Club Obi Wan

After reading some of IndyFrench's posts about his Federation turning a tint of green I am curiouse as to how many others have had this same problem of the federation turning color?

Brendon

My hat's don't usually get the chance. But, in any case, I have not had that problem.

My Fed has not turned any different colors either, and it is going on 4 years already. (Mine is carbon grey though, not brown.)

These hats absolutely change colors. At least the older ones. The hat on the bottom was worn for about 1 1/2 years. Rain, direct sunlight and snow. The Federation on the top is in like-new condition and has never been worn by me.



Close-up picture.

Although you cannot see the greenish tint too well unless in the sunlight, I will relate this. I recently brought these hats to Aarons Hat Shop in North Conway, NH. Aaron is a great guy and we had been speaking for a while on line. One of the first things he said about my old Fed is "Olive green, that's different..." This man knows hats too.

I really think that the people who wear the Federations in the rain, snow and intense sunlight for prolonged periods of time will notice a change. If the hat sits on a shelf it will look like new years later, as it is not the amount of time you have it, but time vs. usage and abusage. I did not really notice it until I go a new one to compare it to.

FYI-The two hats to the right are Fed Deluxes. The standard Indy and the charcoal gray on bottom.

A tad off-topic...what kind of hooks are those hats hanging on? Is posting a pic a possibility?

Thanks,

David

My Akubra Fed regular has also changed from flat chocolate brown to an olive green. It is really dingey in color, especially sitting next to my Adventurebilt. My Akubra is only 14 months old now, and started changing around 6 months old. It was disappointing. Now, I am happy to have my Adventurebilt.

Definitely a possibility, but not until I get home from work... Stay tuned.

Hemingway Jones wrote:My Akubra Fed regular has also changed from flat chocolate brown to an olive green.

Does it look like this?

VP wrote:

Hemingway Jones wrote:
My Akubra Fed regular has also changed from flat chocolate brown to an olive green.


Does it look like this?

That's exactly what it looks like! It is great for my Green-Lantern costume.
VP- you kill me. I needed that on a Monday morning!

It wasn't my Federation that turned green - It was my Peters Bros. Just to confirm.

My Federation DID fade, but to a light brown.

Mike

I have had my Akubra since October '04. I wear it about 4-5 days a week and do not 'baby' it from the weather.
So far the color has held up well.
Here is a current pic. The hat is a nice 'chocolatey' brown.

uhm chocolate...is that mask made of chocolate too? Now seriously the hat looks in great shape

Thanks for the compliment. If the mask were made of chocolate it would not last long on the wall!

My Akubra is about a year old and has already begun turning a bit green...

bink

binkmeisterRick wrote:My Akubra is about a year old and has already begun turning a bit green...

bink

....with envy? Because of the AB that holds the number 1 spot on your 'hat list'?

I guess I should seriously start thinking about ordering an AB sometime soon.

Are we talking about fed. deluxe or fed reg.
I just got my Fed deluxe and bashed it,
what a joy -I'll quit my job and bash hats full time.
But if it turns green??? -Whaaaauuuuuuu sob sob.
Well guess I'll just get a new one and BASH away.


"Hi my name is K on the Run and I'm a bashoholic."

I've never seen a Deluxe turn myself, but yes, I have seen Feds shift on occasion. Not all of them do it, but some do. Regards. Michaelson

phew, thanks Michaelson.
Swift reply and with good news.

The Deluxe's I've have owned kept their deep color, but then they're the top of the Akubra line in terms of felt quality, so that's the reason it's more stable. Regards. Michaelson

My Akubra, which VP has rendered so artfully above, which has turned green was a Fedration Regular. It is now a sad dingy thing, especially next to the rich brown of my Adventurebilt.

The Deluxe's I've have owned kept their deep color, but then they're the top of the Akubra line in terms of felt quality, so that's the reason it's more stable.

The light coating of Pecard's you use doesn't hurt either...

Feraud wrote:

binkmeisterRick wrote:My Akubra is about a year old and has already begun turning a bit green...

bink

....with envy? Because of the AB that holds the number 1 spot on your 'hat list'?

That's for sure! My Akubra sits on a shelf more often than not these days. It's been relegated to a yard work hat. But to be fair, as Michaelson made a good point (for once ) my Akubra is a Standard Federation, NOT the Deluxe. Mine has begun the "fade to green" and compared to my AB, it's like someone turned the color saturation down on the TV. The AB has a lush color that my Akubra never did.

bink

My first Regular Fed turned a lightish brown which looked green in some lighting conditions. After the fedora got some tree sap on it, I cleaned the whole surface with Naptha and the Green Effect went away.

The Deluxe Akubra turned this chocolate brown with a slight redish hue which is actually very nice.... and it's not blotchiy.

I would recomend to everyonet to send your Akubra's out for a cleaning and reblock.

yikes scary stuff. As some of you know I just ordered a Federation Regular and it is on its way in the mail. I live in Washington where it usually is raining (with the exeption of this year). I sure hope it doesn't turn green not that green is a bad thing its actuallly my favorit color But not for a fedora thats supposed to be brown. If anyone else takes Renderking Fisk's advice and gets there green fed cleaned and the green goes away would ya let me know so that I know the perminent green shade is not inevitable.

Brown Fed good Green Fed not so good

Brendon

IndyFrench Wrote

It wasn't my Federation that turned green - It was my Peters Bros. Just to confirm.

