The Federation IV Display Page

Noah · Post by **Noah** » Sun Aug 15, 2010 4:06 pm

Looks great!

Arch Stanton · Post by **Arch Stanton** » Sun Aug 15, 2010 9:32 pm

BendingOak wrote:That doesn't look like a fed 4. When did you get it?

It IS a Fed IV. Not even a "Deluxe". It's just a Regular. I looked at the box it came in, which I still have, but apparently I took the invoice out of it and I can't remember which file it's in. Anyway, it's nearly a year old. I'm pretty sure I got it early-mid September of 2009.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:11 pm

Arch Stanton wrote:
BendingOak wrote:That doesn't look like a fed 4. When did you get it?
It IS a Fed IV. Not even a "Deluxe". It's just a Regular. I looked at the box it came in, which I still have, but apparently I took the invoice out of it and I can't remember which file it's in. Anyway, it's nearly a year old. I'm pretty sure I got it early-mid September of 2009.

That's the best fed 4 I have seen. I really like it.

Arch Stanton · Post by **Arch Stanton** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:08 am

I really like it, too. But I'm thinking about having it re-bashed. I like how the Penman's have the reverse taper on the back in profile. My Fed IV used to have quite a bit of reverse taper from the front, which I love. But I really beat the #### out of it this spring and summer. It held up good. I can't complain. I mean, seriously, is $150 that much to spend on something you wear every day of the year? It's like the cheap turds who don't spring for an awesome 50" flatscreen. Why not? Your whole family sits in front of the thing and stares at it for like 5 or 6 hours each evening. You might as well have the best.

But alas, Fed IV Regular is NOT the best, but it suits me fine. I get compliments from old men who don't have a hat as nice as I do. They have some @#$% they got at Kohl's or something. Mission accomplished?

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:11 am

Arch Stanton wrote:I really like it, too. But I'm thinking about having it re-bashed. I like how the Penman's have the reverse taper on the back in profile. My Fed IV used to have quite a bit of reverse taper from the front, which I love. But I really beat the #### out of it this spring and summer. It held up good. I can't complain. I mean, seriously, is $150 that much to spend on something you wear every day of the year? It's like the cheap turds who don't spring for an awesome 50" flatscreen. Why not? Your whole family sits in front of the thing and stares at it for like 5 or 6 hours each evening. You might as well have the best.

But alas, Fed IV Regular is NOT the best, but it suits me fine. I get compliments from old men who don't have a hat as nice as I do. They have some @#$% they got at Kohl's or something. Mission accomplished?

Having it re-bashed?....but it looks so awesome as it is!!

As the Oakster said, the best fed IV I've ever seen as well.

Ian

Indiana Dymond · Post by **Indiana Dymond** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 6:07 am

Arch its pictures like that that makes me think "why am I looking to buy a fedora that costs more than a Akubra".

It's realy only the thought that I wont get the bash as good as yours that stops me some days

.

Arch Stanton · Post by **Arch Stanton** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:38 am

The bash is always a work in progress. I reckon anyone here can attest to that. I'm always monkeying with it. It's weird how someone can get so attached to a hat. But Akubras are great. If they had an infomercial on television at 4 in the morning then I would be on it, praising the greatness of Akubra.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:42 am

Ian wrote:
Arch Stanton wrote:I really like it, too. But I'm thinking about having it re-bashed. I like how the Penman's have the reverse taper on the back in profile. My Fed IV used to have quite a bit of reverse taper from the front, which I love. But I really beat the #### out of it this spring and summer. It held up good. I can't complain. I mean, seriously, is $150 that much to spend on something you wear every day of the year? It's like the cheap turds who don't spring for an awesome 50" flatscreen. Why not? Your whole family sits in front of the thing and stares at it for like 5 or 6 hours each evening. You might as well have the best.

But alas, Fed IV Regular is NOT the best, but it suits me fine. I get compliments from old men who don't have a hat as nice as I do. They have some @#$% they got at Kohl's or something. Mission accomplished?

