Club Obi Wan

No matter how many times I fiddle with the brim on my Federation Deluxe, it flattens back out to factory flat. I'm quite satisfied with my bash job.



I've HEAVILY steamed and held it to set, then a while later, it's flat again.



This was shortly after steaming it to an exaggerated swoop.

I've kneaded the brim, and it's fairly soft now, but that doesn't even seem to help anything. Does it look good, or am I being over critical? Note, I've not went for an Indy bash per se, so no comments on the bash being wrong haha

Randy

I think it looks pretty good if your just going for a Raiders look in general..

good job

The Fed Deluxe really seems to be the kind of helmet people say they are. I should be getting mine this week, I hope it's as durable as it seems unstylable lol.

You did a mighty fine job though.
Do you have overally problems with the bash or just the brim?

Thanks Holt! I think I may have conquered the brim this time. I've been fiddling with it since I got it a while back.

Dorian, it was quite easy to bash, I just had to steam it really well. This time 'round with the brim work, I softened it for a few minutes, then steamed the daylights out of it on both sides, and held it in an exaggerated swoop.

Randy

Dont be afraid to use some cold water and beat the snot out of it to acheive desired results. My new Fed 4 just arrived and I was able to distress and bash the brim. Idol Grab scene i think. I leave that to the beholders here.

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/3193/fed2.jpg

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/208/fedb.jpg

Nice work Jersey! I'm not going for a distressed look on this one, though. My Keppler looks like it's been to Hades and back, so I'm keeping this one for nicer occasions... or else I'd be beating the snot out of it.

Randy

Right but you can beat on the brim a little. Work it with your fingers. Look at some pictures from the scene u want. I usually look at the little flips and nuances in the brim from Raiders screen shots. Watch the dvd how Harrison plays with the brim on it and pulls it tight to his head while not letting the brim go over his eyes. Ive done this and had excellent results with my hats over the 4 years ive been a gearhead. lol

theinterchange,

how long have you had the hat? My advice is for you to keep working
on it a little here and there.

I have a Fed IV DLX and the brim needs a little re-curl every now and then.
I presume that this is because the felt is so thick. Everybody feel free to
chime in at this point.

4-5 months near as I can remember. I've fooled with it since day one. ha

randy

From what Ive been able to gather since messing around with the fedoras, whether its my AB or federation or Akubra Bushman. I learned that the key to the brim swoop you are seeking is to wear your hat not too far down on your head. Having an upward tilt to it while making sure the hat is turned enough as well the brim pulled down. You will get the swoop like the SOC hat or Raven Bar. The brim will swoop nicely. The brim from what i can see from your first pictures looks very good but reminded me instantly of last crusade Venice Pier where the sides were just curled up to get the swoop. Watch closely in the beginning scene of Raiders where he whips the gun toting guide. the brim angles down from his forhead nicely with no curl. Yet you have the Raiders brim swoop. Just my two cents. But the deluxe looks nice. Hats direct really improved this time. With a little help from Fedora

Just wet it around the band to the mid brim and mould it down to the shape you want. It will dry how you leave it. I've done this with quite warm water with no ill-effects. They really are built like little tanks.

Did you put a turn in the hat? It appears not. The turn always helps the brim stop going flat.

Also if you really want to distress it, beating it up only softens the felt. Its better to scrunch it up in the hands and don't immediately straighten out the creases. Don't worry, it can take it. The Heritage felt takes a lot of abuse. I've done as much sitting on it as i can but still the hat looks smart and can be worn with a suit.

I did decide to beat it around a bit, and the brim softened but now has some odd looking creases I need to work out with steam. Plus I ran into a slight problem with the front of my sweatband as seen below.



I wouldn't mind it, except it's visible even upon a quick glance.

What the problem is, is the sweat is sewn higher in that spot than elsewhere, almost like a tacking stitch. Any suggestions for eliminating the issue?

Randy

I had the exact same problem with my Fed Delux 3 also. It got worse throughout the years.

Ok, I pulled the sweat back a bit, it's not stitched there, it just "points" up there. Apart from that, I've got the hat as I want it. Now, the brim has more swoop than my Keppler.

I'll post a pic or two of the hat on my head later.

Randy

Randy, the reason your sweatband looks "bent" is because it essentially is. There is a fine wire that runs through the sweatbands on the Federation, so if you put a bend in the wire, it will also bend the sweatband. I've knocked around, kicked about, sat on, etc., a Federation in the past and had the same thing happen.

I knew that! But oddly, forgot it.. I've been gently playing with it to see if I can get it to go back into shape a bit better. Just don't want to over do it and snap the wire.

Thanks for reminding me of the obvious problem Bink!

Randy

All Akubras have that little wire. I always pull it out through the join in the back. Once you get rid of that wire the hat becomes so soft it feels infinitely more comfortable. Plus you can really beat the crop out of it without fear of buckling. Get rid of that wire, its an uncomfortable nuisance.

Keep in mind the wire helps to bell the sweat, so it does serve a purpose.

Okay, to totally, irrevocably show my lack of hat knowledge , what does belling the sweat mean and what is the purpose.

Please.

I acutally did remove the wire reed. I figure if worst comes to worst, I can replace the sweatband down the road.

Randy

crismans wrote:Okay, to totally, irrevocably show my lack of hat knowledge , what does belling the sweat mean and what is the purpose.

Please.

When you install a sweatband, a good sweat will be "belled," which means it flares out a little bit so it can set nicely and flush against the hat when sewed in. If you rest the hat on its crown, a belled sweat will sort of be like this: \ / versus an unbelled sweat which will be a bit like this: | |. Does that help?

binkmeisterRick wrote:

crismans wrote:Okay, to totally, irrevocably show my lack of hat knowledge , what does belling the sweat mean and what is the purpose.

Please.

When you install a sweatband, a good sweat will be "belled," which means it flares out a little bit so it can set nicely and flush against the hat when sewed in. If you rest the hat on its crown, a belled sweat will sort of be like this: \ / versus an unbelled sweat which will be a bit like this: | |. Does that help?

I have reached understanding! Thank you, kind sir!

Glad to help!