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!!
If memory serves, the inventive, creative Bob Jessee of Black Sheep Hat Works does.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!!
Acid dyes are the best for protein fiber like fur, wool, silk, etc.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!!
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!!!!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!!
I love this! So informative and its nice to know it can be a fairly simple process. Thank you so much!!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!!!!
He did more ribbon dyeing. Not sure what Bob is up to these days. He is a great hat makerIf memory serves, the inventive, creative Bob Jessee of Black Sheep Hat Works does.
Maiwa.com has great instructions on how to use Acid dyes.I love this! So informative and its nice to know it can be a fairly simple process. Thank you so much!!
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)_/¯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?
Like others have said, Gary, you're best option is a razor and shaving cream. That's what I use.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?
View attachment 652212
Anything else I should know before I decide whether to take the plunge?
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.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?
View attachment 652212
Anything else I should know before I decide whether to take the plunge?
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.I picked up this size 7 5/8 pure beaver hat with a 2 1/2” brim and a 5” open crown.
How much could the brim and/or crown be increased if it was resized to a 7 3/8?
View attachment 652435 View attachment 652436 View attachment 652437
Thanks Robert! I was thinking of using a #52 block so I‘ll need to adjust my expectations.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.