Having it re-bashed?....but it looks so awesome as it is!! As the Oakster said, the best fed IV I've ever seen as well.

That is a complement to the creasing job, very well done. The akubra are good hats for what you pay for them.

Ian

jkdbuck76 · Post by **jkdbuck76** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 12:54 pm

Strider wrote:
backstagejack wrote: My Fed III does have finger oil stains that I don't suppose will ever come out from where I grabbed it. Grabbing a hat by the pinch will eventually wear a hole in the felt. May take several years, but continued use this way will eventually lead to this happening.

Strider, have you considered using a cotton ball with some rubbing alcohol on it?
It worked for me on my Henry. I have a thread on it in the distressing forum.

Using a cotton ball or two to lightly wipe and let it dry naturally should get it out.
If not, then (in the above-mentioned thread), you might want to use some lighter fluid.

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:21 pm

Hi everyone,
I can't believe that in all the time I've had it, that I haven't posted any shots of my own Fed IV, but now seems as good a time as any to correct that.
(I also thought it as good a time to do so especially since the conversation was just on the subject of "The Fed IV doesn't look like most Fed IV's that I've seen")... I've also had a few comments from folks saying that they didn't think my hat looked like Fed IV's they'd seen in the past...
I'm no expert, so I defer to the judgement of others, I can only say that after all the tweaking this hat has been through, I'm not too surprised if someone thinks it looks a little bit... different.

Some of what follows has been said in other Threads, so I apologize in advance to those to whom I'm repeating myself:

I was originally given this hat by another Member here at C.O.W.
When it first arrived, there were some sizing/fit "issues" ...
I sent him (a fedora artisan himself) a few shots showing him how it was fitting me and he suggested that in order to make it work better on my head, I'd need to do a little bit of work on it (he'd even sent me some sandpaper to start experimenting with just in case)...
Now, I was a REAL novice when it came to "Hat-Tweaking"... so, at first I was scared that with one move I'd wreck the thing... but after a while I began getting more and more comfortable with trying this & that, bending & shaping here & there, doing a little bit of light water spraying here & there, that sorta thing...
The distressing was put on there by me... my very first time doing ANY kind of Fuller's Earth application on a HAT, actually. Y'see, I really like that Fed IV and sure didn't want to do anything to undo how well I thought it was coming along...but thankfully it was also the hat that had been helping me to get over my "fear (if you want to call it that) of messing with the hat"... so, the Fuller's Earth was sort of the "last" step that had me feeling like I had really succeeded in changing the hat enough that it now had MY signature on it, too...
It's not a perfect Streets of Cairo, mind you... but it sure has gained a lot of character since I first started playing around with it (and fueled by inspiration from 3thoubucks, Holt & fedoraiders and their fearless attempts to "bend" a hat to their will )

Here's a bunch of shots (had a whole lot of 'em snapped once I'd gotten my TN 747 Jacket from Riley)

showing various angles & lighting of what I think a sort of unique - but still nice & floppy - fedora that my Fed IV has become...
Hope you like it and it can serve as some sort of reference for those interested in this kind of hat.

Cheers,
Mitch

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/M ... ink1-2.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/M ... ink3-4.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e38/M ... ink5-6.jpg

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 2:36 pm

Fox - I remember asking you about that fed IV just under a year ago when I first joined here. I believe you used to have it in your avatar from a side shot. I was impressed then even from that tiny little side shot.

....but now.......

All's I can say is WOW

. You have absolutely raised the bar for getting the most out of your Fed IV. Especially considering that the Fed IV was made to replicate more the CS look rather than the Raiders.

Amazing work, dude!!

Ian

Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:30 pm

...Mitch! You've tasmanian deviled that Fed. and now look at 'cha!

Doesn't look like a Fed IV, but with that straight block shape, well, it gets it done!

whipcracker · Post by **whipcracker** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 3:43 pm

Mitch, that is one heck of a fed!!! That gets a bunch of

and some

I hope that one day I can have a hat like that!

