Camp draft Brim?

[BIGG SHOW]

Good Day all,
I’m looking to gather information regarding the do’s and don’ts of attempting to flatten a Camp draft brim?

I’d like to take the cupping out of the back.

I had read somewhere (can’t remember where) that removing the flange can make the brim floppy?

The brim on my deluxe Camp draft is fairly stiff and I like it that way.
I’d like to flatten the brim all around, leaving just a tad of cup, if any at all.

Questions:
Anyone done this? How’d you do it? How well did it work? Was it a simple task? Was it done in one shot or did it take several attempts? Most importantly, will the brim stay stiff?

as always, any and all information would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

 

[1967Cougar390]

Good Day all,
I’m looking to gather information regarding the do’s and don’ts of attempting to flatten a Camp draft brim?

I’d like to take the cupping out of the back.

I had read somewhere (can’t remember where) that removing the flange can make the brim floppy?

The brim on my deluxe Camp draft is fairly stiff and I like it that way.
I’d like to flatten the brim all around, leaving just a tad of cup, if any at all.

Questions:
Anyone done this? How’d you do it? How well did it work? Was it a simple task? Was it done in one shot or did it take several attempts? Most importantly, will the brim stay stiff?

as always, any and all information would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

I did a quick search of the forum and found this same topic covered on an Akubra Arena.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/flattening-the-brim.87157/

I’ve personally used a steam iron / damp cloth process on my Stratoliner’s to remove some of the flange on the front of the brim. It worked very well with no floppy felt afterwards.

Steven

 

[TheGuitarFairy]

It is most definitely possible to over do it with the iron and be left with an amoebaesque brim without rhyme or reason.

I know a guy that's done this before.
So go slow and check outcome along the way.

 

[belfastboy]

If you are really committed to flattening the brim you can make a "home" brim press out of 1/2" plywood. I use 2'square 1/2 or 5/8" ply....cut a hole out of one of the 2'square pieces to fit the crown of the hat.....close to the brim/crown break but leaving room not to damage the ribbon. Then leave the other 2' ply as is for the bottom. Sandwhich the hat between the pieces of wood after giving the brim a good shot of steam all way round the brim only. 4 clamps around to squeeze the ply together.....leave 24 hours or so and you will have a very flat brim.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Be careful of too much heat on the binding as it will melt/burn before the felt does. Also be careful with getting too much heat up near the brim break at the crown because of the sweat. It's a good idea to use either a band block or a stretcher fitted inside as a heat sink to keep the sweat from heat build up.

 

[BIGG SHOW]

Thank you all for the advice, thoughts and input, I really do appreciate it!!

Cheers!

 

[Edward]

I re-shaped mine to look more like a snap-brim fedora; just steamed it over the kettle and bent it down at the front. Just a question of angles (Though you might want some sort of press for a uniformly flat look). Post-steam it has held up well and not gone 'soft' at all. Owned it about ten years. Not as commonly worn as my Feds, but often enough.