My fedoraiders Presentation and I'm Hat Maker amateur + Pics

fedoraiders · Post by **fedoraiders** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:05 pm

Hello everyone! I'm new on your forum. I would like to present myself. My name is Jason and i am from Québec Canada and i am my trirty's. Sorry for my english is not perfect, please be patient.

I am a Indiana Jones fan since chilwood but i discovered the Indiana Jones phenome in 2006 on the internet. After this periode, i'm watching the Indiana Jones movies without questionning the costume, the arthefacts and the famous hat that Harrison ford wore. I have become passonite ( bordeline obsessed ) by the Raider of the Lost Ark hat ( street of Cairo ) that the company Screen Used has. I bought many hats, Federation Standard, Federation Deluxe and Herbert Johnson but i don't like the shape of these hats. I have found a retied hatter in my region that is showing me the art of hat making. I also have learned to sculp many of my own hat blocks. I believe that i have made the almost perfect hat block after many hat blocks test.

My dream is to become a great hatters same as Steve Delk because he's becoming my biggest idol. I don't have a Adventurebilt hat. I absolutely will buy one this year.

I have a question, i would like to know if someone knows where to buy the good felt with a good color because it' very hard to find. I konw Judith, Hat supply and Many' millinery.
If you have a any place, i appreciate any help. Thanks!

Now, you can see my pictures of my own finished hat made with my own hat block. I made this hat with a rabbit felt body bought on Judith. I believe to have made a good job for the shape with this felt. You can see the many details on my hat on these pictures. If i will find a good felt with a good color, i will specialize on ( street of Cairo version ) because it has become my speciality. If you have any question, please be patient beacause my english is not perfect.

P.S. Someone helpep me with this message.

Thanks!

Jason

Canasta · Post by **Canasta** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:09 pm

Very nice!
Welcome to you.

Canasta

indyclone · Post by **indyclone** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:12 pm

i like them -- very nice work , i would like to know the cost of one of those hats ? can you pm me and let me know/ thanks , and again very well done .

TheExit148 · Post by **TheExit148** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:24 pm

Welcome to the forums! Great to have you! Your hat looks awesome! It is a very SOC. Very nice work!

Nice to have another Canadian on here too, especially for a potential hat vendor!

Niob · Post by **Niob** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:26 pm

I think your hat looks fantastic and it seems you have a very big talent in making hats. Keep up the great work.

suburbancomics · Post by **suburbancomics** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:40 pm

Wow! Nice work! That fedora looks great, very streets of Cairo. Welcome to the boards.

RCSignals · Post by **RCSignals** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:44 pm

Nice hats Jason

Check out Biltmore Hats in Ontario for hat bodies. Indiana G had no luck but you might fair better.

http://www.biltmorehats.com/

They make the RCMP 'Stetson'

IndianaBogart · Post by **IndianaBogart** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:15 pm

AWESOME streets of cairo hat!

And welcome to COW,

WhipDude · Post by **WhipDude** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:56 pm

Many hats out there look just like SOC but this looks like it was stolen from the movie. It has that rumbled look, the sweat stains, the dust and everything. Most impressive!

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:01 pm

Good job

and welcome! I think you will find lots of information and support here!

Regards

Travis

suburbancomics · Post by **suburbancomics** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:02 pm

Is the ribbon actually higher up in the front or is that just an optical illusion? That really makes it look very SOC!

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:51 pm

I'll be honest - I think you're well on your way to being as good as Steve. VERY nice hats, I too would be interested. -M

WalkingEye · Post by **WalkingEye** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:46 pm

great hats my friend! Glad to see you posting pics for everyone to see!

CairoIndy · Post by **CairoIndy** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:30 pm

Wow fr,you've really nailed the SOC look!

Always room for passionate talented hat-makers around these parts!

Welcome to COW!

indydad · Post by **indydad** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:09 pm

Awesome hat! It is amazing to me that one can do this work so well.

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:31 pm

I like the sweat stain apparent in the last picture of you. Is this from honest use or have you invented a way to fake that stain?

Mike

The Penitent Man · Post by **The Penitent Man** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:38 pm

Very Nice!!

Chiliana Jones · Post by **Chiliana Jones** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:44 pm

welcome Jason!

good show!

CJ

3thoubucks · Post by **3thoubucks** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:33 am

GREAT SOC look, fedoraraiders. Are you free to say if these are 360 stovepipe blocks? Or is there some front and back taper? Hope you find your felt. I see you have a picture of Steve D. there in your workshop...