You are the epitome of Jonesness...

That give a new meaning to "keeping up with the Jones..."

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:18 pm

Jeeez fellas... Thank you so much, you're all VERY kind!

Ian you're right, that IS the one I used to have in an old avatar (as a side shot) ... you've got a sharp eye!

Your Tasmanian Devil reference is fair, Scott... I did practically gnaw a little off the brim with my bare teeth (well, not really... but you paint a colorful picture, friend!)

whipcracker, I'm VERY flattered by those words (how could any true Jones Fan NOT be?)
Thank you!

Noah · Post by **Noah** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 9:58 pm

I agree with everyone, wonderful job on that hat!

You have lots of Jonesness goin' on!

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:48 am

Thanks, man!

Arch Stanton · Post by **Arch Stanton** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:03 pm

Holy smokes. Mitch, that is one helluva hat. When I envision an Indiana Jones hat I envision exactly what you're sporting there. It couldn't be more perfect if you rubbed a magic lamp and a genie popped out and gave you a wish.

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:51 pm

Very cool of you to say that, Arch... Thanks!

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 8:48 pm

My Fed IV was beyond mutchering to get it somewhat back into the shape it resembled when I got it. It seemed to be the crown had shrunk a touch, and the pinch had been moved up and down to the point that the humps were bumpy. Bumpy humps.

So I soaked the hat a coupla days ago and stretched it over my block, removing the liner first, and pulling the sweat down off the block.

The differences are subtle but I'm very happy with the new bash, and it was easy to do because I wasnt fighting with what the hat wanted to do pre-reblock.

Here it is:

What I was going for in particular is at the tops of the 'Y' if youre looking at the hat from the front. Previously, the pinch at the tops of the Y (as you move from the front to the back of the hat) were squashed down right to the point where the material separates to form the camel humps. In some versions of the Raiders hat, the tops of the Y begin to spread sooner, if this makes any sense. I wanted this hat to be closer to that look, which I think I have achieved, especially compared to its former self, and my Fed III (in my avatar).

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:19 pm

I think that looks GREAT!

fuzzjunk · Post by **fuzzjunk** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:24 pm

I'd say that's pretty much the best looking Fed IV I've ever seen.

Nice Job Mitch!!!

-Scott

Noah · Post by **Noah** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:31 pm

Good job on the reblock!

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:22 pm

Thanks, Mitch and Noah.

Mitch, I keep looking at your Fed IV on this page. Amazing for a Fed IV.

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:22 am

Thanks Scott! Thanks Bugs!

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 3:38 pm

Fox, thats a #### good looking Federation you have there. Very nice work, my friend!

Dave

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 4:26 pm

Just looking at that lid of Fox's - I still can't believe that it's a Fed IV.

What's the brim width on that? I think that Akubra state that the brim is 2 1/2" x 2 3/4", but that looks to bigger.

Is there a problem with consistant brim width on the Fed IV? Mine is small on the sides at 2 3/8". I haven't trimmed it. My grey regular is just over 2 1/2". (Might have just answered my own question there)

Ian

Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:33 pm

That really is a nice Fed IV, scottyrocks!....I mean, Indiana Bugs.

Luke Warmwater · Post by **Luke Warmwater** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 9:54 pm

On the shore of the Potomac with my wife.

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 11:31 pm

Thanks, TS!

Noah · Post by **Noah** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:04 am

Nice picture Luke Warmwater!

tekors · Post by **tekors** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 5:17 am

Very nice shots Mitch,
Beautiful hat you've got

tekors · Post by **tekors** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 5:18 am

And nice work on your Fed IV Indiana Bugs....
looks great...

fenris · Post by **fenris** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:58 am

I was at my daughter's school today for some family related activity and was getting kinda bored so I snapped a few pictures of my hat...

I kinda liked the angle of this shot...

Any taper yet?

It's really hard to get the right color indoors... had to play around with the camera's settings to get the right lighting option.

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:00 am

Thank you very muchly, tekors.

