Akubra Overload

[Sam Craig]

Gee thanks.

As if I wasn't kicking myself enough.

I jumped at one that I shouldn't have. I'm going to try to have some work done to it to see if I can save it or if it will just be good money after bad.

I should have gone with the Squatter from the first .... live and learn ... but at our age, that gets a little old.
So do we ...

Sam

 

[DudeInBlack]

Anyone here have experience with/opinions on the Akubra Pilbara?

 

[Neophyte]

I've been heavily considering a Pilbara for quite a while. I just can't justify spending that much on a hat that I suspect won't suit me. If I can find one on Ebay, I'll probably get it.

 

[Dated Guy]

Just as an aside to the world domination target of the Akubra hat company, I was able to try on a couple of Cattlemen Akubra's in downtown Norwich City in good old England last Wednesday...... one fitted my head but not the purse unfortunately..!!

 

[Sam Craig]

World domination with this level of quality for this price seems OK.

Of course we always worry that the price will go up, but if Wal-Mart would carry Akubra we would ........ Never mind, that's a stupid idea.

Anyway, bring on that whole domination thing ...

Sam

 

[monbla256]

Anyone here have experience with/opinions on the Akubra Pilbara?

If you are asking in reference to your earlier question about a BIG BLACK Fedora, I don't think it would really lend itself to that sort of conversion. It is a nice loking Ausie style of hat which with the right brim curl at the sides would probably make a GREAT Western style as well. As far as opinions about it, it's an Akubra and as such would be a great hat in and of itself

 

[hubbit]

I bought a Campdraft and a Stylemaster from Fedora Lounger casechopper . I did some gentle reshaping on both, mostly with the front dents. Here's a shot of me wearing the Stylemaster on the train into work this morning:

http://twitpic.com/6l6wrt

(I tried embedding the image, both from the remote URL and from a copy on my computer. No dice. No idea what went wrong.)

 

[Orangegrad]

I bought a Campdraft and a Stylemaster from Fedora Lounger casechopper . I did some gentle reshaping on both, mostly with the front dents. Here's a shot of me wearing the Stylemaster on the train into work this morning:

http://twitpic.com/6l6wrt

(I tried embedding the image, both from the remote URL and from a copy on my computer. No dice. No idea what went wrong.)

Hubbit - I have the same color Stylemaster. Last night I reshaped the pinch of my Stetson Temple using distilled water and steamed distilled water. I'm quite pleased with the results. So I'm thinking of making the front pinches on my Stylemaster just a tad deeper and extending further back - but I don't want to damage the Akubra in any way. Did you use water or steam to reshape the dents?

 

[monbla256]

I bought a Campdraft and a Stylemaster from Fedora Lounger casechopper . I did some gentle reshaping on both, mostly with the front dents. Here's a shot of me wearing the Stylemaster on the train into work this morning:

http://twitpic.com/6l6wrt

(I tried embedding the image, both from the remote URL and from a copy on my computer. No dice. No idea what went wrong.)

I like that reshaping on the front pinch you've done. Gives it a much better "worn" look (hats should reflect their wear not be "perfect" IMHO )

 

[monbla256]

Hubbit - I have the same color Stylemaster. Last night I reshaped the pinch of my Stetson Temple using distilled water and steamed distilled water. I'm quite pleased with the results. So I'm thinking of making the front pinches on my Stylemaster just a tad deeper and extending further back - but I don't want to damage the Akubra in any way. Did you use water or steam to reshape the dents?

It's an Akubra! Steam or water WILL NOT "damage" them Go for it !

 

[hubbit]

Did you use water or steam to reshape the dents?

I'm not brave enough for steam yet (don't want to risk shrinking the felt), so I just used water. Ran the bathroom sink full of cold water and immersed the crown for a minute or two - enough to wet the felt, but not enough to saturate through to the liner. I was surprised at how malleable it is when it's wet.

After I shaped it, I hung it on a hook in the bathroom to let it air-dry. If you try to force dry with heat (such as a hair dryer), you run the risk of shrinking the felt, the sweatband, or both.

 

[danofarlington]

I'm not aware that steaming shrinks the felt, although hair-drying a wet hat might.

 

[Bebop]

I have many, many hats that have been steamed without shrinking. Dunking the crown in water sounds like it might make it shrink.

 

[gtdean48]

Steam doesn't shrink felt. It does shrink leather in sweatbands = plain water does that.
Felt, especially new hats, continue the "felting" process for quite a time = fibers working closer together. So some "shrinkage" is going to happen whether you use steam or just water.
The heat factor of the steam reactivates the stiffener & helps to set the shape when the hat cools & dries.

 

[Orangegrad]

My acorn Stylemaster is my favorite hat, so far. But I"m not really fond of the ribbon. I'm thinking of replacing the ribbon with one that is a bit darker brown - more of a contrast. Question is, has anyone here changed only the crown ribbon but not the binding on the brim? I'm not sure I want a contrasting ribbon on the brim, but wonder if two colors of ribbon would look odd.

Another option is to leave the hat alone and enjoy it as it is.

 

[job]

I think all Stylemasters except the mid-grey (grey with black ribbon) have ribbons that match the felt. Meany hats have ribbons on the brim that match the hat color and have a different color at the crown. I think some of the best looking hats have two colors of ribbon. I would advise you to leave it alone. Buy another hat that you like that has more contrast. More hats for you.

 

[James71]

I changed the ribbon on my Glen Grey campdraft to black to get more contrast. The thin grey ribbon on the grey hat just made it all too.... "grey"... The brim binding remains in the original grey, but the wide black ribbon is my own creation. Ive since reworked the bow so that it doesnt have as much dip and is a bit flatter, but unfortunately dont have pics of that.

 

[monbla256]

My acorn Stylemaster is my favorite hat, so far. But I"m not really fond of the ribbon. I'm thinking of replacing the ribbon with one that is a bit darker brown - more of a contrast. Question is, has anyone here changed only the crown ribbon but not the binding on the brim? I'm not sure I want a contrasting ribbon on the brim, but wonder if two colors of ribbon would look odd.

Another option is to leave the hat alone and enjoy it as it is.

That's really quite a common look, done more in the past than now days. Myself, I like the look of the Acorn Fawn Stylemaster as it is. But to each his own

 

[Orangegrad]

I changed the ribbon on my Glen Grey campdraft to black to get more contrast. The thin grey ribbon on the grey hat just made it all too.... "grey"... The brim binding remains in the original grey, but the wide black ribbon is my own creation. Ive since reworked the bow so that it doesnt have as much dip and is a bit flatter, but unfortunately dont have pics of that.

This is the type of look, though in brown, that I was thinking of for my Stylemaster. A couple of folks say to keep it as is. But I really dislike the ribbon currently on there. Not sure yet what I'll do. Perhaps another hat is the answer. We'll see.

 

[monbla256]

It's obvious, ANOTHER HAT is the ONLY answer (this place is NOT good to ask 'cause were' nothing but a bunch of enablers )
Here's a late 40's Fedora (my fathers Rittenhouse) with two colors of ribbon just to add to your dilema