Club Obi Wan

I was taking some clothes downstairs to be washed and I looked down and there was a box by my door! For a sec I thought 'what is that'? It's my Akubra Federation Deluxe. I opened the box gently and there it was. I gotta say it's a bit more brown, less red then I expected. In some of your pics your hats seem kinda red and I like that. I was wise to order one size up, just putting it on out of the box I know if it shrunk at all it would be too small. It's kinda stiff in the band, I'm sure that will change. I'm scared to death to bash it. And I'm pretty sure I'll wind up trimming the brim a tad but we'll see.
All in all , I'm happy. I've seen some good sites for how to bash it but more is better. If you wanna post a link that would be great. So thanks to all for the great advice and hope to hear more.

George

congrats, and I can't wait to see it when your done with it.

Congrats! I know you will love it.

Here is the bashing tutorial I used to learn the ropes of bashing.

http://www.whyaxis.net/indy/hatshaping/hatshaping.html

I know some people don't like to use steam, but I've used it on all of my hats with no ill results. You just have to be careful not to get the hat to close to the kettle and not to hold it in the steam too long.

Good Luck!

I agree that a little steam or water of some sort helps bashing a Fed immensely. I have not yet been able to completely bash mine as it is in a different state than I at present, and I have my AB to keep me company. The Fed was my first hat and when it arrived I was able to wear it for only one day before I departed, so I just gave it a quick dry bash. I was not able to come close to the look or style I desired, it was just too stiff (which is not a bad thing). When I finally get to sit down and bash it for real, I expect to use steam or water in some manner. I'm no pro mind you, but that is my initial observation. I'll get pics up as well when I get 'er done. Lots of folks here have much Fed experience.

Congratulations on your hat! Keep us informed.

Feds are very brown, almost flat chocolate brown, and lack the russet highlights of some of the other offerings, most notably an AB. If I were you, I would not permanently alter the hat until you've worn it a while. It takes a few days to get used to crown height and the brim. If you cut the brim, you might regret it and there will be no going back.

Hemingway makes a good point. I waited months before deciding to trim the brim on my Akubra. And even so, I took of a very little at a time.

bink

I trimed my vintage hat and I think it looks great, but the crown on the Akubra may be taller and that may make a difference so I will wait. I probably will use a bit of steam when I bash it. I'll try to post some pics very soon.

George

I'd try the spray bottle of cold water before trying steam, I think some people here have had mixed results with steaming an akubra. Steaming the hat may encourage taper.

I used cold water on my second Akubra. Much better than steam.

No steam! I used steam on my first Akubra, wasn't happy with the bash and continued to reshape it, all with steam. Too Much. . I have since purchased 2 more, dry bashed them until I got em where I wanted them. I just popped it out and redid it. When they were right, just a little cool water to dampen and set. Much better results, IMO.

I tried a quick dry bash on the crown and liked the result, I overpinched my vintage hat and was picking it up by the pinch and have since found out that is the wrong way, but I've never owned a good hat before. Without steam how does one get the flip of the brim to lay down, that seems rather sturdy.
I may steam just the brim lightly and put heavy books on it as recomended. I think a dry bash will be fine till it breaks in naturally.

George

ps, I wish it was a touch more red. I remember reading that the deluxes are a bit more red than the standard, guess I was wrong.

I always dry bash first, just to mess around with different styles, and to see how the felt 'breaks' with a particular hat. After I've worn it for about a week, I just pass the crown through a cloud of steam vapor from a pan of boiling water...just to activate the suspended stiffiner in the felt, and 'set' the dry bash I've created that I've come to accept for that particular hat. That's all there is to it.

Regards! Michaelson

Indiana George wrote:IWithout steam how does one get the flip of the brim to lay down, that seems rather sturdy.
I may steam just the brim lightly and put heavy books on it as recomended. I think a dry bash will be fine till it breaks in naturally.

I use a 1" wooded dow about 12" long. I Lightly steam the brim then roll it with the dow. I then repeat the process until I get the results I wanted. You could also use a spray bottle to dampen the felt and then roll it. If you steam it be careful. Just let the colud of vapor pass over the hat, don't hold it right down close to the kettle.