Turn a cowboy hat into an Indy fedora in 7 easy steps

[inexpensive_jones]

I found this 4x beaver felt Resistol cowboy hat at a real bargain. It costs around $170.00 new. Let’s see if we can make an Indy grey travel fedora out of it.


First we take out the liner – this one was glued in and fortunately not much glue was used.
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt30 ... ol_04s.jpg

Next we get it good and wet, we’ll be reblocking it so give it a soaker. I used the bathtub method.
It’s on the block let’s let ‘er dry.


While it’s doing that I’ll stain my deck (you can skip this step, it’s called multitasking. Instead I recommend watching an Indy flick or two).

It’s dry so now we give it a little bash, I’m going for the CS look so I’ll use my AB as a guide…not bad.


Using the AB as a template we’ll trim the brim. I used a white crayon for the tracing and cut it with a scissors. I’ve tried using an exacto blade but I get a better cut with the scissors.



OK, 99¢ worth of grossgrain ribbon aught to do the trick. Sprits the brim with a water bottle to shape it and put the liner back in.


Voila, my new-to-me grey beaver-felt Indy travel fedora! The felt is still a little stiff but not too bad. It'll loosen up nicely as it gets used. The felt feel really nice.
http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt30 ... ol_11s.jpg

That's all for today kids. Come back next time when we learn how to make a Temple of Doom sword out of conduit and an old bicycle tire!

[DR Ulloa]

Thats exactly how I reblocked a black Bailey's western hat I found only I removed the sweatband as well. Looks good. I like it a lot!

Dave

[Ranger36]

Wow, that looks GREAT! You did a terrific job!

[Hollowpond]

If adventure on the cheap has a name, it must be "INEXPENSIVE JONES!!!"

NICE job.

Travis

[Hollowpond]

It would be awesome if someone on here could put up a template for dimensionally cutting a brim. I don't know what would be the best way to do that. Whether making it print on multiple sheets and then pieceing them together (like the raiders holster), or what. I guess the cut changes based on hat size too, so...it might not be feasible. Anyways, again, great job IJ!

[Fedora]

I have done alot of these conversions in the past. Unless you get a really old western hat(called a staple hat by the original Stetson) more than likely you will get a hat that is loaded with shellac. And of course, a fedora should be a softer hat, with little or NO shellac. But other than that, these conversions make good hats. Like the bullet proof PB, a western body used to make a fedora.

Funny thing about western hats is the early ones, made by the original western hatmaker, Stetson, were all very soft hats!! Only later on, did they make em stiff, like you see today. I don't know why they changed, unless it was for film, where they wanted the cowboy star to always appear he was wearing a brand new hat, and the creases stayed in place. It drives me nuts to see a old western where even after a cattle drive, the hero's hat still looks brand new. The creases are perfect, and no dust and dirt on the hat at all!! But, its a personal gripe. If they wanted accuracy, they would have used the soft staple hats that Stetson originally made for the real cowboys.

The irony is, years ago the western hats were all soft, and the dress hats(think bowlers) were stiff as a helmet. Then, the western hats became hard, and the dress hats soft. Figure that one out!! Fedora

[inexpensive_jones]

Good point. One of the reasons I picked this one up was even though it's shellaced it was still flexible enough unlike some that I've experienced. It seems to soften up a bit with running warm water over it long enough. I couldn't have done it as well without my adventurebilt in front of me for guidance. Thanks Fedora for the inspiration.

[albert jones]

I can just write CONGRATULATIONS well done

[inexpensive_jones]

I had to add these shots.

[theinterchange]

I'm digging back through the fedora section pages to find one particular thread, and somehow missed this one when it was active, but couldn't pass up giving you a compliment Inexpensive, that's one fine job you did there!

Randy

[inexpensive_jones]

Thanks.

[crismans]

I missed it too. Very nice job. The hat looks terrific and it's quite an inspiration. I might have to try my hand at this myself!

[BazzanoJones]

A truly beautiful reblock and great idea!

One question: what have you used for the block itself? Have you a real hat block or you've used another object?

[inexpensive_jones]

Made my own hat block from the tutorial here on COW. Just used 2x8's I think. I should've taken a pick of just the block.

[whipcracker]

I have done alot of these conversions in the past. Unless you get a really old western hat(called a staple hat by the original Stetson) more than likely you will get a hat that is loaded with shellac. And of course, a fedora should be a softer hat, with little or NO shellac. But other than that, these conversions make good hats. Like the bullet proof PB, a western body used to make a fedora.

Funny thing about western hats is the early ones, made by the original western hatmaker, Stetson, were all very soft hats!! Only later on, did they make em stiff, like you see today. I don't know why they changed, unless it was for film, where they wanted the cowboy star to always appear he was wearing a brand new hat, and the creases stayed in place. It drives me nuts to see a old western where even after a cattle drive, the hero's hat still looks brand new. The creases are perfect, and no dust and dirt on the hat at all!! But, its a personal gripe. If they wanted accuracy, they would have used the soft staple hats that Stetson originally made for the real cowboys.

The irony is, years ago the western hats were all soft, and the dress hats(think bowlers) were stiff as a helmet. Then, the western hats became hard, and the dress hats soft. Figure that one out!! Fedora

I have a theory on that Fedora.

I think it has to do with a mix of the broadening of the Pro-rodeo circuit and the (gag) "urban cowboy" surge. I think that the cowboys wanted to look good (a hint of want to look movie good in there) and that meant a hat that kept its crease a little better, not to mention staying out of the eyes when a horse is bucking (happened to me and NOT fun I went stiffer in my hats after that too). I remember my dad working on hats from the American Hat Co. (he blocked hats in Scottsdale back in the early 80's as well as rodeoed) and they were a little stiff but sometimes he would put a little more stiffener to keep the shape he said. I still have one he gave to me when I was little, very thick felt as well as two of his own both 10x from American, but not nearly as stiff as the 4x Stetson I have now, but that is loosening up some to. The other reason I think too is, very honestly, the George Strait look. I mean what cowboy doesn't want to be him, really?

But that is just my own theory.

Now for Inexpensive Jones' hat: that looks way nice. Maybe I will just keep my eyes open for one that will work for a brown Raiders.

[Dangerman009]

Excellent job Inexpensive Jones! Excellent job!!

[Ronski]

Great looking hat!

[bigrex]

[Solent MKIII]

Great conversion - very nicely done.

[Kredepops]

Awesome! VERY nicely done! Looks perfect.

[coronado3]

what size is it and how much do you want for 'er?

[BOINKFFD]

Very nice job. Great tutorial.