Jaxon Iconoclast-First Attempt

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:00 pm

OK, I know I am going to get some **** about the taper, but this is my first attempt at a bash, OK?

Bear in mind that this is the Jaxon Iconoclast, as mentioned in the Least Expensive Indy Fedora thread, and followed up in the Least Expensive Fedora Review thread.

Here's a front view, so you can see the enormous taper:

Here's a side view. If you look closely you can see the remains of the old pinch, which I can't seem to get rid of. CuratorRick, you mentioned this in your thread on rebashing your PD. I tried the toothbrush, but it still didn't want to come out. Any suggestions?

Lastly, here's a three-quarter view, so you can see the top crease. To little, too much?

OK, I'm braced; let me have it!

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:41 pm

Darn respectable!
Don't fret the taper Mojave Jack. If "the man" himself sported a tapered hat(see Temple of Doom, cockpit scene) I think us mere mortals can too.

I tried re-bashing one of my first fedora's and it did not turn out half as good as that!

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:41 pm

Hey...we all have to start somewhere...

I keep this photo just to remind me where I came from and what my first blocking attempts looked like.

Pyr.

Curator Rick · Post by **Curator Rick** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:51 pm

Hey MJ,
Looks good for a first!

Better than my first attempt! Looks very close to Tom Hanks fedora in ROAD TO PERDITION. I've just ordered a Jax and will rebash it also and will keep you updated on my attempt. I'm not sure how the texture of the fur felt compares to the DP. On the DP I removed the teardrop bash and then dampened the crease lines on the outside, while damp I gently brushed it with a soft bristle tooth brush. This worked well on the DP. I then completed the bash after the crease area dried. As far as the taper goes the DP gently tapered near the very top of the crown and is very subtle. What ever the outcome it's still a good deal for $48.00.

Curator Rick

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 11:30 pm

Pyro, glad to see you back in the saddle. I was wondering what happened to ya.

Fedora

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:04 am

Soak the hat, turn on the light and let it sit there for a while. You'll find out that even this taper can become worse

Kidding aside: I once had a very expensive p.o.s. that came with only a small taper, but looked just like yours after a few heavy rains. So it could as well be a slightly used high dollar hat

Regards,

Marc

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:09 am

Jack,
I think it looks pretty good. You should post a pic of you wearing it. That is the only way to tell how it really looks. Still, good job.

Ark Hunter · Post by **Ark Hunter** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 12:39 pm

Hemingway Jones wrote:Jack,
I think it looks pretty good. You should post a pic of you wearing it. That is the only way to tell how it really looks. Still, good job.

Yeah, the brim looks a bit small in the side picture. I'd like to see it on you to compair have something to size it to.

It's still a nice hat! I really like how it turned out, though not quite Indy. Like Rick said, it looks kind of like the "Road to Perdition" hat. Maybe you can sell it as such down the line.

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 2:21 pm

Curator Rick wrote:Hey MJ,
Looks good for a first! Better than my first attempt! Looks very close to Tom Hanks fedora in ROAD TO PERDITION. I've just ordered a Jax and will rebash it also and will keep you updated on my attempt.

I haven't seen Road to Perdition, yet, though it has been on my list for some time. In looking for views of Tom's hat, though, I found this still:

Every other hat there looks more Indy! Oh, well. It seems like the Iconoclast doesn't have the height necessary to get a good Indy bash.

Hemingway Jones wrote:I think it looks pretty good. You should post a pic of you wearing it. That is the only way to tell how it really looks.

Thanks, HJ! It's all a learning process, right?! I'll take some pics tonight.

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:58 pm

OK, here's my hat on my pumpkin:

Not as good looking as Tom Hanks...

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:02 pm

Nice, that about as good as a wool felt fedora can get !

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 2:07 am

Mojave, I'm just curious, and please don't stone me or take offense, but how much are the Iconoclast lids? Are they similar in price to an Akubra reg. Federation? I'd say you could use a much bigger hat! (just judging by the shape/type of your head and face). You did a great job on that bash for the first time! A slightly taller and more "robust" lid would look great on you! Just MO

(I know we all have our own 'budget restrictions', if that's the case, but I was just inquiring

)

have a nice day.

