Recent content by belfastboy

Here is a western weight FEPSA rabbit felt with the 'grizzly' finish. Just waiting for some new brim curlers with a bigger slot to accommodate the monster thick felt. It will be finished off with a Montana Peak bash on the 6" open crown

My wife bought a Tilley hat. When she wears it I walk 10 feet ahead or behind her as I don't want folks to know we are together. I call it her 'dork' hat.

Here is a Panama straw off to Illinois. Customer requested the Silverbelly ribbon. I think it gives it a bright, clean, summery look. Grade 2 straw.

Yes, if you are a heavy sweater, turning out the leather sweat is a great idea. Especially with Akubras as their sweat bands are not the highest of quality. Removing the liner does not accomplish much. Why do you want to do it? It serves to keep the sweat from the felt itself, or hair...

It is straw season! I received my order of Panama straw hat blanks from Ecuador early this year so I am hitting the ground running. Here are 4 hats headed out tomorrow. They show the two base styles I can make up. First is a fedora styling, centre dent or teardrop, 2 1/2 to 2 3/4" brim...

Another hat headed to Ontario (different client!). 100% beaver felt from Ukraine in a dark moss green. Complementary vintage grosgrain ribbon and a liner made from vintage Japanese silk. 3" brim, 4 1/4' crown at the pinch...5" sides

DHL and UPS have online payment. They notify me the day or two before shipment of the amount owing. FedEx does not and I have to pay the driver at the door via credit card.

Here is hat heading out to a great lady on her 40th birthday. Winchester 100% beaver felt, bridle leather band and a hand carved horn button from Africa rather than a concho. Vintage Japanese silk for the liner.

Where did you get the 120gr FEPSA beaver? Tim stocks 95gr in beaver and 120gr in rabbit.

I think it is a very distinctive style. One I have not seen before. It looks like a machine pressed hat as the brim edge is so sharply defined. Other details hard to discern as the picture is so limited in scope.

They have to be sourcing them from China I would think. FEPSA does not have the capacity to fill their needs. Where else could they go?

I never use the flex curve to measure a head. I use a good quality tape for that. The flex curve is to determine the shape using the tracing around the inside edge. Also do not use cheap Chinese measuring tapes....they can be out as much as 1.5cm on a 60cm head size. I use a woodworkers...

I have not used it but have had other hatters tell me it is not great. Give it a go and report to us.

I hate being in the same room as polyester. It is stiff and just does not drape well. Guy Morse Brown sells contemporary Brit ribbon- cotton/rayon that is decent. The stuff that Tim is bringing in at PureBeaver is very good.

I have no idea how large they are but I have some felt samples from China in production, both rabbit and beaver. They prefer to sell in 200 and 500 quantity. Pricing is pretty good so Hatco could be sourcing from China. Although the pricing just rose 20%.