My first hat has arrived (please see LAME pics added)..

Jamie_H · Post by **Jamie_H** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:33 am

Just got the Akubra Fed delivered to me while at work. I am so excited I had to tell some people who would understand! My co workers think I'm off the deep end.

When I get home, I'll begin the ever terrifying process of bashing it..wish me luck...to turn or not to turn..hmm...pics will be posted!!

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:50 am

congrats and turn.[/code]

Renderking Fisk · Post by **Renderking Fisk** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:26 am

Can't wait to see the results! Keep us posted. And if you need moral support... feel free to contact me!

By the way... when you do your first bash on an Akubra, use warm water first to get the basic shape.

indy89 · Post by **indy89** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:50 am

Turn! And post pics ASAP!

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:21 pm

remember the center dent should transition nicely to the edges and not drop like you are folding the crown up. my first fed, i used a stick to drop the dent down and it was too abrupt a crease. looked like i was getting sawed in half in one of those old serial movies and the hero just stopped the saw in time.

most of all....have fun with it. the akubra's have great felt and are very foregiving......just don't introduce mr. kettle to the crown unless you want to shrink it and make a nice TOD cockpit hat.

Canyon · Post by **Canyon** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 2:54 pm

I think this is the first time I've gotten to use this...

;0

Many congrats on your first fedora!

Jamie_H · Post by **Jamie_H** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:00 pm

This work day will never end!! And I am getting a little apprehensive about the bash..ughh..

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:01 pm

Don't be. It's one of the easiest things to do, and if you're not happy, the easiest to re-do over and over again.

No problems!

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Fatdutchman · Post by **Fatdutchman** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:39 pm

I think "turning" only works for some people. On others, perhaps not so much.

My hat is automatically "turned" just a bit...sort of. I have to put the pinch off just a bit towards the bow to begin with since my face is a bit off center of my head...

cooncatbob · Post by **cooncatbob** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:36 pm

My experience with the Fed is that it's a rather stiff so fire up the kettle and give it a good dose of steam.
Bob.

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:55 pm

Enjoy the Fed, I love mine. I'd wait a while before steaming it though, since it's your first bash. I bashed mind dry and it turned out fine. It was only after I was set on the bash that I srteamed it, and that was after a few weeks of tweaks.

Also, don't get worried about damaging the hat. The Fed is a remarkably resilient creature.

Jamie_H · Post by **Jamie_H** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:38 pm

Well, I have been dry bashing it for 2 hours...i feel like a dork. Not sure where I am going wrong. The lightning in my house makes it look like a brown round blob on my head, which doesnt help any. I cant see any definition in the pinch...ughhh..

Indiana Kev · Post by **Indiana Kev** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:42 pm

I think that is a pretty solid bash for your first attempt.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:54 pm

That's a great first bash! Well done!

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:06 pm

I totally concur! That looks pretty dern good for a veteren attempt, let alone a first attempt! I'll tell ya, once you start, it'll almost never look good enough for ya, and you'll constantly fiddle with it, so enjoy the heck outta that Akubra!

TR

Jamie_H · Post by **Jamie_H** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:17 pm

Well, heck, maybe its just me..and im not used to seeing it on my head..this look better? Feels like i have the worlds largest hat on my head!!

Dostacos · Post by **Dostacos** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:46 pm

well if you want a really tight pinch you are not there yet, BUT it looks great as it is.

Oh if it is a 7 5/8s and you don't like it SEND it to me

yes it does look great

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:49 pm

Yeah, if you're not used to 'em, they'll look pretty big on yourself, but don't fret, it looks perfectly suited to ya on my end. Yeah, if you're wanting a ttighter pinch, it'll take some more tweaking. The angle you took the pic is the dreaded "Taper-angle" ;-) ..I know it's not that tapered from the other pics!

Does the hat feel like it FITS too big? It almost looks that way, but it's hard to tell from just that one pic.

TR

Aztec · Post by **Aztec** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:25 pm

Once you start wearing that hat on a regular basis, you'll feel as though it was made with your head in mind. I remember when I first put on the Akubra I felt as though I had put on a sombrero, but after time, I couldn't picture myself without it. Congrats on the new hat, and wear it proudly!

Fatdutchman · Post by **Fatdutchman** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:47 pm

It looks like yours has a little of that odd flared-out-at-the-bottom-of-the-crown that the Federation is sometimes afflicted with. Maybe you can work it out some.

You might try making your top crease deeper...it will clean up the top of your front pinch a lot.

You can steam the far out of it, it won't hurt.

Arkansas Russell · Post by **Arkansas Russell** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:35 pm

I think it looks pretty good myself.
The more you wear it the more the shape will define itself to you.
Dont try to shape it all at once, give yourself a week at least.
Good luck...

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:38 pm

your snap brim looks great....now you need to tighten up the center pinch and the camel hump pinches. what i like to do while wearing the hat is to grab the camel humps and pinch them tight with my fingers while compressing the center 'cruel' pinch up with the outside ridge of my palms.....without a hat it looks like you're tryig to pull your hair out....don't know if i'm making sense or not

what i do notice though is that your brim is resting on your ears which kinda makes it look too big. perhaps the sizing foam it comes with can remedy that until the leather sweat shrinks down to your size.....or it could be just me?

have fun with fiddling with your hat. it's probably as addictive as crack'n the whip.

cheers,

G