At last, I got myself a heated hat stretcher!

[Mr. 'H']

What do y'all think?

Just got it from the "Bay Area"... (lol lol ).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...60012496688&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1

 

[skillbilly]

So that was you!!!!
Well, I'm happy it went to someone in here.
Congrats!

 

[tonyb]

Not that I know firsthand, but I've heard that you gotta be careful with those gizmos. There is such a thing as too much heat. Does it have a thermostat?
If it were mine, I'd test drive it on a beater or two before I dropped one of my more-treasured lids on it.
Still, I wish I had one. Really nice, old, too-small hats can be had cheap, whereas good 'uns in larger sizes typically fetch much higher prices.

 

[Mr. 'H']

Really nice, old, too-small hats can be had cheap, whereas good 'uns in larger sizes typically fetch much higher prices.

Don't I know it!

 

[Mr. 'H']

So that was you!!!!
Well, I'm happy it went to someone in here.
Congrats!

Why?

Where you bidding?

 

[Mr. 'H']

Let's hear it from the resident expert, JP....

:fedora:

 

[jamespowers]

Let's hear it from the resident expert, JP....

:fedora:

Not quite an expert. Those people make hats not me.
I think you did just fine on the heated stretcher if it works. I think we discussed that these cost $400 each new so your price wasn't that bad for a working version that is likely more heavy duty than they make now.
If you are going to stretch a hat with it, be careful of the heat. I never put a dry hat on my stretcher. I usually clean the hat with Scout Hat Cleaner for Dark Hats, rinse the hat a bit, remove the liner and then put it on the stretcher after it has heated up for a few minutes. I put it on after unplugging it. It is usually hot enough by then to dry the hat. You will see the steam rising from it. Don't forget to treat the sweatband with one of those leather treatments first. It makes it more likely that the sweatband will survive the stretch. Other than that, you should be just fine.

Regards,

J

 

[carter]

I want that thingy!

What do y'all think?

Just got it from the "Bay Area"... (lol lol ).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...60012496688&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1

All I know is that I need one of those!

What is the technical name?

Where are they sold if not on OFAS?

 

[Mid-fogey]

Argggh....

....a tool and hat thing at the same time. If it had a beer spout and a TV screen I'd marry it

 

[Vintage Betty]

....a tool and hat thing at the same time. If it had a beer spout and a TV screen I'd marry it

lol lol lol

 

[Mike Hammer]

....a tool and hat thing at the same time. If it had a beer spout and a TV screen I'd marry it

:cheers1:

 

[jpdesign]

I believe those have just about quit being made. I think there is one company still making them, and theirs get way too hat, dont know of any built with therostats. I build dimmer switches to put on mine. I also have one for sale on my web site. I picked it up at the Stetson factory auction in St. Jo.

Out of curiosity, what did this one sell for? the listing is gone.

Jimmy

 

[ideaguy]

I've got one- wasn't in the best of shape, and lost it's cord, but...

if you use plenty of steam on the inside of the hat, crank it just tight enough

for the hat to fit , hit it with more steam (helps to have a "Jiffy Steamer"),

quickly slip it on the form and then crank it quickly but carefully-having it all

lined up-and then go away ( I usually do it late at night, and check it in the

morning) and stay away- you'll end up with a hat that is certainly large

enough, but remember that you're only stretching one direction. What

you end up with is a very loonngg oval!! Just gotta be patient. Let physics

do the work, blast the electrics. I'm done stretching hats-and will be selling

all the 7 1/4's I can find around here. Trade ya for a 7 3/8...

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Just how far can a hat be stretched and does it last? [huh] I would think that the felt has sort of a memory and would snap back over time?

 

[feltfan]

Heat

For what it's worth, I have one that heats (tho I am afraid
of the old cord) and a wooden one that does not.
I use the wooden one. I put the hat on the stretcher,
bathe it in steam from my espresso machine, and stretch.
If you don't know what you are doing (and I am certain
Jimmy does know!), it is easy to "cook" your leather
sweatband.

 

[carter]

For what it's worth, I have one that heats (tho I am afraid
of the old cord) and a wooden one that does not.
I use the wooden one. I put the hat on the stretcher,
bathe it in steam from my espresso machine, and stretch.
If you don't know what you are doing (and I am certain
Jimmy does know!), it is easy to "cook" your leather
sweatband.

For what it's worth, I'd probably like one that was not so all-fired modern with 'lectricity and all. Wood would do just fine.
On the other hand, If I want one "cooked" I'll send it to a hat chef.
Anyway, I'm off into different blocks for Open Roads. I'm up to four and keep finding new ways to block the crown so I'm happy for now.
Gotta go find some more old hats to mess with.

 

[Dr Trinidad]

I have a wool hat that has been with me for many years and over time it has shrunk as wool will. Does anyone know if you can stretch a wool hat? All my other hats are fur felt now that I know the difference, but that old hat has been with me a long time and I hate to get rid of it!

 

[ideaguy]

Maj.Danger- I'm no expert by any means, I just have stretched a few (many)
hats with mine. The first lesson I learned is that the sweatband will leave a mark of it's impression on the felt, if you leave the sweat in; if you do, you'd better lexol the daylights out of it, otherwise it'll curl, crack, and maybe come apart depending on the leather & how much pressure you exert (caveat: go slow. increments of stretch) I was told to at least undo the back of the sweatband-use an exacto-so the leather can stretch without some of the aforementioned ill-effects. The mark left can be smoothed out, but it takes me a little more time steaming without the sweat folded in to do it. You also run the risk of creating a taper that can be quite pronounced-those 1/2 cyclindars usually don't go all the way to the top of the crown.

Yes, you can stretch a hat up pretty well. I have been warned to not expect great results over 1 size-my hatter friend admonished me to not try anything over 1 1/2 sizes unless I wanted to basically ruin the hat. Yes, I've found that felt has a memory, and I don't; so, hats have shrunk a little on me after stretching, and needed a little tweak now and again.

I understand that the real way to do it is to take the hat apart, go really carefully and THINK about it, keep the steam coming. And read all you can before you do anything. Me-I don't want to stretch another hat if I can possibly help it; only started to because I bought 7 1/4,s and hoped I could make a decent 7 3/8 out of it. Sorry if I'm a bit of a wet blanket, I really do wish you all the best, I personally am cursed by any machine involving any more than one part, moving or not.

wanna buy some 7 1/4 hats?

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Using my favorite wooden block, I have gone from 6 7/8 to 7 1/8 (two sizes). Then there was the Akubra which was supposed to be a 57 (7 1/8), but had shrunk. It took days of soaking and putting it back on the block, and I finally had to use a block that was 7 1/16. In other words, it was almost impossible to stretch it back to its original size. So, it depends on the hat. By the way, I always remove the sweatband, for stretching, NOW! Guess why! I have also found wool felt hats to be quite easy to stretch.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

This all sounds pretty complicated,...and downright dangerous. I mean,...what if I'm wearing a hat that I stretched, and by the end of the day it shrinks back around my head and gets stuck there!?
I think I'll opt for a hat in the correct size. I'm due to find another here soon anyway.