely well crafted and done. it's a beaver fur and the color is beautiful as well as the shape and block. the ONLY minus that I have, and its a MINUS, as i said, it's that, while I like my fedora felt Sloppier (is it the right word?), the felt here is pretty stiff! I own a few fedarations from Akubra, and, while the JP fedora is not necessarely Stiffer, it is still a bit stiff to my usual taste! but, that's the ONLY thing, because, I like Mr.Pierce products so much that I intent to order a Rabbit-Fur version also (with LESS stiffener)!

I have a question if I may: Do some members here have some advices or tips as to how to Un-Stiff a felt a bit? If so, I would appreciate.

)

Again, Many Thanks to Mr.Pierce for his great Artwork and friendly customer service!

)

So, pictures to come when I have find the right way!

)

Frenchie

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http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/ ... C00127.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/ ... C00100.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a316/ ... C00096.jpg

TonyRush · Post by **TonyRush** » Sun May 11, 2008 6:55 pm

Frenchie, it looks like your photo URLs are missing an extension; probably .jpg.

If you go back and edit your post with the rest of the file name, it should work.

Tony

Frenchie · Post by **Frenchie** » Sun May 11, 2008 7:00 pm

Hi TonyRush,

Yes, what a bummer, something is missing, probably the .jpg like you say!

I will go try to fix that! many thanks my friend!

)

Frenchie

IndyFrench · Post by **IndyFrench** » Sun May 11, 2008 7:07 pm

I'm just glad there's someone named Frenchie on here now so everyone else will have to stop calling me that! Welcome to the boards! You've got my thumbs up!

Take note everyone - Now there's a good reason to not call me Frenchie.

Frenchie · Post by **Frenchie** » Sun May 11, 2008 7:12 pm

Hi There French... euh, IndyFrench!

I have come to your rescue, my friend! Thank you for your
greetings, most appreciated!

Frenchie · Post by **Frenchie** » Sun May 11, 2008 8:41 pm

Hum... I have tried many times to post some pictures but for some reasons,
it just doesn't work! I use the Img button and i have post pictures in the past....

Oh well, somebody have some good pictures storing sites to suggest?

Sorry about this and thank you!

Piers · Post by **Piers** » Sun May 11, 2008 8:55 pm

http://photobucket.com/ works well

Frenchie · Post by **Frenchie** » Sun May 11, 2008 9:15 pm

Say, Thanks Piers!

Much appreciated!

Indiana Johnson · Post by **Indiana Johnson** » Sun May 11, 2008 11:57 pm

Welcome to Cow, I must say, that is a darn fine lid. I would be proud of that one.

Frenchie · Post by **Frenchie** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:03 am

Hi Indiana Johnson,

Thank you very much for your comment and thanks also
for your greetings!

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:23 am

Welcome to COW, Frenchie! Probably the best way to make the felt less stiff-- if you are willing to do this-- is to roll it up into a ball and knead it for a few seconds. If you change your mind later on and want to go back to a stiffer feel, carefully steaming the hat will re-activate the stiffener.

Jack

Frenchie · Post by **Frenchie** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:56 am

Hi eazybox!

So, rolling it up into a ball and knead it for a few seconds, eh?! doing so
will really soften up the felt? and, i didnt know that steaming it would Re-activate
the stiffener, very interesting!...

But, say, isn't some people say that using steam on a felt is bad and can shrink it?!

well, I will try on your tips and I thank you very much!

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:12 am

Frenchie wrote:Hi eazybox!

So, rolling it up into a ball and knead it for a few seconds, eh?! doing so
will really soften up the felt? and, i didnt know that steaming it would Re-activate
the stiffener, very interesting!...

But, say, isn't some people say that using steam on a felt is bad and can shrink it?!

well, I will try on your tips and I thank you very much!

You can definitely shrink a hat with steam and you should do it very carefully and only if you feel it is nececessary, such as when the felt doesn't respond any other way to your attempts at shaping the hat.

I think the key to successfully steaming a hat, especially if you just want to re-activate the stiffener, is to only do it for a few seconds, and avoid getting the hat too close to the heat source. That has been my experience, anyway.

Jack

Frenchie · Post by **Frenchie** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:06 pm

Well, I understand. eazybox!

Many thanks to your great advices my friend!