RCSignals · Post by **RCSignals** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:46 am

You certainly have a selection of hat blocks.
Is that a block with bash built in on the lower shelf? Kind of looks more like felt without the brim?

bigrex · Post by **bigrex** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:04 am

Not going to lie, that's an awesome streets of cairo hat you have there!

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:33 am

Very impressive!

If I can give just a bit of constructive criticism, I'd say that the bow needs a bit of work, but you don't have a very good shot of it, so it is difficult to be sure. Otherwise, I'd say you have a very good looking and SA SoC fedora. Great job...and welcome to COW!

Dave

Jones Boy · Post by **Jones Boy** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:52 am

Yes indeed great work. It is nice to see a Raiders hat that looks bashed around and lived in!

Cheers
Jonesy

mufflowne · Post by **mufflowne** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:10 am

Dude, not too shabby at all! Really nice SOC hats! Finally someone specializes in SOC hats. Might justify a purchase...

fedoraiders · Post by **fedoraiders** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:00 am

Thank you everyone for your good comment. I cannot sell now the hat because I don't have good felt and at present, i'm just a Indiana Jones fan. This is my hobby, play with my hats.
Maybe a day that i sell my homemade hat but now, i don't have enought experience with the completion. Exemple: the seams.

I answer has your question soon because i go to my york.

Thanks

Fedoraiders

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:14 pm

very nice SOC renderring there and welcome to cow......great to have another canuck on board

fedoraiders · Post by **fedoraiders** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:05 pm

suburbancomics wrote:Is the ribbon actually higher up in the front or is that just an optical illusion? That really makes it look very SOC!

Hello, it's a optical illusion because my ribbon is straight. My front brim is more lower.

Thanks

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:29 pm

fedoraiders wrote:
suburbancomics wrote:Is the ribbon actually higher up in the front or is that just an optical illusion? That really makes it look very SOC!
Hello, it's a optical illusion because my ribbon is straight. My front brim is more lower.

Thanks

mr. $3K touched on this subject ages ago about ironing the brim into the crown.......it does kill that 90 degree brim break that you see from new hats and gives you these beautiful SOC effects......i may try that once the new block comes in.

you've done an excellent job with that effect fedoraiders

suburbancomics · Post by **suburbancomics** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:48 am

Indiana G wrote:
fedoraiders wrote:
suburbancomics wrote:Is the ribbon actually higher up in the front or is that just an optical illusion? That really makes it look very SOC!
Hello, it's a optical illusion because my ribbon is straight. My front brim is more lower.

Thanks
mr. $3K touched on this subject ages ago about ironing the brim into the crown.......it does kill that 90 degree brim break that you see from new hats and gives you these beautiful SOC effects......i may try that once the new block comes in.

you've done an excellent job with that effect fedoraiders

I really think that is one of the features that makes it look so SOC! Is there a way to achieve that without ironing the hat? Indiana G you have the benefit of actually knowing what you are doing, while I on the other hand would not be able to bring my hat anywhere near an iron. Heck, I sometimes worry about something bad happening to my hat when it gets too hot in the house let alone attacking it with and iron.

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:49 am

VERY impressive, fedoraiders!

That hat of yours is 100% Indyesque and has TONS of character!
I've sent you a pm.
I hope you get a chance to read it.
Thanks,
Fox (Mitch)

Canyon · Post by **Canyon** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:53 pm

fedoraraiders, that is a magnificent Raiders feodra!

I think it looks great in your avatar.

fedoraiders · Post by **fedoraiders** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:41 pm

Canyon wrote:fedoraraiders, that is a magnificent Raiders feodra!

I think it looks great in your avatar.

Thanks! In my avatar, it's my Herbert Johnson bought use in 2006 on ebay and that i have reblocked. Look the picture before and after.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8351/001hpo.jpg
Before

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4352/002vcp.jpg
After

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:29 pm

WOW! Great! I should send you some of my fedoras to re-block!!!!!!!!!!

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:03 pm

I'd LOVE to own a hat like that one of yours, Jason!
GREAT job!

Niob · Post by **Niob** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:10 pm

Mitch LaRue wrote:I'd LOVE to own a hat like that one of yours, Jason!
GREAT job!

Me too

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:08 am

Niob wrote:
Mitch LaRue wrote:I'd LOVE to own a hat like that one of yours, Jason!
GREAT job!
Me too

Me as well!

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:52 am

Yes, I was already VERY impressed with the overall "look" of fedoraiders hat in the first few photos he posted up at the top.
He was clearly able to get a very well-worn, beat up & adventurous look to his hats that absolutely captured that Raiders SoC look that so many of us love...
Some people might think that was partially the luck of continually working on and toying with the hat as much as he has... end result: Same overall look as Indy's Hat.