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 8:10 am

Mojave,
I think that hat looks pretty good. It is definitely an Adventurer's hat and though it may not be tall enough to be called an "Indy," it still has that look and it is still very nice. I would wear it with pride. It fits your face well. Frankly, I like it better than Josh Bernstein's hat or Zahi Hawass' for that matter.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 9:38 am

I think it looks good on you as a fedora should, my friend! True, it may not look exactly like Indy, but you've gotten a nice shape out of it. I still think it's a nice hat for the money.

bink

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:45 am

Looks as good as the Akubra 'Fedora' version...and I mean EXACTLY like that version. Nice hat, my friend! High regards! Michaelson

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 12:02 pm

Texas Raider wrote:Mojave, I'm just curious, and please don't stone me or take offense, but how much are the Iconoclast lids? Are they similar in price to an Akubra reg. Federation?

Thanks for all the positive feedback! I'm blushing!

Texas Raider, the hats are running $48 at the Village Hat Shop. Strider works there, so he may be able to give more info than I on how long that price may last, etc.

The Iconoclast claims to be 100% fur felt, and has a leather sweatband. Since it doesn't say beaver, I assume tha means rabbit (?) Since our temps here are already cracking the century mark, I haven't been wearing any of my felt hats, so I haven't had it out much. I'll definately have it any time I head towards the coast, though.

Since my bash has a bit of a ToD look to it, I'll have to stage a few pics with these buggers:

Pyroxene · Post by **Pyroxene** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 1:12 pm

The hat doesn't look that bad in those pics. The shape of your face really helps.

Those bugs look great!

I would be such a bad boy if I had a few of those things. I would be putting them in desks, jacket pockets...

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:15 pm

Pyroxene wrote:The hat doesn't look that bad in those pics. The shape of your face really helps.

Those bugs look great! I would be such a bad boy if I had a few of those things. I would be putting them in desks, jacket pockets...

Thanks, Pyroxene!

As for the beetles, those suckers fly, and sound like a B-52 coming in to land! The one in my hand was surprisingly docile; I had gloves on in the first pic, but I thought I looked like too much of a baby!

Texas Raider, I don't think I answered your question completely regarding the Fed. The Fed is listed for $78 on the Hats Direct site, but since they come unbashed I wasn't sure that I would be able to do much with it given my extremely limited experience bashing hats. Might have been faulty reasoning...

In any case, I figured with the Iconoclast I could play around with it until I either got it right, or could afford a better hat (i.e. get an AB and let Fedora do the bashing). I also hoped I could make a contribution to the forum by reviewing this hat, since I get so much info from everyone else.

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:01 pm

I'll chime in here, on GP.

The Jaxon Iconoclast is, from what my research tells me, a Rabbit/Nutria (which, by the way, is a RAT!) blend of felt. The Jaxon rep told me the ratio was 70/30 when I talked to him. It retails in the store for about 50 bucks, and comes in all kinds of sizes. The felt feels pretty thick, at least in my opinion.

As for shaping it, Mojave, did you have a block handy, or did you do these things by hand? I have a feeling that the Iconoclast could make a decent Indy lid if proper blocking techiniques (whith the proper block, of course

) were used.

Regards,

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 8:59 pm

Strider wrote:As for shaping it, Mojave, did you have a block handy, or did you do these things by hand? I have a feeling that the Iconoclast could make a decent Indy lid if proper blocking techiniques (whith the proper block, of course ) were used.

All by hand. The only block used was the one on my shoulders. How does one use a block, and where can one get said block?

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 11:49 pm

Hat blocks can be aquired from hatteries, I believe. Fedora has more information on this than I do.

Once you have yourself an open crown block, which is just a piece of wood that looks like this:

What you do is you go through the reblocking procedure, which, I THINK is...you take out the liner of the hat and the sweatband, and soak it in some kind of liquid for awhile, (I don't know what, but I think it's soapy water, but for how long I don't know), and after that time, you take it out and put it on your block (the block has to be the right size of the hat you're putting on it) so that you can get a perfect open crown shape by using the block to push all the creases out. Then you let it dry like that, without taking it off.

When it's done drying, you take it off the block and either A, shape it by hand, or put it onto ANOTHER block that already has the desired shape cut into it. Once all that's finished, you re attatch the liner and sweat band.

I think that's how it's done. I could be horrendously wrong. Anyone want to chime and chastise (or congratulate, as the case may be) me?

Regards,

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 8:14 am

Strider,
I believe you are basically right, except that I think the shaped blocks are used for hats the hatter wants to have that shape. The hat body is blocked right on that shaped block.

