Recent content by belfastboy

What is your budget? You save yourself lots of time and the angst of the hunt by commissioning a custom. They may be less expensive than you think. Shoot me a PM.

The Panama blanks come with a fairly low crown. I paid extra to have an extra inch added to the crown. It adds both cost and time as they need more experienced weavers to get the extra crown height. With the regular there probably is not enough crown to get a decent Gus out of it.

I used to wear kangaroo leather baseball cleats. Indestructible leather, never knew they used if for hats.

Is the hat tight on your head, front and back? It looks to me that your head is more long oval and when it is placed on your head the fabric is pulled, north and south. That is what usually created the upturned side brim. and down turned front and back. Nothing to be done that as you are...

and a current ask of $20!

It is hard to date an inexpensive, mass produced hat. If you know the era from which it came you can work it back from the current price of that type of hat.

If you have acidic sweat then a bit of Lexol cleaner and then conditioner on the sweat from time to time will help its longevity. Once a leather has rotted there is no coming back from that. The only option is to replace it. How well a leather sweat ages is dependent on the acidity of the...

Shantung is a paper straw that has been plasticized in some way, similar to Toyo. In general Stetson shantung are cheaper hats, certainly not in the same league as a handwoven toquillo straw of a Panama. They are machine made. New, contemporary hats $100 to $150

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.