Custom Beaver Felt Hats
| Regular 4" Beaver Fur Felt Custom Shaped Hat | $125 |
| Pastel Color (Pink, Red, Green, Blue) Beaver Custom Shaped Hat | $135 |
| (Braided hat band included with hat purchase, limited to choices available) | |
| Additional Charges | |
| Pencil Rolled Edge | $30 |
| Ribbon Hat Band | $30 |
| Horse Hair Hat Band (three-braid, double tassel, $10 off with hat purchase) | $25 |
| Horse Hair Hat Band (no tassel, $10 off with hat purchase) | $25 |
| Horse Hair Stampede String (double loop) | $25 |
| Horse Hair Stampede String (cotten pen) | $25 |
| Braided Hat Band (free with hat purchase) | $10 |
| Simulated Bald Eagle Feather | $5 |
The custom shaped Geezer hat
Cowboy hats come in many different styles and are one of the most recognizable pieces of apparel in the world. The cowboy hat was invented by John Stetson in 1865. There's probably no article of clothing in the western wear industry as misunderstood as the western hat. A hat that doesn't fit stays in the closet, and a hat that fits gets worn. People all over the world have skulls that are markedly different in type and shape. Each head has its own size, each its own particular shape. A hat may fit perfectly. But if its form, width, height, and breadth do not harmonize with the shape of a customer's skull and face, the hat won't fit perfectly. A hat must fit not only accurately; it must also conform nicely to the cranium's contour to give maximum satisfaction. It must be a fundamental consideration that the form and size of the skull is extremely important right from the very beginning of hat making. It is here that the hat begins life. A perfect fit is impossible with a factory made hat. A factory made hat can get close but will never be prefect. A perfect fit is only achieved when the hat is custom shaped to fit the customer's head.
How long will it take to get a hat?
All hats are shaped and ft to the customer while they wait. First the customer chooses the style and color of hat they want shaped. The circumference of the customer's head is measure to determine base size. A hat blank is steamed and stretched over the correct size block. The hat brim is trimmed to size. The hat crown and brim are then shaped into the style of hat the customer has requested.
The hat is then fit to the customer's head. This stage is critical for achieving the perfect fit. The perfect fit is dependant upon the customer's feed back as to where the hat is too tight or loose, before the hat band is installed permanently. Once the hat band is installed permanently, fitting changes are difficult if not impossible in some cases. Once the hat band is installed, the customer will wear their warm custom fit hat away. Total process takes about a half hour on average, some longer and some less time.
What is fur felt?
Fur felt is a dense collection of short, single animal fibers pressed together with hot water and steam so that they interlock. Fur felt is a fabric but it is much stronger than woven fabrics because with fur felt each individual fiber is interlocked with other fibers in several different directions. Fur felt is felt made from the underfur of the beaver and or rabbit. It is dense, water resistant, and it will last five to ten times longer than wool. Fur felt, unlike wool, can be reblocked and reshaped a number of times. Fur felt makes a superior fabric for a cowboy hat because it is light, smooth, much harder to tear or damage than other fabrics, and is naturally water resistant. Wool hats are less expensive than fur felt hats. Fur felt hats are more expensive but provide better rain protection, last longer, and keep their shape better.
How do I care for my hat?
A good cowboy hat is an investment. So make sure you care for it properly. Weather you are wearing it on the range of in town, it is sure to collect dirt, dust and grime. A little regular care goes a long way in keeping your hat in tip-top shape. Use a soft bristled brush to dust your hat regularly. A damp terry-cloth bath towel will also remove dust. Rub the surface of the hat in a circular, counter clock wise motion. Stains too deep to remove with a brush or towel, try using a gum eraser. If sponging doesn't remove all the marks, try sanding with 100 grip paper. Move the sand paper, very gently, in counterclockwise direction. Never press into the hat, and never press the hat into the paper.
Do not take your hat on and off your head by handling the crown. Use the front and back of the brim next to the crown bend instead. Do not set you cowboy hat down on its brim which causes it to flatten and loose its shape. Instead, turn it upside down and set it on the top of its crown. Put your hat up at night by placing it on a hat rack or in a cowboy hat bock. Don't leave your hat anywhere it can get very hot like in an enclosed vehicle, or near a stove or heater. Too much heat will shrink a leather sweat band and ruin the fit. Hot and humid conditions are especially bad for a fur felt hat unless you are shaping it.