Fed Deluxe sizing, story+ Pics

[Alathea]

I realize this is probably a subjective question, but my Fed del. catches my head on the front and back, but the sides are a bit wide, but not a thumbspace. I'm right between 58 and 59 and I have a 59. Does shrink occur naturally, or is the 'wet the sweatband' technique in order? When using foam blocks ( I bought some window tape) do you just put it where ever you need the adjustment? Will the hat still shrink a bit if you leave the blocks in?

Thanks, all-wore it in the rain in NE today and it took about 5 minutes for one of my coworkers to say "Nice hat!" and then assume the 'whip' position. We then had a nice 5 minute talk about his hat collection and some of the Vint shops in Lincoln that I didn't know about. All in all a pretty good day, so far.

Raiders pinch all the way!

[Hunter Jones]

I'm no expert by any means, but if the hat band is leather it will definitely shrink as you wear it. Just give it a little time.

[gabrielle]

You could use a little trick JPD taught me. Turn the sweatband out and wet it with water just in the back, then turn it back in and dry it with a fan. It shrinks perfectly. Or use the hat foam and maybe with use it will shrink up.

[Renderking Fisk]

The more you wear a fedora, the better it will wear. Just put it on 7 days a week and it'll conform.

[Alathea]

and if it requires a good soaking or just surface dampness and an air dry. Ill give that a shot if it drives me too nuts.

CAS

[Alathea]

Here is my Fed, before and after. I got it from a forum member-Thanks Paul!
The before pics are http://cedrics.googlepages.com/myfeddeluxe

[gabrielle]

Not sure if it's just the angle but it looks tapered to me. It doesn't look big though. If it is to you just wet the inside of the sweatband after turning it out, then tuck it back in and either let it dry natural overnight or if a lot big let it dry over a low wattage lamp for a bit.

[Alathea]

Can you explain that, perhaps? Maybe in a PM if its not anything useful to the rest of the forum? I tried to take the shots when I wasn't wearing it pretty straight on. The mirror shots are probably angled weird, though, ill grant that.

[gabrielle]

"Taper: A sloping of the crown from bottom to top. _ / \_
Taper can happen when a hat gets wet and/or shrinkage occurs. Some hats are designed with taper.
The Raiders hat is not supposed to have any taper."

Or did you mean explain shrinking the hat?

[Alathea]

I think it might just be the angle. My sides, other than the dent are straight up and down.

Thanks for the explanation!


CAS

[starks_6]

I think it might just be the angle. My sides, other than the dent are straight up and down.
Thanks for the explanation!
CAS

The Feds are good for having a little bit of taper towards the top, I have a couple and they do the same thing. With your fitting issues did you consider re-bashing the crown with the turn?? Unfortunately I bashed mine before I knew about the turn so I had a play with an Old hat and to me it actually sat a little more comfortable, might save you shrinking your sweatband!

[Alathea]

Havent tried the turn yet. My wife was watching me with it as it was *thank you honey* and wanted to know what I was doing with my 100.00 hat.


CAS

[gabrielle]

Havent tried the turn yet. My wife was watching me with it as it was *thank you honey* and wanted to know what I was doing with my 100 hat.


CAS

[WinstonWolf359]

It's best to photograph an Indy hat from a bit of a distance. For some reason shots taken close up exaggerate a tapered appearance greatly. Try stepping back 5-10 feet and see what you get from there, maybe even using zoom if it's an option.