Brim distortion from the turn...

Captain Ron Solo · Post by **Captain Ron Solo** » Thu May 24, 2007 10:24 am

Has anyone else noticed that the cool swoops characteristic of "the turn" calm down with time? My Fed had great swoops a year ago, but now the brim is nearly flat.

I'm planning on having JP reblock it this summer. Will a reblock aid this too?

JKL
Ron

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Thu May 24, 2007 11:39 am

Yep. The reblock will give you the brim distortion. What happens when you turn the hat is the original oval block is set in the felt. The turn, distorts the oval by changing the blocked in oval. This in turn shows up in the brim with the warping. Over time, the hat re-sets itself to the existing oval the turn created, and when this happens, it is just like the hat was originally blocked and not turned. And the brim is no longer distorted. If this has happened, you should be able to spin the hat as it sits on your head now, and the distorted brim should appear once again. But generally this is too much of a turn, so a reblock is in order. Fedora

Captain Ron Solo · Post by **Captain Ron Solo** » Thu May 24, 2007 11:48 am

Thanks Steve,
I have recently noticed just how bad the taper is on my Fed. Will Jimmy be able to get all of the taper out (at least the shape of a new Fed), or will there still likely be some taper, but it will look newer? Sorry, but I have no clue what is involved in the reblock process. Thanks again.

JKL
Ron

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Thu May 24, 2007 12:02 pm

have recently noticed just how bad the taper is on my Fed. Will Jimmy be able to get all of the taper out (at least the shape of a new Fed), or will there still likely be some taper, but it will look newer? Sorry, but I have no clue what is involved in the reblock process. Thanks again.

Jimmy could answer that better. I could get all of the taper out, but I really don't know what Jimmy's block looks like. If he uses a fairly straight block, he will give you what you want. Going by the little I have seen of his hats here, he seems to have a decent block for his Indy fedoras. Better than most from what I can tell. But it is really hard sometimes to get an idea from just pics. The 3 D view that comes with actually having the hat in hand is what really tells the story. Maybe some guys who own his hats will post you a pic so you can see. Perhaps Jimmy will chime in and help ya out too. Fedora

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Thu May 24, 2007 12:06 pm

Mine wasnt a Federation but here is what mine looked like before and after.........

I hope this helps..........

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Thu May 24, 2007 12:34 pm

There ya go. Looks like you will be pleased with the reblock from Jimmy. Fedora

Captain Ron Solo · Post by **Captain Ron Solo** » Thu May 24, 2007 12:39 pm

Yeah, that looks great! I'll be more than pleased if my hat looks like that. My Fed isn't nearly as tapered as that before pic. Thanks for the info, guys.

I'll be sure to post before and after pics of my lid.

JKL
Ron

JulianK · Post by **JulianK** » Thu May 24, 2007 1:11 pm

Ok so maybe this question has been answered before (most have been!) but how does one keep their fedora from developing this taper? I've heard I'm only supposed to pick it up from the brim but really, does anyone actually do this?

If I can sneak a second question...what would it take to be able to reblock my own?

Thanks.

Bufflehead Jones · Post by **Bufflehead Jones** » Thu May 24, 2007 1:33 pm

JulianK wrote:Ok so maybe this question has been answered before (most have been!) but how does one keep their fedora from developing this taper? I've heard I'm only supposed to pick it up from the brim but really, does anyone actually do this?

You can only slow the process by taking good care of the hat, but you can't really stop it. The hat was originally a cone shape before it was made into a hat shape.

The felt wants to return to a cone shape. When it does, you either love your tapered hat like the Wicked Witch of the West, or, you get it reblocked. After many, many, years, the felt will eventually grow tired of trying to go back to a cone shape, and will just stay the way you want it.

If I can sneak a second question...what would it take to be able to reblock my own?

A custom made Indy block in your correct size, a brim flange, felt stiffener, a needle and some thread, some Woolite and water, some knowledge, and some time.

JulianK · Post by **JulianK** » Thu May 24, 2007 1:46 pm

You can only slow the process by taking good care of the hat,

By doing (or not doing) what?

A custom made Indy block in your correct size, a brim flange, felt stiffener, a needle and some thread, some Woolite and water, some knowledge, and some time.

I guess it not the easiest thing in the world to try and find such a block...never mind what it would cost!

Bufflehead Jones · Post by **Bufflehead Jones** » Thu May 24, 2007 1:59 pm

JulianK wrote:
You can only slow the process by taking good care of the hat,
By doing (or not doing) what?

A custom made Indy block in your correct size, a brim flange, felt stiffener, a needle and some thread, some Woolite and water, some knowledge, and some time.
I guess it not the easiest thing in the world to try and find such a block...never mind what it would cost!

Picking the hat up by the brim and not the crown, setting the hat on its crown and not on the brim. I also think that wearing a felt hat in the rain and getting it wet, speeds up the taper process, but apparantly, others don't think so.

You could do a search about blocks. Fedora told everyone in one thread, where he gets his blocks made, and made it possible for anyone to buy their own Indy block. I forget how much it was, I think it was around a couple hundred bucks.

JulianK · Post by **JulianK** » Thu May 24, 2007 2:06 pm

Wow, I never knew you should set a hat down on the crown!
Thanks Bufflehead. I'll get in touch with Fedora on that block thing.

Chevalier Krak · Post by **Chevalier Krak** » Thu May 24, 2007 8:55 pm

Ripper - The pics are gonzo! What happened to them?

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Thu May 24, 2007 9:35 pm

I'm not sure.....My pics have a habit of disappearing....Now they are gone from the original post that I did.. Hey Mod's What gives ???????

VP · Post by VP » Fri May 25, 2007 2:26 am

Imageshack was offline for a moment, they're working again.

Ripper · Post by **Ripper** » Fri May 25, 2007 9:51 am

....Whew! I was worried that I wasnt liked around here!

..........All is well in the universe again !

Dr.Seuss · Post by **Dr.Seuss** » Sun May 27, 2007 9:01 am

JulianK wrote:If I can sneak a second question...what would it take to be able to reblock my own?

Having your own Fedora/Lamode hat block is an easy way to keep your hat correctly shaped. With your own block (mind you, you will need to decide if you are buying the block to maintain the shape, or truly reblock, as the block sizing is different), you can basically maintain that Raider's look, come @%$# or high water.

My hat is again off to Fedora for letting the hobby hatters in on the fruit of his labors.

Sincerely,