Anybody re-shaped an Akubra hemp-braid straw w/water or steam?

[pavementends]

I just received a Balmoral from Hats Direct. Great service. I was surprised to find the sweatband is cloth but it is a very comfortable hat in the hot weather we have been enjoying.

 

[Bob Roberts]

I lowered the crown on the hemp hat I recently bought from Peters Bros. without problems. A little steam made it quite malleable

A little steam worked fine on my Peters Bro's also.

 

[Chamuco]

I just received a Balmoral from Hats Direct. Great service. I was surprised to find the sweatband is cloth but it is a very comfortable hat in the hot weather we have been enjoying.

My Akubra hemps came with leather sweatbands, all of them...interesting [emoji57]

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[Knotten]

My Balmoral, purchased last spring from Hats Direct, has a leather sweat. Just rechecked the ad on their website. It says leather sweat. Maybe you should contact them.

 

[GLB Pro]

I just received a Balmoral from Hats Direct. Great service. I was surprised to find the sweatband is cloth but it is a very comfortable hat in the hot weather we have been enjoying.

Hmm, the sweatband should be leather - did you purchase an unusually large size? I think 62 and above are cloth.

 

[pavementends]

Hmm, the sweatband should be leather - did you purchase an unusually large size? I think 62 and above are cloth.

I did contact them and you are correct 62 and above are cloth. As to unusually large I represent that!

 

[pairrothead01]

Yes, I have reshaped all six of my Akubra hemp hats with just plain water, very much like I have done with all of my open crown Sunbody hats.
I have simply dunked the portion of the hats that I want to reshape into a sink full of tap water with no ill effects whatsoever.

I've raised the crowns on all of my Akubra hemp hats and reshaped the brims on most of them.
Here's my tried and true method for raising the crown on Akubra hemp hats, (which has also worked splendidly on all of my fur felt hats).
1.Dunk the crown of the hat in a sink full of water for about 10 to 15 seconds. (This also works for fur felts, similarly to what is seen in Leonard Slye's (Roy Rogers) video on YouTube, except that he puts his hat under a shower, although steam works just as well even though it takes longer.)
2.Put the hat on your head and shove it down onto your ears, crushing them down under the hat.
3.Using your fingers, push the now softened crown down and shape it so that it fits on and around the top of your head.
4.Wear the hat, pushed down onto your ears, for about an hour, (indoors, away from any heat so that it doesn't shrink), until it is pretty much dry.
5.Remove the hat from your head, have a look at it to see if it looks okay to you, and if not, then repeat steps 1 through 4 until you get the look that you want.
6.Put the hat back onto your head as you intend to wear it and the crown should now be a higher and off the top of your head.
7.Have a look in a mirror to see how you look in your reshaped hat.
8.Take the hat off and look it over to see it you like how it looks.
9.If you don't like the result, repeat steps 1 through 8 above until you are satisfied with the fit and appearance of your hat.
10.My ears have always immediately sprung back to their earlier configuration. I would venture to guess that yours will do so, as well. If they do not, I would suggest taping them up until they return to their earlier configuration, and, failing that, arrange for consultations with several cosmetic surgeons.

JackieMatra,
I know this post is a few years old, but this thread demonstrates the type of knowhow found in the lounge.
Question, I just pickup a Akubra hemp Bahama from DM at a killer sale price and I need to stretch it a bit for a more comfy fit.
Can I just put a jack in it or should it be steamed before?
I am a 59.5 so I wait for most 60's to shrink....but this hat is a 59....therefore a little stretch needed.

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[RBH]

Put the hat jack in with just enough push to make the hat fit good.
Then wear it, the warmth from your head will make to hat fit over a little time almost like a custom hat.
Use the hat jack as needed till it fits like you want.

 

[pairrothead01]

Put the hat jack in with just enough push to make the hat fit good.
Then wear it, the warmth from your head will make to hat fit over a little time almost like a custom hat.
Use the hat jack as needed till it fits like you want.

Thanks.....what I thought but wasn't sure.

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