Akubra Fed IV Raiders bash opinions

[Dr Mcgrat]

Hi All,

Newbie here so forgive any mistakes.

I got a Fed IV today and I'm really happy with it, tried it on and bashed following the penman Raiders video.

I feel like I've been having trouble and would love for someone to offer an opinion on it and perhaps some advice.

The main issue to my eye seem to be the side dents, I just can't get the definition there.











Thanks everyone and have a nice day

[Ridgerunner58]

That's pretty good for a first try.

My 2 cents would be to not bring the front crease all the way down to the ribbon and the top line of the side dent that I can see should be higher at the rear. It seems to angle down toward the rear of the hat rather that tracking the top of the crown.

The front pinch is not exactly straight up and down but that will just add character over time. My favorite Penman has always had a slightly crooked front pinch - it's one of the things that makes it mine.

My 3rd cent is to not obsess (not saying you are) but to wear the thing and let it develop its own character.

[Dr Mcgrat]

Thanks for the advice.

I've tried to adjust the hat based on your recommendations

Your 3rd cent is one that was important to me too and ultimately made me decide on the Fed VS many of the other hats on the market.

In my mind I want to start with a really nice looking Raiders bash and then really get full use out of the thing and beat it to #### through wear to make it my own.

Its a truely beautiful hat and I haven't taken it off since I got it

[Texan Scott]

Be careful not to bash the side dents too far back, because it can distort the overall look. You can get definition in what I call the jaw bones, that is the ....<...> feature, to the side dents. Little technique here, cup your hand so that your fingers form (for the most part) a straight line. Put one hand inside the crown of the hat. At the point where you want to define the 'jaw bone' press out on the felt with your inside hand, and then press inward on the felt with your outside hand, simultaneously with your cupped hands offsetting each other, slightly. Do this for both sides. Felt has a tendency to absorb light, but photo it either outside or near a point inside the home with natural light, such as a skylight or window. Move the camera around to get better angles. I have found that straight on shots, front and center are not the best angles for bashed fedoras.

When you have idle time, work that brim so that it is not stiff at all, but very limber.

Make sure the back of the crown is not dented too far down because it can cause taper. Look at the fedora straight on, and if the sides are tapered inward towards the crown, the bring the center dent at the very back, bring it up a bit. Sweeten to taste...

Careful with not taking the front pinch too far down and into the ribbon. With the Soc fedora, there was a bulge in the felt further down, nearer the ribbon, forming in effect, and inverted Y shape.

you can see it in several different screen shots here:

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61473" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[backstagejack]

Question - I've owned two Fed's and loved both of them. For both, I've just done a dry bash, nothing spectacular a generic Indy Bash.

I'm contemplating doing a SOC bash in my next brown Fed.... but I know you do the turn to get the proper brim distortion.... how does one turn the ribbon? I'm guessing I have to cut the thread in order to drag it along, do I need to reattach it to the fedora or will the ribbon stay put?
I can't imagine it moving too much...
John might have a video on though I didn't see one through the threads I glances through.

Thanks for any help.

[BendingOak]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ozJKQVCgeZ4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ridgerunner58]

Follow the video, but in case you are not clear, you do not move the ribbon, before creasing the hat you rotate the entire hat clockwise so that the "front" of the hat (the center of the oval shaped crown) is closer to being over your right eye. You then crease the hat so the center pinch is aligned with your nose (I.e. Slightly to the left of where it would usually be). The rotation causes the brim to distort slightly and changes to way the hat looks from all angles.