JWcustomhats
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Here is a question for you guys. Anyone know about dyes for felts? What kind of dye works best, the process you've tried and rescources for dying felts? Thanks!!
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If memory serves, the inventive, creative Bob Jessee of Black Sheep Hat Works does.
RickP
Practically Family
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Anyone with good suggestions on how to soften up a stiff dress hat? Ive got a nice Sovereign fur felt Stetson Temple that is not thick or heavy but the felt is WAY stiffer than my other Temples. Ive done some steaming and wearing, and its a LITTLE softer but nowhere near as soft as some of my other Sovereign felts. I guess I could give it an alcohol bath to get rid of some stiffner, but Im thinking that would need dissassembly. Short of beating it, vibrating it into submission, sitting on it or running over it with the truck, whats the best way to soften a basically new hat?
moehawk
I'll Lock Up
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Acid dyes are the best for protein fiber like fur, wool, silk, etc.
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I have experimented with dyes over the years. Best success is with Acid dyes such as Ciba or Jacquard. The hardest part is getting even distribution and I improved my success by finally finding a stainless steel vat large enough to give the felt room to spread out. I have better success with the dye distribution on darker colours than lighter colours. I have success with overdyes and recreating the original Winchester black cherry. It is still very much a work in progress. In my last visit to Winchester I watched them dye felts and it is a simple process. A very large vat, filled with felts and two guys on an elevated platform stirring the vat with large wooden oars. Real old school!!!!
JWcustomhats
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I love this! So informative and its nice to know it can be a fairly simple process. Thank you so much!!
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He did more ribbon dyeing. Not sure what Bob is up to these days. He is a great hat maker
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Maiwa.com has great instructions on how to use Acid dyes.
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The only Stetson fur felt I've ever owned came to me well used and was already reasonably soft. My Akubras, however, were all purchased brand new, and each one arrived as stiff as you'd expect for a brand new hat just out of the factory. There must be better ways, but I found working the felt with my hands--i.e., bending it (not enough to leave any sharp creases), pushing on it, shaping and unshaping it repeatedly, worked quite well. Eventually they each got softer from me handling them as I wore them. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Shoe
Call Me a Cab
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Some questions for all you baldies out there. The situation on my pate has had me considering joining your ranks for some time now.
Will I need to purchase a bunch of hat spacers? Did it affect your hat size? My hair is quite fine anyway so I’m guessing it won’t make a huge difference.
What do you use on your head? Something like this?
Anything else I should know before I decide whether to take the plunge?
Will I need to purchase a bunch of hat spacers? Did it affect your hat size? My hair is quite fine anyway so I’m guessing it won’t make a huge difference.
What do you use on your head? Something like this?
Anything else I should know before I decide whether to take the plunge?
I have plenty of hair. But my impression of the situation is that stubble on your head is not as fashionable as stubble on your face. So, you need a razor and shaving cream (or a floating-head electric razor) to maintain the baldness. The thing you show is for cutting hair and you will only need to do that once.
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Pellie
One Too Many
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Been shaving my head for a long time. Before retirement, daily as I shaved my face. Much less frequently now, sometimes so that clippers are required before a razor can be used.
If you decide to go the razor route, keep the tissues and styptic powder handy as you’ll likely cut your head at some point. There is a bit of a learning curve and remember, the multi blade razors make multi cuts and the head can bleed like dammit.
I’ve used just about every razor available in a grocery store or pharmacy and some years ago I settled on this one. Blades are expensive and I look for sales, promos and box store buys but the shave is great and nicks have been minimal.
Recently, I decided to give an electric a try. This one came in a couple of weeks ago and I’ve only used it 3 or 4 times. So far I’m satisfied though it’s not razor close, one has to feel the skin to tell the difference. It’s close enough. Wet/dry use. So far I’ve found clean and dry to be most effective. I tried it in the shower and though the results were good, it seemed to take longer. I’ve yet to try it with a shaving oil. Cleanup is easy. Comes with attachments. Think I paid $50 US on Amazon.
If you decide to go the razor route, keep the tissues and styptic powder handy as you’ll likely cut your head at some point. There is a bit of a learning curve and remember, the multi blade razors make multi cuts and the head can bleed like dammit.
I’ve used just about every razor available in a grocery store or pharmacy and some years ago I settled on this one. Blades are expensive and I look for sales, promos and box store buys but the shave is great and nicks have been minimal.
Recently, I decided to give an electric a try. This one came in a couple of weeks ago and I’ve only used it 3 or 4 times. So far I’m satisfied though it’s not razor close, one has to feel the skin to tell the difference. It’s close enough. Wet/dry use. So far I’ve found clean and dry to be most effective. I tried it in the shower and though the results were good, it seemed to take longer. I’ve yet to try it with a shaving oil. Cleanup is easy. Comes with attachments. Think I paid $50 US on Amazon.
Like others have said, Gary, you're best option is a razor and shaving cream. That's what I use.
As for altering your hat size, I don't think it will as your hair is quite thin.
AbbaDatDeHat
I'll Lock Up
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Gary, as far as spacers for your hats. You can buy all sorts of weird stuff to use but the best i’ve found is felt.
I just looked for the thickest most dense felt at the sewing dept of Walmart and bought about a yard’s worth. You can trim it to whatever width needed, whatever length needed. You can place short ones wherever you want and double etc them up for thicker if necessary.
Cost a couple few bucks and you’ll have them forever.
Felt also grips the inside of the crown and rough sweatband and stays in place nicely.
As far as shaved head or buzz cut, doubt you’ll notice that much difference in sizing because you’re not a hairy monster.
B
RickP
Practically Family
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If you currently have hair and DO go shaved.... you MAY need some spacers... start with something in the back of the sweat. If you use a good leather preservative like Pecards on the sweatband, it wont slide around too much
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- vancouver, canada
If you block it on exactly the same profile block (this hat has a decent amount of taper) you would likely get 1/4" max. If you blocked it on a straight sided block w/ squared shoulders you might end up with less brim and it would be slightly asymmetrical.
Thanks Robert! I was thinking of using a #52 block so I‘ll need to adjust my expectations.