Akubra - 1st Bash Attempt

kobol · Post by **kobol** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:15 am

I took delivery of my first Akubra and have started to bash it. Please feel free to offer any advice and tips as it will be most appreciated. My current line up of hats now consists of 2 JPD's, 1 Akubra Fed and an Adventurebilt that I am still waiting to take delivery of.

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:22 am

Very nice hat! The bash looks good to me.
Is that the standard federation or the dlx?

Strider · Post by **Strider** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 2:38 am

I'd say you've got a good bash going on! Take a few days solidifying the bash, and defining it. I think you've got a great hat, man. Congrats!

Indiana Max · Post by **Indiana Max** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:44 am

Great bash, well done

(indy89, it is the regular)

kobol · Post by **kobol** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:43 pm

Thanks for the reviews, it definitely helps to have outside opinions.

As for being loaded I wish. I can spell it out in two words - "Tax Refund". I figured might as well build the collection while I can afford it.
I'm done buying for now, unless I can convince someone in my family to spring for a Peter Bros. on my birthday five months from now.

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:27 pm

The bash looks great! Just one question, did you turn the hat? That is the key to getting a good looking brim.

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:56 pm

she's a very unturned-looking TOD snap brim. i like it!

kobol · Post by **kobol** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:05 pm

I tried giving it a turn and it is turned slightly. The center of the bow is at the front of my ear now. But I just couldn't get the brim to do anything more even when turning it pretty extreme. The brim was and still is pretty stiff like cardboard. I know I 've read around here about steam, but I rather just play with it more dry and see how it turns out. So I decided to live with it and keep working the brim as is until I get a pretty decent look to it.

Thanks.

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:38 pm

I've had great success using steam on the brim of the Akubra. Just make sure to steer clear of getting it on the crown. Just get the teapot rolling, hit the spot that you want to tweak with the steam, then tweak it as you blow on it to cool it off.

kobol · Post by **kobol** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:38 pm

prairiejones,
Thanks for the tips on using steam. If I can't get the brim to do better by the weekend, I'll give it a shot and see how it turns out. I did buy this Akubra afterall to practice bashing and just have fun playing with it.

Thanks Again Everyone.

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:22 pm

Indiana Max wrote:Great bash, well done (indy89, it is the regular)

Thanks Max.

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:23 pm

Well, from the looks of your first attempt, you'll be bashing all of your hats yourself from now on.

michaelb · Post by **michaelb** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:50 pm

Looks like a great job to me!

Still, is it a Standard or Deluxe? I have a Standard and love it.

Nice work.

M

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:57 pm

Indiana Max stated that it is a standard.

kobol · Post by **kobol** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:47 pm

I'm sorry about not answering your earlier question indy89 and also to michaelb, I must have spaced out. It is a standard Akubra Federation.

Again thanks to all for your comments. It's been a great confidence boost.

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:03 am

No problem.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 2:47 am

Very nice job! Got a nice blossoming/blooming out at the sides...something I still keep training mine to do, but it looks like you nailed it right out. Mind showing us a better pic of the top bash? If you got that shape just about right, too, you're pretty much done!

As for the turn, yeah, it might be turned, but it doesn't look like it's turned all that much by the bow placement. But I'll take you at your word - if turning it more didn't do anything for you, then don't bother. 'Sides, how WOULD you explain the bow ending up in the front???

)

My only guess if the turn didn't do much for you is that your head tends to be a bit more round than oval...and that the hat is more round, too? I forget, does the Akubra come in a choice of round or oval, or just in a given size?

Beautiful job, Kobol!

EDIT: Out of curiousity, did you follow an particular tutorial, or just figure it out from pics?

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:39 am

As I recall, they're just 'given size', and no shape choice.

Regards! Michaelson

kobol · Post by **kobol** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:41 am

Indiana Jerry,
These are some pics I took this morning of the top. I didn't have any choice on the Akubra other than size and color. So I don't have answer about the round or oval options.
From reading other posts here, from what I understand not all Akubras cooperate very well with the turn. Like you said it could be my head shape.
I bashed it using the Pagey Tutorial here on COW along with Aeris_Canon's tips on working with rabbit felt. I also kept looking at my JPD's as a guide for the overall look and pics from all the screenshots that have been posted here. For now, my goal was to just get the basic look into place before doing more.

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:49 am

No, you posted it right. The answer is still 'no', no shape distinction is offered in terms of round or long oval.

Wish they did. I need a long oval, sometimes EXTRA long oval.

Regards! Michaelson

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:07 pm

Good bash...essentially the right shape, a wee bit off center (which seems correct), and just a bit shallow so it isn't eating up the fabric. (I think that's my problem, I've allowed my center dent to get too low, so it's wasting the body that COULD be pushing out to the sides...)

Very well done!

And the bit about the block shape would explain things...they have some generic block they use (wonder if that would be a round or a slight oval?). If their generic block is round, and your head is basically round...well, that's it for the turn, unless you put foam blocks inside the sweat to stretch it a bit.

kobol · Post by **kobol** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:17 pm

Indiana Jerry,
I did begin with a deeper center dent but I slowly made it more shallow when working the side dents because I just wasn't too happy with the look I was getting. When I compare my current center dent depth against my JPD, I found they are both now at about the same depth.
This morning I lightly sprayed the dents and pinches with some cold distilled water which I believe is supposed to help the felt retain and keep it's shape if I read correctly from other postings. The brim is still untouched (still shaping it dry), no steam or water yet.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:25 pm

You're doing a great job...I wouldn't be surprised to learn you are a sculptor, as well.

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:29 pm

kobol, this is a slighty off topic,
but where did you purchase that hat stand?

kobol · Post by **kobol** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:48 pm

Indiana Jerry,
Far from being a sculptor, I'm not really very artistic, I know 2 year olds that probably draw better than me. I wish I was though. My forte in life at the moment is records management and thanks again for your comments.

Indy89
I picked up the hat stands from noggintops for $5.00 a piece. They are made out of palstic but they do the job. http://www.noggintops.com/page.cfm?p=86

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:53 pm

Great! Thanks kobol.