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The Conversion Corral

splintercellsz

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,142
Location
Somewhere in Time
Here is an edit to give you a general idea.

img_2111.jpg
 

bowlerman

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,294
Location
South Dakota
I like it both with the original ribbon and the edited image-- can't go wrong!

Dogman, that is a GREAT conversion. You're really good with your ribbons.
 

scooter

Practically Family
Messages
905
Location
Arizona
Dogman, that conversion is awesome and I love the ribbon work you've done. I want to try some ribbon treatments myself but haven't taken the time yet.
 

DNO

One Too Many
Messages
1,815
Location
Toronto, Canada
I sometimes find bashed up, stained and abused western hats in local thrift stores. They're usually quite cheap and almost always sound, despite appearances. I enjoy picking them up and giving them some new life. I've done this to a couple of Stetson 3X beavers. They really make wonderful fedoras. This one is my latest, a Bailey Regal.

This is how it came home. The lady on the counter at Goodwill looked at my like I was out of my mind.

Bailey1.png


Work in progress. Needed a lot of brushing and steaming. I also stretched it two full sizes. The ribbon was removed and ended up on an alteration of an Akubra Down Under.

Bailey3.png


Took about 1/2" off the brim, gave the crown a teardrop and gave it a new ribbon.

Bailey4.png


And finally, put it on!

Bailey6.png


Learned it all from this thread, so I figured it was time to contribute!
 

DOGMAN

One Too Many
Messages
1,625
Location
Northeast Ohio
DNO,you really put alot of work into that hat with a great result.JonnyO,Mikespens,Bowlerman,Chepstow,Scooter,gentlemen thanks so much for the kind remarks about my last conversion.My next one is a friends hat he got at goodwill for 2bucks.It's a Bradford western by Resistol, a wool hat.It will be the first wool I've tried to convert.
 

DNO

One Too Many
Messages
1,815
Location
Toronto, Canada
Looks very good DNO. When you say you stretched it 2 sizes, did you have to replace the sweatband?

Thanks a lot everyone. It's a lot of fun rescuing these hats from oblivion.

The sweatband suffered no ill effects at all. I made several applications of Lexol before the stretch and the sweatband came through with flying colours. Even the stitching at the back came through the process without difficulty. Stretching a hat that much can be risky but this one took it like a trooper.
 
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