First predistressed AB-Dlx. arrived. Pic inside.
Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Dalexs
First predistressed AB-Dlx. arrived. Pic inside.
Dear Sirs and Madams,
after several months of trial and error, I have finally found a way to predistress the felt WITHOUT damaging it (remember I'm a follower of the Michaelson U)!
Since my PC is still packed away in movement boxes, I can't post pictures of the results, but I finished a predistressed SOC Fedora this weekend and will ask the owner to make a few pics to show, once he receives it.
What I've found, is a way to make the hat lighter in some areas - as it would be if you'd use bleach on it, but with the advance that it can be removed again from both Steve and I, if the wish should occur. In opposite to other distressing techniques like f.e. Fuller's earth, these lighter areas will remain permanent (at least you can't brush it off) and also it won't hurt the felt in any way (otherwise I would refuse to do so).
With that said, I feel like Adventurebilt has made another step forward towards a more screen accurate replica and also to fullfill the needs of those, who prefer a worn look over a new look - but didn't want to spoil their investments.
Now, if one of you graphic geniuses could make a template for me, so I now exactly which areas to lighten up and which not to touch, I would highly appreciate this. This would give me the opportunity to take this brand new technique on step higher from the get go.
Regarding the pricing, I really haven't thought about it yet and I may just bite the bullet and offer this for free, depending on how many want this to be done on their hats. With time and experience, I might be able to do it in less than a couple of hours on future hats (if desired, of course).
Regards,
Marc
after several months of trial and error, I have finally found a way to predistress the felt WITHOUT damaging it (remember I'm a follower of the Michaelson U)!
Since my PC is still packed away in movement boxes, I can't post pictures of the results, but I finished a predistressed SOC Fedora this weekend and will ask the owner to make a few pics to show, once he receives it.
What I've found, is a way to make the hat lighter in some areas - as it would be if you'd use bleach on it, but with the advance that it can be removed again from both Steve and I, if the wish should occur. In opposite to other distressing techniques like f.e. Fuller's earth, these lighter areas will remain permanent (at least you can't brush it off) and also it won't hurt the felt in any way (otherwise I would refuse to do so).
With that said, I feel like Adventurebilt has made another step forward towards a more screen accurate replica and also to fullfill the needs of those, who prefer a worn look over a new look - but didn't want to spoil their investments.
Now, if one of you graphic geniuses could make a template for me, so I now exactly which areas to lighten up and which not to touch, I would highly appreciate this. This would give me the opportunity to take this brand new technique on step higher from the get go.
Regarding the pricing, I really haven't thought about it yet and I may just bite the bullet and offer this for free, depending on how many want this to be done on their hats. With time and experience, I might be able to do it in less than a couple of hours on future hats (if desired, of course).
Regards,
Marc
Last edited by Marc on Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
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That's all interesting buddy. I suppose the procedure is secret so I won't ask too much. I can't wait to see pictures... sounds VEEEEERY interesting! If it will be a free choice for new buyers that would be even more interesting
tell me if you need any help with pictures when you will unpack the pc.
Regards
PS are you going to offer also a pre-sat-on hat?
tell me if you need any help with pictures when you will unpack the pc.
Regards
PS are you going to offer also a pre-sat-on hat?
Last edited by Erri on Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Michaelson
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Re: Adventurebilt proudly presents: a new way of predistress
One of my more successful graduates too! BRAVO!!!!Marc wrote:after several months of trial and error, I have finally found a way to predistress the felt WITHOUT damaging it (remember I'm a follower of the Michaelson U)!
Regards,
Marc
Regards! Michaelson
- Michaelson
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It's an old joke, erri. I've been the most outspoken practioneer of 'non-distress/NATURAL USE distressing' around the hobby. I have always said just allow your gear to mature naturally and gain personality from use, rather than taking dirt, knives, blowtorches, or what ever unit of destruction one cares to try to artifically age gear. I've never understood why someone would pay hundreds of dollars for an item of gear they've wanted all their lives, only to rub it down with chemicals or use a belt sander on. Folks have stated I was the 'Dean of Michaelson University'....The school that taught that patience was a virtue when it came to distressing.
So, that's what Marc was referring to. Old joke, but one I actually preach and practice. WHy do you think I push Pecards leather products so much?
Regards! Michaelson
So, that's what Marc was referring to. Old joke, but one I actually preach and practice. WHy do you think I push Pecards leather products so much?
Regards! Michaelson
Not to hurt you gear artifically, by for example kicking you hat through the dirt (also called "Dandalizing" - after it's inventor Dan), or distressing you leather jacket with sandpaper.What's the Michaelson U sorry?
The followers of the socalled Michaelson U respect their gear as an investment that has to be taken care of and leave the distressing to time and natural wear and tear (hence natural distressing).
No!PS are you going to offer also a pre-sat-on hat?
Regards,
Marc
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...in case it will be reblocked by either Steve or me, yes.
Steve is the only person I told about this teknique and he swore upon some terrible things, that he'll keep it for himself, so this will remain something that you can only get from Adventurebilt (which I'm pretty darn proud of to be honest).
Regards,
Marc
Steve is the only person I told about this teknique and he swore upon some terrible things, that he'll keep it for himself, so this will remain something that you can only get from Adventurebilt (which I'm pretty darn proud of to be honest).
