My new AB and some questions

[kevdog]

Recently received my Raiders, Beaver AB Fedora from Mr. Delk. This is my first Fedora and it is a work of art. I've been wanting one for so long and now I don't want to wear it and mar its beauty, but in time I shall break it in like I did my Wested. I now have a TOD Lambskin Wested, Alden 405 boots (brick dust color), and now my Raiders Fedora.

For those who have a Beaver AB, I have a couple questions.

1) There was an odor the hat has- what was it? Scotch Guard?
2) How wet can the hat get if it were to be worn in the rain? Living in So Cal, we don't get much, but when we do it can rain pretty hard.
3) Best resources to get that Raiders Bash from the opening temple scenes?
4) Any other care instructions to be aware of? I'm currently storing on a hat hook, but was thinking about a box, is a hat box necessary?

I'd like to post pictures of my hat, but haven't figured out how to post pics yet. Do I need to have the pictures hosted on a different URL and post a link?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Jeremiah]

Congrats. I too have a beaver AB from Steve. Wear it. That is the best way to get the worn look. The smell I would assume is from the water resist care done to the hat or the pre aging?
Check out John Penmans bash tutorial on YouTube.
As for rain? It can take a lot however if the core gets soaked it will taper. So long as your head is dry after its wet you should be fine. Just pop out creases and let it dry at room temp.
Pics?

[Michaelson]

Recently received my Raiders, Beaver AB Fedora from Mr. Delk. This is my first Fedora and it is a work of art. I've been wanting one for so long and now I don't want to wear it and mar its beauty, but in time I shall break it in like I did my Wested. I now have a TOD Lambskin Wested, Alden 405 boots (brick dust color), and now my Raiders Fedora.

For those who have a Beaver AB, I have a couple questions.

1) There was an odor the hat has- what was it? Scotch Guard?
2) How wet can the hat get if it were to be worn in the rain? Living in So Cal, we don't get much, but when we do it can rain pretty hard.
3) Best resources to get that Raiders Bash from the opening temple scenes?
4) Any other care instructions to be aware of? I'm currently storing on a hat hook, but was thinking about a box, is a hat box necessary?

I'd like to post pictures of my hat, but haven't figured out how to post pics yet. Do I need to have the pictures hosted on a different URL and post a link?

Thanks,
Kevin

Edit. Information and comments removed.

[JohnnyD97]

As for posting pics - you are correct. They have to be posted at another online location and you post the link to it here.

An easy way is to upload them at http://www.imgur.com and get the link that way. Others may have other methods or host on their own websites, but Imgur works pretty easy for me.

Congrats on the fedora too!!

[BendingOak]

- Nope, the smell isn't water repellent. It's from the scorching process. Some custom hatter scorch them to get the tiny hairs off that you can't get off with sanding (pouncing). I scorch hats but withy fire background I do it differently then any hat maker and no smell is left behind.

- rain, I wouldn't worry about it. Scotch guard once in a while in the rainy season and you are fine if you feel the need. Won't hurt.

- hat brush is the single most important thing you can do to care for your hat. Not only does it keep your hat clean from dirt and dust but it keeps the fibers tight when brushing it proper. Counter clockwise on top, clockwise underside of the brim . Once a week will do wonders.

Here's a how to I did several years back

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


If your going to wear it daily, coat rack is just fine. If you aren't going to wear it daily. For a example put it away for the summer, then a proper hat box I would recommend.

[Mike]

My AB has been in a river (twice) and in multiple rains. It's never tapered.

[JohnnyD97]

- hat brush is the single most important thing you can do to care for your hat. Not only does it keep your hat clean from dirt and dust but it keeps the fibers tight when brushing it proper. Counter clockwise on top, clockwise underside of the brim . Once a week will do wonders.

John I have a question about brushing. I understand your directions for brushing the brim, but does the counter-clockwise apply to the crown as well?

[Ridgerunner58]

For those who have a Beaver AB, I have a couple questions.

1) There was an odor the hat has- what was it? Scotch Guard?
2) How wet can the hat get if it were to be worn in the rain? Living in So Cal, we don't get much, but when we do it can rain pretty hard.
3) Best resources to get that Raiders Bash from the opening temple scenes?
4) Any other care instructions to be aware of? I'm currently storing on a hat hook, but was thinking about a box, is a hat box necessary?

1. Can't really tell since I can't smell it from here But if it's a "smoky" smell it's probably exactly what John said - its from burning or scorching the hat. But Steve does Scotchgard his hats, so if it's a chemical smell it could be that. In either case it will disappear.

2. I have 4 beaver felt Adventurebilts, 8 beaver felt Penmans and a number of others. I have lived in the Pacific Northwest, where rain is a constant issue, and I have worked in locations where heavy rain can drench you to the bone in minutes. I've never had a problem. Just let the hat dry naturally.

DO NOT - I repeat DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER, under ANY circumstances try to artificially dry the hat with a hair drier or any other source of heat.