Sorry for the mix up

Brendon

CanadaDave wrote:A tad off-topic...what kind of hooks are those hats hanging on? Is posting a pic a possibility?

These are a couple of dollars each at Home Depot. They are longer than actual hat hooks that I have seen. This is important with the wide brim fedoras as the short hooks leave the brim touching the wall for a funky shape when you put the hat on next. The end of the hook is bent upwards ensuring that the hat doesn't vibrate off the hanger. (Keep in mind this is also my music room, so it can get loud in there from time to time)



As you can see by the shadow, the brim is not touching the wall. Probably will work with up to a 3 1/4" brim or so.



Let me know if I can help in any other manner.

To stray even further away from the topic
here is a picture of my hat "hanger"

http://kilgore.dk/kim/hathook.jpg

Every now and then R2 gets to wear it.

That looks good rick - you could even hand the rest of your gear udnerneath on a hanger if you felt so inclined.

Ken

You know, I miss my old fed.

I sold it on when I bought my first Optimo...and now 1 fed, 2 Optimos and 2 Herbert Johnsons later I'm currently hatless and kind of hankerin' for a fed again...

Not sure which way to jump really - I'm meeting up with Pagey tomorrow and I'll have a look at his latest Adeventurebilt. All reports seem / look good - maybe that'll covince me the AB is the way to go instead...

BUT the Akubra is a GREAT hat.

To get back on track, I did notice a change in colour in my old (standard) fed after around a year of use. It was a bit lighter (sunbleached?) overall - but definitely NO green undertone at all.

Anyway, those Feds are some great hats as many here will attest...

Ren?

Regards

Al

I liked the akubra - for the price its incredible. But I'll never get one again for the simple reason they dont make them small enough for my head. I think 55cm is the smallest they go and I am a 53/54cm. Thats my only gripe.

Ken

Ken, have you asked Ron about that mate?

My Akubra, (1 year old this summer... wow!! that long already?) has not changed to a green color. I'm hoping it won't. I agree that in some lighting conditions it has looked green in the past, but I haven't seen it green since it was brand new. It was a darker brown, dark chocolate, and now it's almost more of a dark milk chocolate... lighter, but still quite Indy. I do think that the color of the Adventurebilt is very nice however. Seeing Bink's and Andiana148's in person made me think about how nice they looked.

I do love my Akubra though... it's served me well through 3 storms, miserable heat, and chilly mountain climates so far.

In Christ,
Shane

Ken, on the website it looks like the Federation goes down to a 55 but the Deluxe goes down to a 54. That's kinda odd.

ob1al wrote: Anyway, those Feds are some great hats as many here will attest...

Ren?

I think they're awesome hats, too. I think everyone should own one, but I also think that since one of our own has started making his own line of fedora's I think we should all buy one of his, too.

I'll go on record and say this: If a fellow fan goes into buisness making the items we like so much and is able to keep up with demand - we should patronize that person's new buisness as much as we can.

Perfect exsample is the fedora. For more then 20 years I've been searching for the perfect one. At the same time there were a whole bunch of people who were doing the same. Then someone said "enough" and started to block his own and then started making EXACTLY what we've been looking for. Sometimes the fun is in the search... but there are times when the fun is in the having. I've had enough fun searching.

There's also a guy who's making leather products... he made a few belts and hosters and some of us said: "That's awesome... you should go into buisness!" Now that he has we should help him out as much as we can.

I'm not saying we should forget our professional vendors, but I'm saying that if someone's stuck his neck out for us we should go the distance and buy from them. I think we should do everything to help keep this hobby going by supporting those people who are helping us out.

rick5150 wrote:These are a couple of dollars each at Home Depot... ...

Thanks. Doesn't the end of the hook leave a little dent in the felt?

David

Re Akubra sizing: Yeah I spoke to Ron and like you say Holly the Deluxe goes down to 54 and the regular fed (fed being short for federation!!) 55. This is the reason I went from an Akubra fed to a Keppler fedora.

Ken

I have to comment here, I met up with Pagey (langpuss to the old skool) and Paddy for a few beers today and it was awesome to (meet the guys) but also to see Nick's beaver adventurebilt in person!

In comparison to the Akubra, Optimo, Herbet Johnson, Keppler, Peters Bros and others I can honestly say it is the finest Indy fedora I have EVER seen. Just awesome.

Regards

Al

Thanks. Doesn't the end of the hook leave a little dent in the felt?

Not at all. Unless you grab onto each side of the brim and hang from it. The fedoras do not weigh enough to dent the hats - even the really thin ones. Initially I was going to slice a tennis ball and stick it on the end, but there is no reason to.

rick5150 wrote:

Thanks. Doesn't the end of the hook leave a little dent in the felt?

Not at all. Unless you grab onto each side of the brim and hang from it. The fedoras do not weigh enough to dent the hats - even the really thin ones. Initially I was going to slice a tennis ball and stick it on the end, but there is no reason to.

Weird, 'cause this type of peg dents my hats.



(I can see the dent while it hangs, but I didn't leave it long enough to find out if it would remain there.)

David

If you can get a dowel that has a round end, that would be perfect. The exotic shape is going to cause the felt to take that shape.

Renderking Fisk wrote:If you can get a dowel that has a round end, that would be perfect. The exotic shape is going to cause the felt to take that shape.

I actually cut off that knob, and it works pretty well.



David