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[Bamaboots]

^^^^excellent Bama!

Thank you, B.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Thank you, B.

Bullseye shellac? Is that a particular type shellac or are they all the same. All i know is it’s an old time furniture finisher.
B

 

[Bamaboots]

Bullseye shellac? Is that a particular type shellac or are they all the same. All i know is it’s an old time furniture finisher.
B

Here you go, B. Available everywhere.

What it looks like mixed. This is not an endorsement.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Here you go, B. Available everywhere.
View attachment 167749
What it looks like mixed. This is not an endorsement.
View attachment 167751

You’re a good man Bama. Thanks again.
Will prob try it on this.
B

 

[Bamaboots]

are they all the same

They are not. Look for clear as you see here, shellac flakes from suppliers and such. There are some sprays and I'd as soon use hair spray as some lacquer sprays. If you're going to use hair spray, use the cheapest, fragrance free you can find. They'll likely be lacquer based and do a decent job. Don't have a clue what the hatters here use.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

They are not. Look for clear as you see here, shellac flakes from suppliers and such. There are some sprays and I'd as soon use hair spray as some lacquer sprays. If you're going to use hair spray, use the cheapest, fragrance free you can find. They'll likely be lacquer based and do a decent job. Don't have a clue what the hatters here use.

Oh i’ve used plain old AquaNet several times on felt with no downside. Never thought of using it on straw. I’ve also tried actual spray material stiffener, spray starch for ironing and some other stuff with drawbacks. Not sure how Aquanet does after a rain but it does the job.
Good advice on the shellac type. Maybe i’ll go easy with hairspray first. It is o good old panama.
B

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Great advice thanks

BTW where is it that you can see they are willing to accept lower offers (but it doesn't list what that lowest acceptable offer is, obviously)

Sometimes losing out on one thing opens up the door for something better down the road! Hindsight is 20/20. You know, that whole expression about when one door closes another opens..? I mean it's been the reality for many parts of my life like getting a crap job only to later down the road need some skillsets from crap job and make more valuable to the next company and then negotiate for more.

I consistently purchase the "Buy Now" hats I want at a lower price if the have a "Make Offer" option. They've accepted my offer every time! The next thing you know, I have to pay for it.


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[Hat and Rehat]

I have one that was a gift from @deadlyhandsome. Here are some before and after photos. I estimate this hat from the sixties, and of decent quality.

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DH already steered me to that, and I saw your before and after. Nice job! It looks great.
Mine is a siverbelly, probably the same vintage, as the liner is identical. It was flanged high, or at least flat, and pretty stiff with the sides curled. I usually like the front of a brim to snap down, or rest that way, so I've been washing it out with denatured alcahol, a little bit at a time.
My thought was to make it a cold weather 'Open Road', but after seeing that brim Brent was just sporting, my plans may be evolving. I'm thinking of a 3" brim with a pencil curl.

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[Hat and Rehat]

Jonesy, I've got a couple of montecristi westerns that I freshened up this spring. AL humidity is like wearing them in the shower. One is a 50's Stetson OR type and the other is 70-80's Wrangler by Miller Bros. I gave the Stetson a sponge bath as well.

The Stetson was floppy all around the brim and about to lose any evidence of a flange. The Wrangler had a wire supported brim. I removed the wire and the brim had no evidence of ever having any stiffener applied. Using a cheap paintbrush I applied several coats of Bullseye shellac, mix ratio:10-1, alcohol to shellac. I've done this with some less expensive felts w/o any ill results. An alcohol bath will remove excess shellac if need be. I was finally able to shape the brim on the Wrangler and the Stetson got it's personality back.
View attachment 167728 View attachment 167729 View attachment 167730
Kinda Roy Rodgersed the Wrangler.
View attachment 167731

Great post! I have a house full of thrift store straw hats I want to launch my business venture with., offering refurbished hats as well as cleaning, shaping and reblocking services, meeting people and hopefully leading to contract work for custom hats. I've already got pleated replacement hatbands on the way, have a pile of grosgrain bows made to go with my ribbon, and have ideas for a three teired sweat band option. I was looking forward to a lot of experimentation to get the stiffening right, and feeling like the spring straw hat buying season was running away from me.
You may have saved my bacon.
Mucho Gracias!

