Club Obi Wan

Just got my first ever Indy hat in the mail!! Brand new Federation from hats direct, it's beautiful!! just wongdering how timid I should be while shaping and bashing it. I think I'm going to just use water to shape it but just want some insurrance that I can't screw this up beyond repair.
Thanks to all who helped me decide to go with the Fed.

Congrats on the Federation, Indyne1! If you're using the spray bottle, you'll be fine. Just take your time and tweak it till you're happy with it. I'd have a bunch of pics of Indy in his hat for reference and have at it! I thought someone posted a tutorial on how to bash the Akubra once, but I'll be hornswaggled if I can remember who or where it was. At any rate, you'll find it's easier than you think. My Federation was the first unbashed hat I ever shaped and it was easier to do than I thought.

bink

bink,

I'll be hornswaggled if I can remember who or where it was.

I believe it was JohnNdy. I don't know what the site was, though.

It was JohnNdy, and very useful it is too:

http://www.whyaxis.net/indy/hatshaping/hatshaping.html

ID

That's the one! I'm sure the same would apply with a spray bottle versus steam, except that you might have to let the hat dry and settle in before wearing it out if you spray it. Good luck and post pics of how it turns out!

bink

Thanks for the tips guys. I recently ordered a Federation from hatsdirect.com, and I should recieve it any day now . After I shape it I will post some pics.

Another canuck

I too ordered a fed from hatsdirect. I got the order confirmation e-mail on the 3rd and still haven't gotten it yet
Hopefully the post office is finished with their thanksgiving leftovers and can get back to work. I'm expecting quite a few packages in the next couple of weeks.

Question, since there's a few of you who bought this - did you pick up the Fed, or the Fed Deluxe?

Is the Deluxe worth the extra $?

I got the Federation, and I love it.

I just ordered the 'normal' Federation for now. Maybe sometime in the future I will get the deluxe version which just uses a better quality felt.

Pics as soon as possible, please!

Hatman wrote:

Indiana Jerry wrote:Question, since there's a few of you who bought this - did you pick up the Fed, or the Fed Deluxe?

Is the Deluxe worth the extra $?

I have both and to tell you the truth, I like my Regular Federation the best.

Hatman

Interesting...thanks for the honest opinions, guys.

J

Well, no, Mikey, it won't turn into a garden gnome fedora upon first contact with steam. The first time I ever bashed an open crown hat was with steam and I found it quite easy to do. I think using a spray bottle is pretty easy, too, but a little less frightening for those who "fear the steam." But I think the trick with the steam is to steam it quickly and pull it back to shape, then use a little more steam...etc. If you keep it directly in the steam too long, then I think you face the possibility of shrinking the hat just a bit. Either way, as long as the bash holds, either way works fine.

bink

I'm with Mikey on this too. I've always steamed my hats, as it's the steam and heat that activates the stiffiner and makes it pliable for reworking the felt, not water. To each his own, but I'm a steam man myself. Regards. Michaelson

Congratulations on getting your first fedora, Indyne1.

I'm sure you'll have a blast wearing it.

YEEEEEEHAW!, just got my Fed today . I bet it was out of the box before the Canada Post guy got back to his truck. So I used steam to bash the hat and it was pretty easy to do..steam, bash, repeat. The Fed was a little big, but that problem went away when I inserted the foam tape. It's better that it's too big than too small. I will continue to 'fine tune' the bash and I will have some pics soon.

You can solve the slightly big problem by turning it you know!

Well I used my new Fed on Halloween, but I wear it out in public all the time now



After thinking about about it I must be bargain hunter, but I did pay $130.00 for the Federation.

Leather Jacket: $34.99 (Thrift Store)
Bag: $12.00 (Army Surplus)
Holster: $11.00 (Army Surplus)
Canadian prices

Great gear set up, man! AND at a bargain price. Nice job on the Fed too, looks kinda LC from what I can make of it.
Good job,
'Blues

I remember another Canadian who ordered a fed from hatsdirect around the same time I did. Since you got yours, I guess the post office lost mine
HatsDirect told to me to ask the post office if they have it(a missed attempted delivery). Hopefully that's the case and the mailman just forgot to put the notice in my mailbox.

Don't you just hate it when a good looking guy puts up his pic? Puts me to shame...hehehehe...

(...and now I'm expecting Canyon to post in three...two...one... )

Now, how much do I have to save up for that HF chin job again...? Hmmm....

Great pics, Canadiana - you NAILED the Indy look, even with your simple costume! Came out better than mine - that hat really makes the difference over the cheaper alternatives.

J

Congrats on your shplendid hat puchases Indyne1? and Canadiana.

Wear 'em well and often!