3. Even though it's matted fur, a felt hat is kind of a living thing. You can't really "sculpt" it and have it stay the same. You can adjust a little, but your hat will most likely eventually develop its own character no matter how hard you try to make it look like something from a movie screen. Steve's hats are pretty straight sided anyway, so I would say adjust little and wear lots.

4. I hang my daily wear hats on either a bed post, or the corner of my armoire in my bedroom. I keep the less frequently worn ones in a hat box. If you plan to wear it, a hat hook/hat stand/hall tree will do fine.

As said elsewhere, frequent brushing will keep the hat in good shape for years to come. Wear it in good health.

[Ridgerunner58]

- hat brush is the single most important thing you can do to care for your hat. Not only does it keep your hat clean from dirt and dust but it keeps the fibers tight when brushing it proper. Counter clockwise on top, clockwise underside of the brim . Once a week will do wonders.

John I have a question about brushing. I understand your directions for brushing the brim, but does the counter-clockwise apply to the crown as well?

Brush the very top of the crown from front to back. Counter-clockwise around the sides of the crown and top of the brim, clockwise around the bottom of the brim.

[BendingOak]

For those who have a Beaver AB, I have a couple questions.

1) There was an odor the hat has- what was it? Scotch Guard?
2) How wet can the hat get if it were to be worn in the rain? Living in So Cal, we don't get much, but when we do it can rain pretty hard.
3) Best resources to get that Raiders Bash from the opening temple scenes?
4) Any other care instructions to be aware of? I'm currently storing on a hat hook, but was thinking about a box, is a hat box necessary?

1. Can't really tell since I can't smell it from here But if it's a "smoky" smell it's probably exactly what John said - its from burning or scorching the hat. But Steve does Scotchgard his hats, so if it's a chemical smell it could be that. In either case it will disappear.

2. I have 4 beaver felt Adventurebilts, 8 beaver felt Penmans and a number of others. I have lived in the Pacific Northwest, where rain is a constant issue, and I have worked in locations where heavy rain can drench you to the bone in minutes. I've never had a problem. Just let the hat dry naturally.

DO NOT - I repeat DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER, under ANY circumstances try to artificially dry the hat with a hair drier or any other source of heat.

3. Even though it's matted fur, a felt hat is kind of a living thing. You can't really "sculpt" it and have it stay the same. You can adjust a little, but your hat will most likely eventually develop its own character no matter how hard you try to make it look like something from a movie screen. Steve's hats are pretty straight sided anyway, so I would say adjust little and wear lots.

4. I hang my daily wear hats on either a bed post, or the corner of my armoire in my bedroom. I keep the less frequently worn ones in a hat box. If you plan to wear it, a hat hook/hat stand/hall tree will do fine.

As said elsewhere, frequent brushing will keep the hat in good shape for years to come. Wear it in good health.

I should have waited for the Penman PR guys post.

[BendingOak]

- hat brush is the single most important thing you can do to care for your hat. Not only does it keep your hat clean from dirt and dust but it keeps the fibers tight when brushing it proper. Counter clockwise on top, clockwise underside of the brim . Once a week will do wonders.

John I have a question about brushing. I understand your directions for brushing the brim, but does the counter-clockwise apply to the crown as well?

I would pop the creases out and brush it conter clockwise.

[Ridgerunner58]

I should have waited for the Penman PR guys post.

[BendingOak]

I know a lot of people think it's him smoking but I assure you it's not that.

[JohnnyD97]

Thanks for the brush instructions as well Ridgerunner and John.

[kevdog]

Thank you all for the responses. I'll work at getting some pics up this weekend.

Any suggestions on what type of hat brush to purchase? I've seen the Sarah's AB Hatboxes - a good buy?

[BendingOak]

That hat box can only be bought from me. As for hat brushes I have bore bristle and are simple the best .

[zaynecarrick]

Thank you all for the responses. I'll work at getting some pics up this weekend.

Any suggestions on what type of hat brush to purchase? I've seen the Sarah's AB Hatboxes - a good buy?

Fellow SoCal-er. I currently have my months old one in a Sarah's AB Hatbox but mainly to avoid damage by dog. Any good fitting box will do though I kinda wanted the AB continuity so I splurged. I've worn it through the brief rain we had down here and thanks to the dry desert weather that follows, it's back to new within hours even.

[Ridgerunner58]

Thank you all for the responses. I'll work at getting some pics up this weekend.

Any suggestions on what type of hat brush to purchase? I've seen the Sarah's AB Hatboxes - a good buy?

The boar bristle ones John sells are ideal. Well made and perfectly sized. I keep one at home, one at my office and have a spare for travel.

John gets his hatboxes made by Sarah's so if you by a branded one John has custom made for his hats from John or another color or pattern directly from Sarah's it's the same basic box. You'll want the large round type. And yes, they are a good buy.

[rogera]

My AB has been in a river (twice) and in multiple rains. It's never tapered.

That right there is awesome!