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:49 pm

I like those shots, Fenris... they show a lot of texture, too.
But Wow, the angle makes the crown look REALLY tall (taller than I realize that it probably is!)
You're getting a really beautiful color in these shots, too... kinda' reminds me of that "sable-y" color you see in HJs...looks very nice.
Thanks for showin 'em!

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:11 pm

fenris,

That looks quite a bit different from the hat in your avatar. Is it the same one? If so, it looks like it was punched out and rebashed or even reblocked. The bash resembles my Fed IV, although mine is not as tall anymore as the hat in the pics you just posted.

fenris · Post by **fenris** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:36 pm

Yeah, it's a different hat. The hat in my avatar is the Christy's Adventurer.

The Fed IV only looks tall in the pics. It's the angle I took 'em. I just posted what I think are the best pics in terms of lighting and color, but I still needed to tweak the levels of the pics in Photoshop to give it more contrast.

Noah · Post by **Noah** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 9:44 pm

That's a nice looking hat Fenris! I agree with Mitch it looks like a sable-y color. Very nice!

tekors · Post by **tekors** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:21 am

nice pics fenris...great hat you've got

fenris · Post by **fenris** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 10:47 am

Mitch LaRue wrote:kinda' reminds me of that "sable-y" color you see in HJs...looks very nice.

Thanks!

But as we all know the Fed looks darker than "sable-y"... it's the lighting in the room. The color really varies from shot to shot. I don't think it's possible to get the right color when shooting indoors unless you're in a studio where you can tweak the lighting. Natural sunlight is still the best light for shooting hats.

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Fri Oct 01, 2010 8:50 pm

fenris wrote:Yeah, it's a different hat. The hat in my avatar is the Christy's Adventurer.

The Fed IV only looks tall in the pics. It's the angle I took 'em. I just posted what I think are the best pics in terms of lighting and color, but I still needed to tweak the levels of the pics in Photoshop to give it more contrast.

Also, do you find that its a bit tougher to get a really tight pinch in the front of a Fed IV standard, especially when compared to the deluxe, or other hats? That is a standard, yes?

fenris · Post by **fenris** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:29 am

Indiana Bugs wrote:
fenris wrote:Yeah, it's a different hat. The hat in my avatar is the Christy's Adventurer.

The Fed IV only looks tall in the pics. It's the angle I took 'em. I just posted what I think are the best pics in terms of lighting and color, but I still needed to tweak the levels of the pics in Photoshop to give it more contrast.
Also, do you find that its a bit tougher to get a really tight pinch in the front of a Fed IV standard, especially when compared to the deluxe, or other hats? That is a standard, yes?

It's a deluxe... it's just kinda well worn. Hehe...

I'm actually in the process of trying to relax the pinch on this one. I'm slowly trying to return it into an LC look, but it's kinda hard once the tight pinch has settled.

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:40 pm

Also, do you find that its a bit tougher to get a really tight pinch in the front of a Fed IV standard, especially when compared to the deluxe, or other hats? That is a standard, yes?

It's a deluxe... it's just kinda well worn. Hehe...

Well, that was strike two for me. Its a great looking hat, regardless . . .

backstagejack · Post by **backstagejack** » Sun Oct 03, 2010 1:10 am

Ian wrote:....... Especially considering that the Fed IV was made to replicate more the CS look rather than the Raiders.

Amazing work, dude!!

Ian

I was trying to get a LC look out of my Fed but have yet to acheive it. I bought a used grey fed to get dirty in, and it's turned out to have a great Raider's look, as I've done nothing but sweat in it, throw it around, crush it and give it a great tight pinch. Not near as good as Mitch's fed is looking. I'm just saying, it seems easier to get a Raider's look out of the Fed then any other look (aside from CS, which is what my fed looks like now.....)

Speaking of which....if I've already given it a pretty good tight pinch but am thinking on getting a "raider's turn" to it.....is it still possible, just lots of water and a rebash?

fenris · Post by **fenris** » Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:55 am

backstagejack wrote:Speaking of which....if I've already given it a pretty good tight pinch but am thinking on getting a "raider's turn" to it.....is it still possible, just lots of water and a rebash?

