Redying an Akubra

WeeMadHamish · Post by **WeeMadHamish** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:13 pm

Anybody ever tried redying an Akubra? I'm thinking about grabbing one of the David Morgan Bushmans and giving it a hot dye bath to give it a richer, more Raiders color and swapping the little ribbon on it with the one off of my Federation Standard. I figure that tying it to a ghetto block as it dries should help minimize any taper. Does this sound.... uh.. sound? Am I nuts to even ponder this?

mufflowne · Post by **mufflowne** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:20 am

Depends how ghetto the block is, but you're running into the risk of making a hat big enough for a toddler.

but dude, the dye? I don't think you can pull it off. At least I've never heard of anyone doing it.

Nicolas Jones · Post by **Nicolas Jones** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:13 am

My advice:

DO NOT EVEN THINK OF IT (if you cannot reblock it after)

I have ruined 2 fedoras by trying this, even "cold dye" cannot do the job, since you have to use at least luckwarm water. The felt will be dyed, but the hat will become shapeless.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:26 am

Keep in mind that you could also run the risk of the dye running down your face if you get caught in a rainstorm with it.

WeeMadHamish · Post by **WeeMadHamish** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:00 am

Poking through the old posts, it seems that our good friend Mr. Delk seems to have had some success redying vintage hats, though I could hardly consider myself even remotely close to his level.

Still, one has to start somewhere, right?

I realize that dying felt is probably a lot different than dying fabric (which I have done), but I figure that if I give it a couple of cold-water baths afterward to rinse as much extraneous dye from it as I can, it should help minimize the chances that I'll have brown streaks running down my face in the rain.

As far as the block goes, I was thinking about trying the plaster and Bondo route, possibly by lining the hat with Saran-wrap and casting the block right out of the open crown. Heck, maybe I'll even just splurge on a Lamode/Delk block if they're still available to members.

I realize it's probably a lot of work for something I could obtain much more easily, but hey... with luck the end result will be a hat that's uniquely mine. Can't beat that!

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:17 am

If you try to dye your own hat, keep in mind that you'll likely have to soak it for a good long time, as it may take a while for the dye to work itself completely and evenly through the felt. I'm sure Steve could give you some good pointers, as well as suggestions on which dyeing process and dye to use. And if you do this, keep in mind that you are required to take pictures and document the process, otherwise we'll have to send Hovitos after you.

3thoubucks · Post by **3thoubucks** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 7:36 pm

What's wrong with the color?