You ain't gonna believe this :)

[GunClick Rick]

  I have this hat and wanted to shape it different,wanted a pencil roll,looked on line for a wooden one a certain feller makes for 184.00,before, i always just did it by hand,iron over a length over and over and it comes out all wobly,but you take your fingers and start shapin it but it will always have little waves around the hat,that's ok for the out in the field look.

Well i ain't got 184.00 at any one time so i started looking around tonight,checking out diferent shapes of stuff in the kitchen.
Now, my grand duaghter has these little alphabet plastic letters with magnets stuck all over the fridge,i tried the A first,ok,but ya had to do it just right,then i looked at the X and thought by golly thay might just work on the felt kangaroo leather hat.

 So i ran warm water over the brim edge of the hat,bottom and top,let it set for a minute and wala i started makeing a nice small pencil roll just like i wanted,the edge hooked up just right in the bottom section of the X.It is drying now and every once and awhile i will go back and run the letter X around it as it drys,it also scrapes a tiny bit of felt from the inside on the brim,which is ok becuas it gives ya something to follow,just brush the little shavings away and the backside of the X is hollow so it collects the water as you go on the inside of the brim..Here be some peeectures

[GunClick Rick]

  TADA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Nice job, pard. That little X sure has the right shape to it. 

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

American ingenuity alive and well in Central California ... Josey would be proud!!!  Good Job.

[GunClick Rick]

Sometimes ya have ta get mad dog mean!

[Eloy Santa Cruz]

That came out great! They say necessity is the mother of invention, I think it's more a case of empty pockets.

[GunClick Rick]

  weee doooggies

[RickB]

It looks like X really does mark the spot.   

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Rick, that top one is really something. Outstanding hat.

[Major 2]

Hey Rick

It really works,    the wife found the correct style letters at Publix ( Florida super market chain ) @ $2.00 for the whole set.

For me the Y worked best ( the X openings were a bit to loose )

The Y made the roll just fine.... I'll post photo when it dries....

a $2 solution to an $180 tool !  you got to love that !  

Very COOL Idea
OH ! here is a tip as you run the letter around to roll... also kinda twist the letter counterclock wise ( if your circling Counterclock wise )
and it will lift the pinch and tighten same as you travel around the brim....
Also it does not scrape any tiny bit of felt from the inside on the brim this way...

[outrider]

your not going to tell us that "X" marks the spot are you?  Kidding aside  that looks great

[GunClick Rick]

Yea i found that you have to mess with the X a little,hold it flat and tight against the brim. The Y huh ain't tried that one yet and i found if ya go back now and then as the brim dries it helps..I'll try the Y this morning. I think this makes us  "Buckaroos"

[Major 2]

"...I think this makes us  "Buckaroos"  

IT DO !

[Jubal Starbuck]

 Xcellent idea, Rick!  Even a blind hawg'll find a acorn once in a while!  I think maybe a cavalry officer's hatband might give it a Josey Wales look.  It'd look even better after ya lever some empty black powder loaded .44-40 cases onto it and perhaps spit a mouthful o' Beech-Nut juice into the wind while ya have it on!
   Keep up the good work.

         Jubal Starbuck

[GunClick Rick]

Yep i used to tell my pop even a brokin watch is right twice a day I'll be puttin acorns on it but not the type your thinkin..You'll see..

[Drayton Calhoun]

You nailed it Rick!

[GunClick Rick]

"...I think this makes us  "Buckaroos"  

IT DO !

Bueatiful!! "Whoopped "em" again Josie"

[GunClick Rick]

I gotta find two rattlesnake skins with rattles one "em"

[Major 2]

Bueatiful!! "Whoopped "em" again Josie"

The shots a little fuzzy, can't seem to hold my phone/Camera still enough for a better shot in this close 

It really looks a lot better than that photo allows.

[GunClick Rick]

Yea they always do,my camera is the same way at time,but if i back off and use the zoom they are sometimes better,hit and miss.I like the color of that hat also!