Club Obi Wan

I can honestly say that this block from Lamode is the best
investment I've ever made.
It is absolutely great.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... 001660.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... 001659.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... 001657.jpg

In the three days I've had it. I've
torn down and reblocked two hats. One was a Low end Lee
summer felt and the just today I did something a bit better and far
more unusual.

Some time ago I received a vintage Porti beaver with beautiful density weight. The only problem was that the crown had extensive motteling (If that how you spell it). Likely it was the result of moths. Today, I stripped the hat down of liner, sweat and ribbon, dropped it in the water and then reversed the crown .

So far...so good. The hat looks fantastic on the the block and will finally make a hat that is worth wearing. I'll post some pics tomorrow.

This is just to say that with a block like this the potential for rebuilding
and making hats (Someday perhaps) is endless. Folks...save your sheckles and take the plunge.

Warmest Regards
Kilgour Trout

KT, congratulations on your new purchase.

Congrats! I'd like to see pics of your blocking... especially like before/after...

Sounds great.

Excellent, Kilgour, but we definitely need those before and after pictures.

Ah, Kilgour, I see you took up my suggestion as per our phone conversation some time ago! Let me know how it works out!

bink

Very nice ToD block you got yourself there... ok, ok, just teasing.

Looks good and reblocking hats that need a refurb is a very satisfying hobby indeed.

Enjoy this new block,

Marc

Yep that's one great ToD eh

Well...just to show how the Porti is doing I've got two shots of
the hat on the block.

Definitely not an Indy hat but kinda neat anyway eh

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... Porti1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... Porti2.jpg

The crown is lower than an Indy but still shows the excellent
"Non-taper"

Next will be the rebuild

Warm Regards
Kilgour

Lookin' good, Rob! I like the color of that hat, too.

Looking good indeed!

If I might make a suggestion: once it's dry to the bone, dampen a quarter of the crown with a sponge and iron it, until it gets a glossy finish. Then continue to do so around the crown and finally the top. Finally dampen the entire crown again ever so slightly with the sponge after you had it in ice cold water, to get rid of that glossy finish again. What you'll get is a better overall finish, without removing felt by pouncing it.

Regards,

Marc

This is awesome, Kilgour. Keep the photos and info coming. The more I learn, the more I want one. Thanks a bunch!!

Hey Folks...I kinda took a Left turn at Albequrque if you know what I mean . The more I looked at this lid I knew it wasn't destined to be an Indy bash. I had been but it really lacked the height and brim width to go that route. Sooooo....I went different in crown and bash.

I spent a couple of hours rebuilding the chapeau yesterday and had a complete blast. The only thing I would probably change is the sweat band. It is hard, thick and not very comfortable. It was almost a vinal type that adds too much to the inside making it just a bit snug. I'll be wearing it for a while to try and loosen it up. Mind you it could be the head ache I have right now eh

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... 4/Fin1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... 4/Fin2.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... 4/Fin3.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... 4/Fin4.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... dDude1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/K ... dDude2.jpg

Take a look and any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks Marc for the excellent info.

Warm Regards
Kilgour Trout

That bash suits that hat nicely. Your right, an Indy bash would not work, too short of a crown. However, I can still see the straight sides that the new block provided. Would love to see your work on a taller crown.

Thanks Prairie : I'm actually hoping to try my Old Cat Scratch Fed Deluxe next . It was my first hat and the same one I had to rebuild due to an unfortunate encounter with a hungry feline . "Cats why did it have to be Caaaaattsssss".

In some ways this incident was the best thing that could have happened you say? Well..because I had to lose my "fear of the felt" to tear the hat apart, re-ribbon, pounce out the nasty cat damage and then re-sew and re-seat lower the Akubra Sweat band. The Sweat bands on all the Akubras I've seen seem to sit too high out and show a black band.

So...If all goes well, my dusty old badly bashed Fed D has a date with the sink this weekend. But one thing is for sure, I'm learning more every minute.

Talk soon
Kilgour

Excellent job, Kilgour! The C-dent suits the hat well, too. Heck, you even clean up nicely!

bink

I would love to see the Fed DX reblocked. The first hat that I would reblock, when I get a block, is my Reg Fed.

All of your work is very impressive, nice to see the pictures of the finished product.
Congratulations on some good work!!

Sharp hat! Kilgour, you look down right respectable in those photos. Was ILM involved? j/k