Biggest problem so far with the Adventurebilt

[Fedora]

Just wanted to make this public. The biggest problem that I am having so far with these hats is the brim maintaining the curl that I flange into them. Many are losing it on the way to the new owner. They look good when I ship, but that is not what you guys are getting. So, the only thing that I can do is apply stiffener to the brim to make it hold the curl better. I did not see this coming, and honestly it surprised me. There have also been a couple of issues involving loose threads on the ribbon, and one sweat that bulged up. I think the sweat problem was a change in humidity between my location and wherever the hat ended up, but since the sweat fit perfectly when I mailed it, wearing the hat should smooth the sweat back out. I must admit that in my haste to get these hats out by Christmas, I run through them fairly fast, which is not what I like to do. But, to my eye, all looked good when I shipped. This is not to say that one or two got by me, but I stand behind these hats, so I will make it right. I also changed certain things during the process, like going to a high strength nylon thread for attaching the sweat to the hat. So it would not rot like cotton or break like polyester can do.

There is also the issue of the hat losing some of the style in transit, like a LC hat that I got a pm on. With this felt having the characteristics that it does, the only thing that will solve this problem is using stiffener on the crown, which I hate to do as it makes for a stiffer hat. But, I will do so if requested.

My biggest problem has been sourcing a hat box(I thought I had one, but it is too small), and now it seems that I cannot get one large enough from my current supplier. So, if anyone has an idea where I might buy one, please let me know. I am going to town tomorrow to Office Depot, and Office Max to see if they have something that I can use until I can source something. This has turned out to be my biggest problem to date. regards, Fedora

[Mola Ram]

have you talked to charlie about the boxes he uses?
My guess is you have, i just thought id throw it out there.
Why dont you contact the people at hatsdirect, and ask who
supplies them? Hope this helps a little, but my guess is you
did this allredy.
Kindest Regards
Adam

[Bufflehead Jones]

My hat wants to return to a flat brim. The center dent and front pinch stay put perfectly. Since mine is turned, it does want to warp the brim when I put it on. I just thought that I would forgo using any stiffner and eventually the hat will learn to retain it's shape. I will just have to keep training it as to what I want it to do. The felt feels so cool, I just didn't want to mess it up with any stiffner.

Now, to the turn issue. I do not feel that Harrison Ford's hat was turned on purpose unless they were having a problem with it being a tad too big and coming off his head during filming. I will not turn any of my other hats. With the felt on those hats, it feels like I have a lopsided, ill fitting hat on my head and it would drive me completely bonkers. (No smart comments about my normal mental state, please)

The felt on this Adventurebilt is so incredible, that I can't really tell that it is turned after having worn it for awhile. It has just molded itself to fit my head or something. It feels so normal, that occasionally I reach up and feel for where the front pinch is just to check and make sure that I don't have it on crooked. Fedora told me before hand that this would be the case. It is really the only reason that I would ever consent to turning my hat. It doesn't matter to me how cool it looks, if it feels weird on my head, I would never wear it.

[Fedora]

My theory on the turned hat is this. It was a soft hat, and being a soft hat, you could put it on off center. I think Ford accidently put it on that way, and then creased it while it was on his head, the same way that I do my hats when I first get them open crown. Once it was creased, off center, the brim warped, giving it that look. The hat he is wearing as he first enters the cave, and prior to the next inside scenes which were shot at Elmstreet does not appear to be turned, and is basically the same height in front and back. Looks like a new hat to me. Somewhere, at some point, one of the hats got turned as it was styled, and the rest is history. I do think it really makes the hat Raideresque, with the later film hats not haveing this look. Fedora

[Fedora]

Ok, this felt not holding the curled flange, it is logical to say that this is what your brim will finally end up looking like.


The reason? Well, this felt's inability to keep the curl without stiffener will also cause the 90 degree break of the brim to lose its crispness over time, and it will droop. Not a bad thing, unless you are going for the LC or TOD look. I think it is will be a happy accident for most of us. Fedora

[Rob]

Fedora - the embodiment of a fair and just vendor.

[Indiana Texas-girl]

Do you need a curvier flange?

[Neolithic]

I think it is will be a happy accident for most of us.

I've been trying to roll the brim on my HJ to be like the droopy Raiders look since I got it. (Probably like a lot of us here)That 'problem' is a really nice one, Fedora.

[Mulceber]

Maybe this wouldn't be the right way to get hat boxes, but you could always ask PB where they buy theirs. Like I said, it may be a bit unfair to ask them to help you out, cause you are their competition, but you can always try. :junior: -IJ

[Fedora]

Do you need a curvier flange?
_________________

No, as I have several different profiles on the various flanges. I own around a dozen different ones. The trouble is the felt is not stiff enough to hold the curl, without stiffener added. regards, Fedora

[Ghos7a55assin]

That's awesome! Fedora, you got the raider's look down, even by accident. Now you can get the droopy Raiders look with the hat, and not need to go to Tunisia and melt it.