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[the uncowboy]

I recently bought a Hemp Open Road. It's a new hat, but was purchased from the Hatco outlet so it had probably seen a bunch of try-ons. I didn't notice anything when I bought it, but on the first wear out in the sun I discovered that the hat smells NASTY. Reminds me of a sick camel I once met in India. Or really bad BO. Or a sick camel with really bad BO!

The smell seems to be coming primarily from the leather sweatband.

I've tried wiping down the band and/or the interior of the hat with: a damp cloth, a Lysol disinfecting wipe, a bit of vinegar and water, a bit of Windex, water with peppermint castile soap. I've also putting it out in the sun for 4 or 5 hours. About 80% of the smell is gone, but the remaining 20% makes it not very pleasant to wear.

A forum search suggested putting stinky hats in the freezer (like some do with denim). Not enough room in our freezer right now, but may try this too.

I'm thinking about really soaking/dunking the whole hat in pure water to see if I can soak the smell out. Will a good bath harm the hemp or make it shrink?

Has anyone else encountered this? Any suggestions?

 

[Steinbockhase]

I recently bought a Hemp Open Road. It's a new hat, but was purchased from the Hatco outlet so it had probably seen a bunch of try-ons. I didn't notice anything when I bought it, but on the first wear out in the sun I discovered that the hat smells NASTY. Reminds me of a sick camel I once met in India. Or really bad BO. Or a sick camel with really bad BO!

The smell seems to be coming primarily from the leather sweatband.

I've tried wiping down the band and/or the interior of the hat with: a damp cloth, a Lysol disinfecting wipe, a bit of vinegar and water, a bit of Windex, water with peppermint castile soap. I've also putting it out in the sun for 4 or 5 hours. About 80% of the smell is gone, but the remaining 20% makes it not very pleasant to wear.

A forum search suggested putting stinky hats in the freezer (like some do with denim). Not enough room in our freezer right now, but may try this too.

I'm thinking about really soaking/dunking the whole hat in pure water to see if I can soak the smell out. Will a good bath harm the hemp or make it shrink?

Has anyone else encountered this? Any suggestions?

You might ruin the hat by soaking it in water.
The leather sweat will most likely shrink and even if the water doesn't damage the hemp weave directly, it will be more fragil in wet state and definately lose its shape.
How about baking soda in a bowl and then putting hat and bowl in a plastic bag or air-tight container for a few days?

 

[Rmccamey]

Puttting a scented dryer sheet in the hatbox often works for me.

I recently bought a Hemp Open Road. It's a new hat, but was purchased from the Hatco outlet so it had probably seen a bunch of try-ons. I didn't notice anything when I bought it, but on the first wear out in the sun I discovered that the hat smells NASTY. Reminds me of a sick camel I once met in India. Or really bad BO. Or a sick camel with really bad BO!

The smell seems to be coming primarily from the leather sweatband.

I've tried wiping down the band and/or the interior of the hat with: a damp cloth, a Lysol disinfecting wipe, a bit of vinegar and water, a bit of Windex, water with peppermint castile soap. I've also putting it out in the sun for 4 or 5 hours. About 80% of the smell is gone, but the remaining 20% makes it not very pleasant to wear.

A forum search suggested putting stinky hats in the freezer (like some do with denim). Not enough room in our freezer right now, but may try this too.

I'm thinking about really soaking/dunking the whole hat in pure water to see if I can soak the smell out. Will a good bath harm the hemp or make it shrink?

Has anyone else encountered this? Any suggestions?

 

[Hat and Rehat]

I recently bought a Hemp Open Road. It's a new hat, but was purchased from the Hatco outlet so it had probably seen a bunch of try-ons. I didn't notice anything when I bought it, but on the first wear out in the sun I discovered that the hat smells NASTY. Reminds me of a sick camel I once met in India. Or really bad BO. Or a sick camel with really bad BO!