Of course, Fedora is the expert.

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 8:01 pm

I see! Like this?

I saw an auction for this on "that site whose name shall never be written."

And the light slowly came on...

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 8:10 pm

Wow, thats a nice block! I'd love to have a Raiders gray AB made on that block. It wouldn't be Indy, but it'd be a classic.

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 8:01 pm

Holy moly, that block looks pretty decent! I think it'd be a good starting point.

J_Weaver · Post by **J_Weaver** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 8:18 pm

I wouldn't dare try to convert that block into an Indy block. That block will give you a classic 30's style fedora.

If I had that block I'd give my poor old Akubra Squatter a good reblock.

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 8:45 pm

Well, as far as re-blocking hats go, a fellow has to start somewhere. I believe you're right about the block, Weaver, and I think that'd be a decent project for a Jaxon Iconoclast, seeing as how I don't believe that the Iconoclast has a tall enough crown (unbashed) to make a a really good Indy lid.

Mojave, if you do make a classic 30's or 40's style hat out of that, I think it'd be great experience for you in re-blocking.

Does anyone know what in the sam hill you soak the hat in? Was I right in saying soapy water? For how long? If someone could put the re-blocking process into better detail than I did, it'd be appreciated.

Regards,

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:12 pm

Well, I didn't actually get the block, because the last bid was about $120. It was a size 6-7/8, and I wear a 7 or 7-1/8, so I don't think it would have worked for me anyway. I don't think there can be any size difference or the hat will dry the wrong size, right?

I just did a search to see what I could find out, and that was one of the things that popped up. Actually there are about a dozen hat blocks on that unmentionable auction site, but some real wacko shapes!

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:53 pm

Mojave Jack wrote:...Actually there are about a dozen hat blocks on that unmentionable auction site, but some real wacko shapes!

You can write eBay. You just can't post any links to an auction, unless it is your own.

Post by **Jens** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:06 am

He said that word, he said that word!

Sorry, couldn't resist.
As for that block above: It's a nice one, isn't it? I'm sure a black hat with that shape would look great!

3thoubucks · Post by **3thoubucks** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:14 am

Here's my Jaxon, a size or two big with a folded sweat and a few other weird tweaks. Not terrible from the front, mostly because I left in the teardrop and didn't try and top center dent it. Has a lot of taper in back though.

The Aviator · Post by **The Aviator** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 5:19 am

Ok, heres my 50 cents for all there worth. you said your budget wasnt great so you are in the same boat as me. But if you want to reblock i would suggest you get a straight sided block from www.hatshapers.com . Heres the Hat block that would give you a nice shape.

http://www.hatshapers.com/Product%20Pag ... d_Dome.htm

THese are good alternatives i feel if you cant get a wooden block which can get extremly pricy this is a good option. If you check this it will show some examples of the blocks finished fedorasand a review.

viewtopic.php?t=3166

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 12:05 pm

3thoubucks wrote:Here's my Jaxon, a size or two big with a folded sweat and a few other weird tweaks. Not terrible from the front, mostly because I left in the teardrop and didn't try and top center dent it. Has a lot of taper in back though.

Wow, that looks pretty good! Do you have a few other pics, like a profile? I'd love to see what can be done with the Jaxon.

gerry655 wrote:Ok, heres my 50 cents for all there worth. you said your budget wasnt great so you are in the same boat as me. But if you want to reblock i would suggest you get a straight sided block from www.hatshapers.com . Heres the Hat block that would give you a nice shape.

http://www.hatshapers.com/Product%20Pag ... d_Dome.htm

THese are good alternatives i feel if you cant get a wooden block which can get extremly pricy this is a good option. If you check this it will show some examples of the blocks finished fedorasand a review.

viewtopic.php?t=3166

Thanks for the reference, Gerry! I'll have to look at that site a lot more closely. I feel an expensive hobby coming on...

The Aviator · Post by **The Aviator** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:55 pm

Tell me about it..my funds will all be but gone when im finished...

This whole fedora indiana jones thing is a disease

its infectious

although there are worse diseases you can have

3thoubucks · Post by **3thoubucks** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 2:08 am

Here' a side profile, I top center dented only the back of the little ridge that goes around the top of the teardrop. But that puts more taper in the front veiw than in the first picture.