Taper....what can you do yourself to fix?

[Jonny Whip Crack]

Hi everyone. If this has been covered, forgive me. Having recently sent a hat back to get re-blocked due to (in my opinion) too much taper, possibly from shipping and settling, I'm curious what you guys and gals have done to fix taper on your own. Any tried and true stories out there? I've read and been told that working the bash and creases helps to take the taper out....but how? Deeper creases, further back creases, less creases? I love all my hats, and this was just a one off problem. I just received a Raiders AB fedora, and notice very slight taper on the one side whan looking in the mirror. Is that Ok..... does the Raiders block Steve uses have slight taper already, therefore that's perfectly normal. My fed IV virtually has no taper...that's ok, but in the mirror is looks more square, and a little less Indy to me.
So, when the time comes to fix taper in a hat from years of wear, besides getting re-blocked, what do you suggest is the best remedy to remove taper, mind you I get nervous any time I decide to change anything in a pre-bashed hat. I'm sure some of you know what I mean.
Thanks everyone
p.s. Mr. Delk, you make a wonderful hat!

Jonny

[Chewbacca Jones]

I've read and been told that working the bash and creases helps to take the taper out....but how? Deeper creases, further back creases, less creases?

How you bash a hat can accentuate or obscure taper, but it can't get rid of it. A deep top crease will make taper worse, shallow will lessen it. Also, a c-dent causes less taper than an Indy center crease, and a diamond crown can hide taper very well. Also, a less tight front pinch will do more to hide taper.

I just received a Raiders AB fedora, and notice very slight taper on the one side whan looking in the mirror. Is that Ok..... does the Raiders block Steve uses have slight taper already, therefore that's perfectly normal.

Yes, perfectly normal. I don't know how much taper Steve's block has, if any, but shaping a hat causes taper (and sometimes even reverse taper). If it's a Raiders hat, it's probably turned, which will make one side look more tapered than the other, since the hat is not straight. This is how a Raiders hat should look.

My fed IV virtually has no taper...that's ok, but in the mirror is looks more square, and a little less Indy to me.
So, when the time comes to fix taper in a hat from years of wear, besides getting re-blocked, what do you suggest is the best remedy to remove taper, mind you I get nervous any time I decide to change anything in a pre-bashed hat.

The squareness you see in the Fed IV is an example of how a little bit of taper can go a long way.
Some of us hate messing with a pre-bashed hat, especially if we love it as-is. But if you want to avoid a reblock longer to fix taper you might have to. When the time comes, you may feel differently.
As far as actually fixing taper, a reblock is the only way. Some have made or purchased blocks (or improvised them) to do it at home, but in the end, taper is caused by shrinking and an attempt of the felt hat body to return to it old conical form. A reblock is just part of hat maintenance.

[Fedora]

does the Raiders block Steve uses have slight taper already, therefore that's perfectly normal.

The Raiders block has a slight taper, which goes away when you TURN the hat. I think you ordered your hat unturned-right? I may have you confused with another, so set me straight.

Of course, if you still want a square look, I have blocks that will give you that look, without the turn being used. But, it is a caricatured hat. I will of course, do anything you guys want, if you are not satisfied with the hat.

As time has passed, I took out some of the caricatures I had put in, originally. But, I still have those original blocks, so not a problem at all. I actually have 3 sets of Raider blocks. The original, then the LLS vintage HJ block, and the new revised Raiders block. So, I can give you any look that you think is right. The correctness of the hat, is in the beholder's eye, that much I have learned over the years. And, we are here to please!

But, what has me confused, is the amount of taper you talked about. Whenever I send out hats, non look tapered, because if they did, I would just remake the hat. Even the new block with a little taper built in, that taper always disapears when I crease the hats. This may just be an odd bird of a hat, and I will check it out when it gets here.

If a hat appears ok, but looks tapered when you put it on, the first thing I think of is I sent a regular oval hat, and the customer has a round oval head. The round oval head inside a regular oval hat will always show taper. The thing is, few folks have round oval heads. Round ovals are generally seen in oriental folks and native americans, or anyone with Indian ancestory, like Americans with Mexican ancestory, or native American ancestory. Fedora

[Jonny Whip Crack]

Thanks both of you. Steve, you're correct, it is I who is sending a hat back to you...you should have it in 6 business days. Check it out...perhaps I'm crazy, but I would value your opinion. And yes, I asked for no turn in my Raiders hat. The most recent AB you sent me is gorgeous... I think I have "comparrison syndrome" where I compare one hat with another, constantly. My very first AB was purchased off Ebay, and is probably several years old. It is a Raiders, with Turn, and with what seems to be a fair amount of stiffner in it. It's held is shape through travels to Europe and abroad, and has kept it's shape, with no taper, nicely. Maybe this was an older Raiders block, and I must say I'm fond of the way this hat looks. When I can get some pics, I'll post them up, perhaps with a shot of it alongside all my other fedoras for comparrison.
Steve, if you must, please feel free to use an older Raiders block on the HJ coming back to you. My last HJ was a Todd's and am regretting selling this hat, even with the poor construction and bow. When I was able to afford a new one from Magnoli, I got very excited and wanted it to look just like ones I've seen posted here on COW in the new and improved felt.
Agan, thanks for all your feedback. Once all hats are back in my possession, I'll line them up for all of you to see and discuss, if you so desire.

Best Regards,
Jonny

[Jonny Whip Crack]

Oh yeah....and Steve, if you wnat to put the Turn in my other Raiders, please feel free. I have one more AB on order with you that should be up very soon. I think I'd love to have another one with the Turn, especially if it means less taper.
Take care.
Jonny

[DR Ulloa]

Could it be that the crease popped out during shipping? That affects the amount of perceived taper in the hat.

Dave

[Fedora]

Ok, this was the HJ! I was thinking a reg AB for some reason. I will know more when I get it back and check it out. But sounds almost like the original blockshape is rearing its head. May have been a goof up on my end, like not ironing in the new shape, enough times. So, it morphed. I will know as soon as I open up the box! When you are juggling 4 or 5 hats in the same day, there is more of a chance of error, so I would not doubt that I missed this hat somehow in the sequence of how I do things. I just hope this is a rare event! But, juggle I must. Fedora