Can one form a standard oval to a long oval?

[Pilgrim]

I have a good quality older (50+ years) hat stretcher that's about 3" tall. My head is a long oval, but it's chancy to find hats in that shape, and neither of my Whippets are long ovals.

My question - is there a way to give the hat more of a long oval fit, perhaps by adding material to the front and back of the stretcher and leaving it installed for a few days, or is it best to just wear them till they conform?

 

[Baggers]

I'm the same way. At The suggestion of the folks at David Morgan I bought a hat stretcher that was a size smaller than what my hat size would normally dictate so that the wooden blocks were slightly narrower. I've made most of my hats bend to my will just through wear, but I've got a new one from Steve Delk on it for twenty four hours to see if I can get a little longer oval without having to endure the red marks I sometimes get if I pull it down a bit too far on my head. He can usually get my shape right, but this one was requested a fraction of an inch smaller to begin with and after being sent back to him once already for other issues, I didn't want to bother him again because I was so anal.

I can report back tomorrow and tell you how it worked out.

Cheers!

 

[Art Fawcett]

Baggers has the answer Pilgrim. Just put a stretcher in that is narrower than the hat and it will from a long oval. If it is too extreme, the brim won't sit right but thats another issue. Just use caution when stretching. SMALL increments

 

[Pilgrim]

Cool! I can make my old stretcher "narrower" by fastening some material in the center of the front and back, then gently applying pressure. Small increments and patience will be "der cheese".

 

[jpdesign]

A hat can be changed from a long oval to a round oval an vice versa perminantly and without the brim being funny. The best way is with an overnight operation but it can be done in about an hour.

 

[Michael Mallory]

I have the kind of head that looks like "Hey, Arnold" from above. I've had excellent luck with a hat stretcher.

 

[scottyrocks]

changing a regular oval into a long oval?

I have a question about my Fed IV. I bought the correct size. It fits front to back, but there is room on the sides, so I put some of that foam in the sides, and it fits fine all around with this adjustment to make this regular oval shape to my long oval head.

But . . .

I would like to wear the hat without the foam. Would it be a good idea to, say, thoroughly spray the bottom of the crown and sweat and then put a jack in it, not making it too tight, but just tight enough to alter the shape? Will this change the shape? What might it do to the brim? Will it contort the brim? Anyone done this? With this hat? With any hat?

 

[BobC]

I'd suggest you wear the hat for a while first. Give it a good sweat or three and maybe expose it to some rain or a spray bottle. That will help it conform to your head and it will soften the felt a bunch.

 

[scottyrocks]

I guess it's been doing that for about a month (?) already. I've sweated in it, it's been rained on, and when I think about it, the hat is more comfortable on my head now than when I got it. I just cut out about an inch of foam from the rear of each side and it feels better now. I guess I can cut out a little at a time as I feel pressure points as the hat shrinks and conforms to my head, and it'll all be out when it's ready to come out.

 

[Lefty]

try these

Making a hat into a Long Oval versus a standard

Long Oval Hat Stretcher

 

[BobC]

It'll come around. The best way to break in an Akubra is wear it, wear it, wear it.

 

[Ande1964]

Soak

Soak it in cool water, and then either put in a stick to hold the long oval shape as it dries or just wear it.

Anj