But these "Before & After" photos DEFINITELY show (at least I think) that Jason not only REALLY knows what he's doing, but more importantly, has the SKILLS to reshape a hat into the hat he wants out of it.
I mean, those are TWO such DIFFERENT looking hats!
When you look at the FIRST one, most folks probably think: "That's a pretty darn good Raiders Hat..."
But, when you look at the SECOND one (after Jason's worked his "magic" on it), you almost can't help but think: "WOW! HOW did this guy get his hands on the Original Movie Hat?!!!"

Once again, I'll repeat myself, fedoraiders:
You've created a VERY unique looking, VERY impressive Raiders hat... I'd love to proudly wear one on my head someday.

Fox

ichnob · Post by **ichnob** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:21 pm

Your hat look so messed up it's not funny...it's actually awesome! I like the very worn-in look, like you've actually been to Cairo or the Well of Souls. Great job.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:26 pm

fedoraiders wrote:
Canyon wrote:fedoraraiders, that is a magnificent Raiders feodra!

I think it looks great in your avatar.
Thanks! In my avatar, it's my Herbert Johnson bought use in 2006 on ebay and that i have reblocked. Look the picture before and after.

Before

After

How did you manage to reblock that hat and not loose some brim width in the process. That is quite a transformation!

Dave

alphared6 · Post by **alphared6** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:43 pm

So... when are you going to get some quality fur felt bodies and start making those hats for those of us who want one? EH?

TheExit148 · Post by **TheExit148** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:21 pm

That reblock is really really good! It really shows that the HJ's can take on a really solid, really SA look on the right block. I really am interested in getting one of these hats, hopefully something works out for fedoraiders!

darth_ming · Post by **darth_ming** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:42 pm

Definitively, I want a hat blocked by you!!!!

THIS IS the shape I always wanted of a Raiders hat.

Once again, congratulations for the magnificent work you do.

jacksdad · Post by **jacksdad** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:50 pm

very nice I love the reblock, you've got some skills there and welcome

fedoraiders · Post by **fedoraiders** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:50 pm

How did you manage to reblock that hat and not loose some brim width in the process. That is quite a transformation!

Dave

Hello Dave, after many experience, i find this solution to stretch the brim. It is hard to explain but look the picture and i think that you understand.

Thank you everyone for your good comment, i appreciate.

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:08 pm

awesome work! how stable do you find that technique? when i've tried that with hj felt, she always wanted to return to it's previous shape leaving you wide open for the taper monster. have you had trouble with retaining the shape from that felt?

does the felt get significantly thinner?

fedoraiders · Post by **fedoraiders** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:31 pm

I heat the brim felt with a domestic iron. The HJ felt is very sensitive, it shrink very much. I succeed after several attempt. I can pass easily from 30 to 50 hours per hat. I do not succeed always of the first test.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:35 pm

Well, thats the problem with the HJ felt. It has so much air and not enough body. The hat can be stretched out like that, which is what I assumed you did, Jason, but won't stand up to the elements much. Now, if its being used exclusively for costuming, it will take a little longer to taper, but that felt will taper; its just not dense enough. The great thing about that felt is the way it bulges like the Raiders felt. My Christy's does the same thing; there is some tapering until about half way up the crown, then you have that famous Raiders bulge. These hats are stetched out a lot at the factory, stetching them out even more will make the felt even less stable. Felt stability aside, that is one sweet looking lid, Jason!

Dave

fedoraiders · Post by **fedoraiders** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:45 pm

Thanks Dave for this explication, i appreciate!

Jason

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:52 pm

The greatest way to get a great quality HJ is to order a hat that is way too big for you and shrinkit down. Block it on your block and cut and flange the brim to match. You increase the felt density. The problem with that is that you run the risk of ripping the brim right off the crown as the sweatbands are sewn in by machines and perforates the whole body of the hat. The way Steve does it is best. He gets all the HJs completely undone and does everything by hand. With the Mag/AB HJ you get a completely handmade HJ. I fyou could contact Herbert Johnson and ask them to send you their largest body with the sweatband not installed and you size it down, you will have the best looking and most stable HJ possible. I'd like to see you tackle that project, Jason.

Dave

fedoraiders · Post by **fedoraiders** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:22 am

In 2008, i bought a Federation Standard 62cm for made a 59 cm and i trim just a little bit the brim. I cut the Sweat Band. The result is very good.