The Conversion Corral

[Sam Craig]

If you are dealing with a real leather sweat, I continue to find that a really good hand cream works great ... not too much ... and applied, worked in, over time. Also you won't have to worry about what chemicals get released with your sweat the next time you wear the hat.

It's worked well for me

Sam

 

[bowlerman]

Well here's an interesting experience: I have an Atwood palm straw Gus hat that was too small and I didn't like the pinch= no wear.

So I decided to mess around with it this morning-- what a strange material. It left a sticky milky white residue all over the place and smelled almost sweet when steamed. It stretched almost too easily on a hat jack, which surprised me since it was pretty much helmet material to begin with. Also strange that when opened, the crown had a pronounced front taper and a very straight higher back from the profile, so the new telescope is deeper in back and shallower in front.

I don't know what to call it now. It's kind of a Bob Dylan/Gambler/BOP/Elko, but I think I like it, and now I'm bent on trying to find a felt of similar shape.

Here's the before and after:

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[gtdean48]

...

Looks like a typical Plantation style hat to me....BTW, something is inserting unneeded IMG tags to your photos..

 

[bowlerman]

Thanks-- Not sure what the extra IMG tags are. I'm copying and pasting imageshack's "forum" html address directly into the "insert image" box on the site. Has it always been like this?

A Plantation hat-- there we go! I can't seem to find much about them in felt, but Panama appears to be a common material for that style.

 

[gtdean48]

Thanks-- Not sure what the extra IMG tags are. I'm copying and pasting imageshack's "forum" html address directly into the "insert image" box on the site. Has it always been like this?

A Plantation hat-- there we go! I can't seem to find much about them in felt, but Panama appears to be a common material for that style.

I think your copy is providing IMG tags & insert image is supplying some as well.
I've never seen a Plantation style in anything but straw...

 

[randooch]

Bowlerman, that effort paid off: looks good on you. I first ran across Atwood straws in Maui at a little hat store in Pai'ia. I liked 'em, but I was exactly between sizes. Had they carried a Plantation Style, however . . .

 

[bowlerman]

Bowlerman, that effort paid off: looks good on you. I first ran across Atwood straws in Maui at a little hat store in Pai'ia. I liked 'em, but I was exactly between sizes. Had they carried a Plantation Style, however . . .

Well next time you run across 'em... remember they do stretch rather easily when wet and steamy!

 

[Raider]

Planning to add to this thread. Have two westerns to convert (not me personally; professionally done). Pics to come.

Larry Mahan in bone and Resistol in black:

Picked up the black Resistol from Peters Bros today.....love it!!

 

[Joshbru3]

Heres the second hat. I was going for the James Cagney style with this one. High crown and short brim. I decided to make my own ribbon using a vintage ribbon from a project hat. I thought that adding the frayed edge on the ribbon would give the hat that 20's/30's touch. The original liner and design of the sweatband stamp make it look much older than the hat probably is.

BEFORE

AFTER

Well, I decided to rework my "Cagney" hat. I re-blocked it and gave it a much nicer straight sided, flat topped crown, which was very typical of early 30's hats. I took some vintage ribbon that I saved from a 1950's Knox donor hat and I frayed the edges to give it that late 20's look. Then I gave it a center dent and big front pinches to maximize the crown height. Lastly I worked the brim by hand to give it a bit more of a "flanged look" even though I don't own any flanges. I pushed the sides of the brim up slightly to give the front of the brim that "Last Man Standing" look.

 

[Joshbru3]

Heres some pics:

 

[RBH]

Josh that looks great!
I can never get a center dent to work for me.

 

[bond]

Nice job!,I am curious how you cut down brim?
I have a hat that I would like to do the same with but don't have a brim trimmer. Would appreciate any tips on that.

 

[bond]

Nice job on the conversions!
Question how did you manage to get such a nice bash in that one that had a 7" crown?
Also does one need to have a form or is possible to shape with steam and some skill?
Bond

 

[bowlerman]

Josh- amazing job here too. The newest ribbon is great!

 

[bowlerman]

Raider-- conversion is an understatement. Peters Bros did excellent with that.

 

[Joshbru3]

Josh that looks great!
I can never get a center dent to work for me.

Thanks, Rusty!! I used to try and get the center dents by hand, but now Ive started using a broom handle to make the crease. As long as I can find the center of the crown, it works every time.

 

[Joshbru3]

Nice job!,I am curious how you cut down brim?
I have a hat that I would like to do the same with but don't have a brim trimmer. Would appreciate any tips on that.

I dont have a brim trimmer either. What I do is, I take a tailors tape and a pencil and go around the brim every 1/2 inch and make a mark. So if I want a 2 1/2 inch brim for example, I will go all the way around making a mark every 1/2 inch with a pencil. I measure from the "brim break" to the edge of the brim length. Then when I cut the brim everything will be even. The real trick is the finishing. Most people cut a brim and just leave it, but when you do that, there is always sharp edges and straight lines in the round brim from the scissors. After I get the desired length, I take a rough grit sand paper and slowly and carefully go around the edge and round it out. Then I use a finer grit to smooth the raw edge and give it a soft texture.

 

[Joshbru3]

Josh- amazing job here too. The newest ribbon is great!

Thank you very much, bowlerman!

 

[Raider]

Raider-- conversion is an understatement. Peters Bros did excellent with that.

Thanks! It really is beautiful....pictures don't do justice. I will drop off the bone western when I pick up my gray raiders....probably next week.

 

[bowlerman]

The Megahat converts once again. thought I'd go Gus and seeif it sticks. I'll need to spend a little more time smoothing the brim...