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Bent Brim

Seth Hawkins

One of the Regulars
Messages
164
Location
Deep in thought....
I just received a new hat. The brim is bent in multiple places - it's wavy pretty much all the way around. And isn't very stiff. I just recently purchased another hat of the same model in a different color. That hat arrived in perfect condition.

What would make the brim do this? Is there any way to fix the brim so that it's not all bent & wavy?

I've contacted the store and received an RMA number to return it. But it took a week and a half to get it. I figure it will be another 2-3 weeks before I get the replacement. They don't do refunds - only exchanges or store credits.

I'm quite happy with the brown one. But this black one - not so much.
 

danofarlington

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,122
Location
Arlington, Virginia
I just received a new hat. The brim is bent in multiple places - it's wavy pretty much all the way around. And isn't very stiff. I just recently purchased another hat of the same model in a different color. That hat arrived in perfect condition.

What would make the brim do this? Is there any way to fix the brim so that it's not all bent & wavy?

I've contacted the store and received an RMA number to return it. But it took a week and a half to get it. I figure it will be another 2-3 weeks before I get the replacement. They don't do refunds - only exchanges or store credits.

I'm quite happy with the brown one. But this black one - not so much.

I wonder why they would have shipped it out that way? I only hope the result was caused by shipping. It's hard to believe that a reptuable mail-order outfit would send out something guaranteed to be unsatisfactory.
 

fmw

One Too Many
Messages
1,017
Location
USA
Since you bought it from an on line store, the right thing to do is return it and have it replaced.
 

Seth Hawkins

One of the Regulars
Messages
164
Location
Deep in thought....
Bent Brim Pics

Here are a few pics I snapped with my phone before boxing it up for return.

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IMG_0001.jpg
 

Seth Hawkins

One of the Regulars
Messages
164
Location
Deep in thought....
I wonder why they would have shipped it out that way? I only hope the result was caused by shipping. It's hard to believe that a reptuable mail-order outfit would send out something guaranteed to be unsatisfactory.

That's what I asked them when I called - "How could you have sent out a hat that looks like this? Don't you inspect each item when you box it?" To be honest, it looks like something that someone else had returned - after mangling it. And the size is either mislabeled, or someone put a hat stretcher in it. The first one I bought is a little snug. This one is at least one full size too big.

None of this is damage from shipping - the box is in perfect condition..
 

danofarlington

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,122
Location
Arlington, Virginia
That's what I asked them when I called - "How could you have sent out a hat that looks like this? Don't you inspect each item when you box it?" To be honest, it looks like something that someone else had returned - after mangling it. And the size is either mislabeled, or someone put a hat stretcher in it. The first one I bought is a little snug. This one is at least one full size too big.

None of this is damage from shipping - the box is in perfect condition..

Obviously, too much autonomy for the personnel in the "mail order department."
 

Brando11

A-List Customer
Messages
419
Location
Chicago
I've had good results several times laying a towel on the kitchen counter, laying a hat on the towel, folding the towel over a section of brim so it rides up just a bit over the base of the crown and steam-ironing around the brim through the towel.
 

Seth Hawkins

One of the Regulars
Messages
164
Location
Deep in thought....
It should be fur felt.

Maybe they sent the wrong hat.

My brown hat feels stiff - like it's made of cardboard. This black hat doesn't. It's soft everywhere, like there's nothing "in" it to give it a shape.

I've never owned a wool felt hat, so I have no reference to compare it to.
 

The Wiser Hatter

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,765
Location
Louisville, Ky
Fur felt just needs to be steamed. Once you start wearing fur felt hats you need to start learning how fix the brim on a hat and keep it cleaned. Brushes and a portable steamer are items need to take care of your hats.
 

Seth Hawkins

One of the Regulars
Messages
164
Location
Deep in thought....
Fur felt just needs to be steamed. Once you start wearing fur felt hats you need to start learning how fix the brim on a hat and keep it cleaned. Brushes and a portable steamer are items need to take care of your hats.

I thought you used steam to soften the hat so you can shape it. The problem with this hat is that it needs just the opposite - it won't hold a shape. Like it's got no bones, just skin. Like a boneless chicken. It just lays there, shapeless.
 

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,103
Location
San Francisco, CA
I thought you used steam to soften the hat so you can shape it. The problem with this hat is that it needs just the opposite - it won't hold a shape. Like it's got no bones, just skin. Like a boneless chicken. It just lays there, shapeless.

Basically steam reactivates the stiffener in the felt. It's not so much that it makes the felt any softer, just easier to work with and then when it "sets" it should hold its shape better.
 

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