The smell seems to be coming primarily from the leather sweatband.

I've tried wiping down the band and/or the interior of the hat with: a damp cloth, a Lysol disinfecting wipe, a bit of vinegar and water, a bit of Windex, water with peppermint castile soap. I've also putting it out in the sun for 4 or 5 hours. About 80% of the smell is gone, but the remaining 20% makes it not very pleasant to wear.

A forum search suggested putting stinky hats in the freezer (like some do with denim). Not enough room in our freezer right now, but may try this too.

I'm thinking about really soaking/dunking the whole hat in pure water to see if I can soak the smell out. Will a good bath harm the hemp or make it shrink?

Has anyone else encountered this? Any suggestions?

I believe I saw a thread heading about removing odots from a hat. Try an external search engine with The Fedora Lounge in your search parameters.

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[jonesy86]

Jonesy, I've got a couple of montecristi westerns that I freshened up this spring. AL humidity is like wearing them in the shower. One is a 50's Stetson OR type and the other is 70-80's Wrangler by Miller Bros. I gave the Stetson a sponge bath as well.

The Stetson was floppy all around the brim and about to lose any evidence of a flange. The Wrangler had a wire supported brim. I removed the wire and the brim had no evidence of ever having any stiffener applied. Using a cheap paintbrush I applied several coats of Bullseye shellac, mix ratio:10-1, alcohol to shellac. I've done this with some less expensive felts w/o any ill results. An alcohol bath will remove excess shellac if need be. I was finally able to shape the brim on the Wrangler and the Stetson got it's personality back.
View attachment 167728 View attachment 167729 View attachment 167730
Kinda Roy Rodgersed the Wrangler.
View attachment 167731

Great tip, thanks BB.


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[jonesy86]

I think spray starch would rapidly dissolve in moisture. I’ve used hairspray (Bowen’s recommendation) and it worked pretty good. Adding the desired stiffness without compromising the hats ability to breath is the trick. I have a can of aerosol waterproof glue that would definitely firm it up, but I’d be concerned that hat wouldn’t breath afterwards.


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Hairspray eh? Easy enough to give it a try. Thanks DH


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[jonesy86]

Oh i’ve used plain old AquaNet several times on felt with no downside. Never thought of using it on straw. I’ve also tried actual spray material stiffener, spray starch for ironing and some other stuff with drawbacks. Not sure how Aquanet does after a rain but it does the job.
Good advice on the shellac type. Maybe i’ll go easy with hairspray first. It is o good old panama.
B

Let us know how it works out B.


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[Bamaboots]

I've got hairspray in my work box but just like it will on someone's hair, it'll break down in high humidity and wet conditions but shellac will hold a little better and is easier to revive with steam.

 

[the uncowboy]

You might ruin the hat by soaking it in water.
The leather sweat will most likely shrink and even if the water doesn't damage the hemp weave directly, it will be more fragil in wet state and definately lose its shape.
How about baking soda in a bowl and then putting hat and bowl in a plastic bag or air-tight container for a few days?

That's what I was afraid of. Thank you. Couldn't find much info from previous comments about cleaning hemp.

I'll try the baking soda (and dryer sheet), but I think I need to disinfect more than deodorize. I'm guessing that the smell is from some kind of bacteria on the sweatband.

 

[Hat and Rehat]

Who here is a size 7?
I've picked a few eBay hats now that were advertised various ways, but usually included a "size 7 or 7 1/8".
I bid, made an offer, hoping for the 1/8.
Usually, no such luck!
(I know I need to frame this as a question)
Who has 7 1/8 hats they'd like to trade for 7s?

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[Hat and Rehat]

That's what I was afraid of. Thank you. Couldn't find much info from previous comments about cleaning hemp.

I'll try the baking soda (and dryer sheet), but I think I need to disinfect more than deodorize. I'm guessing that the smell is from some kind of bacteria on the sweatband.

I would remove the sweat band so the hat and band can be evaluated independently.
Then any drastic measures will only risk one or the other.

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