Regards,
Marc
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If you want one, I'd gladly make one for you Ken, but what I'm trying is to make the absolutely best Raiders Fedora possible and thereby making Steve proud. I owe that to him, for putting his trust in me before he ever saw a single of my hats.What are you trying to do...make me order one?
Regards,
Marc
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BY the way Marc, it fits perfect, good call on the size.
Yes it can be. Marc asked me if I wanted the distressing and I jumped on it and said yes. After remembering my philosophy on gear, (I wanna make it look used by using it), I asked Marc to remove the distressing, which he most graciously did. When My AB Deluxe arrived, it was the most beautiful and rich coffee, chocolate, insert adjective here, brown I have ever seen. There was no hint of any of the predistressing anywhere. Marc is a true artist. Sorry I don't have any pics, but my laptop is WIA. Hopefully it can be saved, and I can post more pics.Your are saying that it can be removed without a trace?
BY the way Marc, it fits perfect, good call on the size.
Great hat Marc!! We use different felt,as most know. Now, the funny thing about this is this. I spend lots of time getting this distressed look out of my hats, before I send them out. You on the other hand, would have to spend time on putting this in yours!! So, if any of my customers want this look, just tell me. It will save me mucho time in the finishing. I just about fell out of my chair when I saw this thread!!! Different felt requires different finishing techniques. I could have been doing this all along but feared the hat would be sent back because, it looked used!!! Now, if I used the portugal felt, I would have to add time to get this look. Funny how this works out. Regards, Fedora
sweet
The hat looks great like that! That effect definitely makes it instantly identifiable. Judging by Fedora's response, maybe the hat looks like that naturally before being finished by the hatmaker? At any rate, maybe that look will leave no shadow of doubt that it's not a cowboy hat!
Judging by Fedora's response, maybe the hat looks like that naturally before being finished by the hatmaker?
Not exactly, but close. No, felt from the Portugal comes pre-pounced, from the factory. Marc, takes this and pounces it even more, for even a finer finish. My felt comes raw, unpounced. I have to start from zero with the pouncing. There is a stage that I get the hat to, where it looks like a distressed hat, and then, through the black magic of hatter techniques, I clean that up, so the hat looks brand new. Marc never arrives at this state, and has to use a technique to make his hats look distressed. When he saw the effect, his first thought is, wow, a distressed hat!!!! Mine was, good lord, what have I done?!!!! And what can I do to get rid of it??? It never occurred to me folks might actually want the hat to have this effect, and I had nighmares of folks calling me saying, "you sent me a used hat!!! But, I can see how some folks might want it to look that way. I was asked a few times to dirty the hat up, and just had to say, please, dirty it up yourself. I just can't spend a day on making a hat, and then throw it in the dirt!!! Nothing wrong with someone doing that to their own hat, but almost impossible for me to do so, especially with someone elses hat. Of course, this hat that Marc just made is not soiled up, and what he does to arrive at this is harmless to the felt. And, he could make it new looking in just a few minutes, or a slight rain shower would make it look new again. It is a temporary distressing, I think, good until you get the hat wet. Fedora
Hey Marc,
I got here a little late.
I knew this hat was in progress and I knew it would look great but it has even exceeded my expectations. Although that does not suprise me in the least bit.
I know how much effort you put into each one of your masterpieces. I think a little bit of your soul goes into every single one.
Best Wishes Buddy,
John
Homer says "I give it"
I got here a little late.
I knew this hat was in progress and I knew it would look great but it has even exceeded my expectations. Although that does not suprise me in the least bit.
I know how much effort you put into each one of your masterpieces. I think a little bit of your soul goes into every single one.
Best Wishes Buddy,
John
Homer says "I give it"
No, he didn't...
Regards,
Marc
Not quite, buddy. Making the hat wet will NOT remove the lighter areas.And, he could make it new looking in just a few minutes, or a slight rain shower would make it look new again. It is a temporary distressing, I think, good until you get the hat wet.
Right, but with this technique, you'll be able to lighten up the areas CONTROLLED / where you want them to be, in opposite to being placed all over the hat without knowing exactly where they'll pop up and how they'll look. So by using this technique, you could draw a line where to distress the hat and where not to and that is a big advantage in my book.There is a stage that I get the hat to, where it looks like a distressed hat...
Regards,
Marc
Did you just give away a company secret that Marc was trying to protect?
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Nope. There are so many variables involved, you would have to make hats for a living, or hobby to have a clue. If you make hats, you would already know "the secret" But, the secret is safe with me.
This is of course, not in keeping with my whole philosophy about hatmaking. But, I will respect Marc's wishes. Trust me, even the info that I gave would not get you there in the technique. I gave some info, but not the essential factor. So........ Fedora
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- Michaelson
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Come now, Marc....we ALL know German tools are the best in the world, so you're not fooling any of us. Belt sander....yep...that's it...Marc wrote:BWAHAHAHAAA!!! I guess seeing is believing Michaelson. You'd drop that image as soon as you'd see one close up, since the finish is equally smooth (and thick ) on both the distressed and undistressed areas of the hat.
Oh, and thanks for the good laugh btw.
Regards,
Marc
Regards! Michaelson