Club Obi Wan

theinterchange wrote:You'll get used to a tall crown, just wear it constantly and pretty soon, you'll put it on and not notice it's there.

I've been going most everywhere in mine since I got it. Has withstood two pretty good rains with no taper.

Randy

I'm getting a Fed IV, too and I've heard from some on COW that they shrink over the first several weeks. Does the Keppler do that (especially with the rain).

Mine never did.

Dave

My sweatband has done the typical slight shrink with sweating in it is all.. which helped the fit!

Well, the old 'apples to oranges' comparison again. ;-)

The Fed IV is a rabbit/jackrabbit fur blend, and fights shrinkage... but straight out rabbit felt will shrink.

The Keppler is a beaver/rabbit blend, and with that combination it's a pretty stable platform for outdoor use, and rarely if ever shrinks.

The sweat bands WILL shrink a bit with use, and that's normal.

Regards! Michaelson

Just snapped a new shot of myself in the Keppler on my phone's camera, I've not seen this cruddy of a shot in a while, forgive the quality.. Will get a new better shot when I've got someone to take it for me.



This is after a couple of good rains, and earlier today I used the Keppler hat softening method. [which I was almost scared to do!] That did improve the already soft felt!

Randy

P.S I was going for my best HF glare in the pic.

That is my favorite quality of the Keppler. It is the softest hat I own. Softer, even, than my Christy's, which I presume is comperable to the softness of an HJ.

Dave

How does the Federation stack up to the softness of the Keppler? It's pretty stiff right?

I see that the website is supposed to be back up on the 17th

Well, I finally got my Keppler, which is also my first Indy fedora. I think it fits well and am surprised that I don't feel overwhelmed by its height. Lee does the bash for you so that's great in that it'll give me something to work toward when I get another (unless of course, the other comes from Lee again).

Since I called Lee and wanted to change the size I'd ordered earlier this year (glad I changed it, too) this is a 7 he had on hand that someone had cancelled on and he addressed the package as we spoke on the phone. It was originally ordered to have Fullers Earth on it but what it has is pretty subdued, which is fine.

It does touch the tip of the ears - should it sit a bit higher? If so, I could put some foam in the band.

One other thing - there is a tiny irregularity at the front of the brim that must have been made when trimming. Looks like what happens when a scissors cut doesn't end exactly where it started (see 5th pic). Could this be easily fixed and if so, how?

http://s371.photobucket.com/albums/oo16 ... pplerF.jpg
http://s371.photobucket.com/albums/oo16 ... lerF34.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo16 ... lerR34.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo16 ... pplerL.jpg
http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo16 ... pplerX.jpg

... and me (oldIndy):

http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo16 ... randMe.jpg

Xacto-knife and some patience with a light touch and an eye.

theinterchange wrote:...This is after a couple of good rains, and earlier today I used the Keppler hat softening method.

And that method is ... ?

Sitting on it? What?

Oh, he used to have a video up on his site, there's one similar on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LVl7pFrIqQ be prepared for semi disturbing heavy breathing and no other noise.. or just turn your sound down..

It actually made my hat look more lived in than it already is.

R

Beautiful hat lp!-that's a keeper!

be prepared for semi disturbing heavy breathing and no other noise

I watched that YouTube one a while back and was wondering what was up with all that...!

Lee has told me that mine is heading for the mail today.


Can't wait!

Great! You'll love it!

Beautiful hat, lpa. All these Kepplers look simply great!

Dave

DR Ulloa wrote:Beautiful hat, lpa. All these Kepplers look simply great!

Dave

Thanks for the positive remarks. It's starting to get chilly here in Chicago, too so will be wearing it soon. Am wondering though, whether to wait until the Wested comes ...

I don't think you can hold out that long. haha I wouldn't have!

randy

Spoke with Lee earlier today - looks like I might be getting my hat next week!

I should be getting a hold of my hat next week too

As promised, Lee delivered. His latest masterpiece landed on my doorstep this weekend.

This is my first Indy fedora and I could not be happier. Count me in as one of Adventure Supply's biggest fans.

And it's a perfect fit.

Thats a fine looking hat. Great bash too!

Dave

Got my Keppler on Friday but couldn't post pics until today. First, it's a terrific hat, just feels terrific. I had Lee bash it in an idol grab without the turn, but, once I got the hat, I just had to go for the turn (even though Lee's bash was great). So I turned it and rebashed it. Not perfect but I'm really happy with how it came out. So, remember, if you think the bash looks crummy, that's my work, not Lee's. Awesome hat!

What, no love/hate for my bashing job?

I think you did a good job bashing it. I think the curl in the back is having some problems.

BendingOak wrote:I think you did a good job bashing it. I think the curl in the back is having some problems.

Yeah, the brim is doing a few funky things because of Lee styling it without the turn and then myself restyling it with the turn. Is it too much on the left side or not enough curl on the right?

Changing it to a turn hat from and un turn isn't the problem. I would have to see other shots.

Excellent lids guys. Anyone have more pictures of the Train Traveler?

I have to say in comparing a Federation IV and my Keppler, that the Federation feels like a DP.

Yes, the Fed is floppy, but the felt feels rough. I'm using it for my yard work hat, I in honesty wouldn't wear it much otherwise, I dislike it that much in comparison. Though, I give it credit, it feels very tough, and have no second thoughts about abusing it while working.

I'm glad I got the Fed though, I had wanted one, and this satisfied my curiosity. I can't speak for the Deluxe but the regular is nowhere in the same league as the new Keppler.

Randy

The Deluxe is a quite a bit closer to the Keppler in terms of give and feel. I think the Keppler still has it on softness, but the margin is much smaller.

crismans wrote:The Deluxe is a quite a bit closer to the Keppler in terms of give and feel. I think the Keppler still has it on softness, but the margin is much smaller.

I knew there'd be a quality difference, But I was able to get the regular for just at $100 so it won out, and I was getting it to beat around in anyway.

I reworked the bash and didn't give it as much of a turn and I think it helped the overall look a lot. I can't say enough about the hat. It looks so sharp and the felt is really forgiving. Heck, mine has had three separate Raiders bashes in it and is no worse for wear.

theinterchange wrote:I have to say in comparing a Federation IV and my Keppler, that the Federation feels like a DP.

Yes, the Fed is floppy, but the felt feels rough. I'm using it for my yard work hat, I in honesty wouldn't wear it much otherwise, I dislike it that much in comparison. Though, I give it credit, it feels very tough, and have no second thoughts about abusing it while working.

I'm glad I got the Fed though, I had wanted one, and this satisfied my curiosity. I can't speak for the Deluxe but the regular is nowhere in the same league as the new Keppler.

Randy

Though I agree with you, Randy, thats an unfair comparison. The Federation is a rabbit felt and the Keppler is a rabbit/beaver blend. Thats like comparing a v6 engnine to a v8...and I think Lee's beaver content has gone up since I got mine so throw a blower onto that v8.

crismans, the brim looks much better. Good work, I like the bash.

Dave

According to what I recall Lee telling me last weekend, the blend is 20% beaver to 80% rabbit.

Thats the same beaver content as the Henry.

Dave

DR Ulloa wrote:Though I agree with you, Randy, thats an unfair comparison. The Federation is a rabbit felt and the Keppler is a rabbit/beaver blend. Thats like comparing a v6 engnine to a v8...and I think Lee's beaver content has gone up since I got mine so throw a blower onto that v8.

Dave

True, true, I in retrospect should have clarified what I was refering to. The look of the felt, it appears more like wool than fur. Thus the DP reference. Which like you said is comparing apples to oranges.. err v6's to v8's.

Randy