Well, my Fed IV (which originally came from Texan Scott) already had a tight pinch and turn on it. I removed the turn by slowly moving the front pinch. As I did that, it wasn't that tight anymore since it is slightly off from the original pinch. I got to make the pinch tighter again when the hat got soaked in the rain... the perfect excuse to play with the hat's bash.

Now I can't return it into an LC bash... hehehe. I've tried relaxing it by pushing the pinch out when I'm fiddling with the hat. The tight front pinch is slowly widening due to my efforts of relaxing it, but it will not yield to an LC look as the bottom part still goes back to that tighter pinch.

I say try wearing the hat in heavy rain and rebash it before it dries.

fenris · Post by **fenris** » Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:27 pm

Anybody here who knows if Akubra will use their 30% beaver felt on the Fed? They're currently offering a beaver mix, but it's only for cowboy hats... no fedoras yet.

damieneo · Post by **damieneo** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:53 am

I took the plunge an ordered the Federation IV, which will be my first Indy styled fedora after seeing all the great pics posted here. For years I have been getting all kinds of hats, from fedoras to normal cowboy hats that look even remotely like an Indy Hat. But they never seem to get the dimensions right. I even bought a Dorfman Pacific Indy hat which sadly was too large for me.

After a few emails between Hatsdirect, giving them my measurements (55.5cm) as well as the climate from where I'm living in, we agreed on a size 56, which will as time goes by shrink to a perfect fit.

So I placed my order for a 56 last night. To my surprise, I received an email saying that as they considered the climate where I'm living in, they changed my order to a 57.

I worry that that might be a bit large for me, even with an adjustment foam. As the hat was shipped out before I could have a chance to respond to the email, I can only wait and hope that when it arrives, their resizing for me will be a good fit. I'm not sure if I could wait for the time for it to shrink before deciding if its a good fit.

How much will a Fed shrink in a hot, humid climate like Malaysia? I believe fenris here who owns a Fed lives in the Philippines which has a rather similar climate to Malaysia.

fenris · Post by **fenris** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:15 am

damieneo wrote:How much will a Fed shrink in a hot, humid climate like Malaysia? I believe fenris here who owns a Fed lives in the Philippines which has a rather similar climate to Malaysia.

Yep. We have very similar climates... or they might even be exactly alike.

My Fed IV Deluxe, which was bought 2nd-hand, has hardly shrunk that much at all even if I got the hat wet. But that's probably because it has already shrunk a little from the original owner, Texan Scott.

I think it's better to go with the bigger size just in case it does shrink more than a size. I'd rather have a loose hat than a tight one... at least I can stuff it with foam or grow my hair to get a better fit. You can always stretch a hat, but it will eventually want to come back to its original size.

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:38 pm

Although I dont live in an extremely humid climate, I am not sure that a size and a half up is gonna 'shrink-to-fit' you. BUT, I am not the people at Hatsdirect, so as George Michael said, 'Ya gotta have faith.'

I am a true 23 / 59 / 7 3/8, and thats what I ordered. It was too big when I got it, and not shaped for my LO head. But with the padding temporarily installed, and a lot of wear over a hot and sweaty summer, the hat shrank down and conformed to my head, and I removed the padding.

When I wore it every day, it was always perfect. When I began to add other hats back into my rotation, it reconformed every time I wear it, although it doesnt get out of shape much since 'learning' my head.

Please let us know how it fits when you get it.

damieneo · Post by **damieneo** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:55 pm

The shipment is on its way and I should get it by this Friday if not tomorrow. The thing is I'm just concerned about the time it will take to shrink and conform to my fit. It may be too late for me to change if I waited some time and the size is still too big. I was reading through the thread and remembered a couple of members here who seems to have the same head measurements (55.5) as I do, and they finally ordered a 56, which as time goes by conform to a good fit.