Current cleaning/blocking recommendations

[1930artdeco]

Hello,

I need your help, I have some hats that need some repairs and cleaning. Well, nobody either is open or they will not repair hats that they don't make. I am not in a hurry with these, any recommendations?

Mike

 

[deadlyhandsome]

https://vscustomhats.com/services/

It might take some months to get the hats back. Give them a call and discuss what you want.

 

[belfastboy]

Hello,

I need your help, I have some hats that need some repairs and cleaning. Well, nobody either is open or they will not repair hats that they don't make. I am not in a hurry with these, any recommendations?

Mike

Are you interested in doing it yourself? If yes or maybe post a pic with a description of what you want done. There is a ton of experience here in the Lounge. Perhaps have some fun with it. Have you reached out to any western hat makers? I know Rand Custom posts pictures of their hat refurbs on their FB. Have you reached out to FineVintageFedoras on ETSY? He advertised refurbs and Scott does good work. In your neck of the woods there was a Paul's Custom Hatters in San Fran...

 

[jlee562]

Paul's will probably not take your refurb. A while back they posted something to the effect of "we prefer to spend time on custom hats." You can try giving them a ring, but AFAIK, they're appointment only.

We used to have Hat Guys in Oakland, but they closed down.

Baron Hats also offers refurbs, but they're a bit pricey IMHO. Gunner Fox might, but looks like he is closed. John Penman accepts rerurbs too.

 

[VetPsychWars]

Brass Rooster in Milwaukee will clean and block.

Tom

 

[Garrett]

Black Sheep Hat Works, Northwest Hats and Optimo.

 

[belfastboy]

Black Sheep Hat Works, Northwest Hats and Optimo.

It goes back to last autumn but Mike at NW was reluctant to take refurbs that were not his hats as his queue was getting too long. Worth a check as he does great work. What is the wait length at Black Sheep for a refurb? I have a custom in the queus quoted at 12 months.

 

[Garrett]

@belfastboy feel free to email / call both and ask. I wasn't referring to wait times as the OP mentioned he's in no hurry. However I am referring to the best quality refurbs one can get and in my experience these are it.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

It goes back to last autumn but Mike at NW was reluctant to take refurbs that were not his hats as his queue was getting too long. Worth a check as he does great work. What is the wait length at Black Sheep for a refurb? I have a custom in the queus quoted at 12 months.

And 12 months is optimistic. I’ve come close to getting in queue several times, but that wait has been the dealbreaker. Even in photos there’s just something special about his hats...the hat embodiment of Je Ne Sais Quoi.

 

[quikrick]

Paul's will probably not take your refurb. A while back they posted something to the effect of "we prefer to spend time on custom hats." You can try giving them a ring, but AFAIK, they're appointment only.

We used to have Hat Guys in Oakland, but they closed down.

Baron Hats also offers refurbs, but they're a bit pricey IMHO. Gunner Fox might, but looks like he is closed. John Penman accepts rerurbs too.

Yeah, Jared is correct, Paul's in SF no longer takes in repair work.

 

[belfastboy]

And 12 months is optimistic. I’ve come close to getting in queue several times, but that wait has been the dealbreaker. Even in photos there’s just something special about his hats...the hat embodiment of Je Ne Sais Quoi.

Yes, I have one of Black Sheep's creations from a number of years back. I have two customs, Black Sheep and Leon Drexler that stand out from the pack. And they both have a minimum of 12 month queues. But there is something about their attention to detail that makes them stand out from the rest. It doesn't show to others so much when it is on my head...a hat is a hat is a hat....but when I hold them in my hands and inspect them there is an unexplainable quality to them. I guess not a big mystery why their queues are so lengthy.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Yes, I have one of Black Sheep's creations from a number of years back. I have two customs, Black Sheep and Leon Drexler that stand out from the pack. And they both have a minimum of 12 month queues. But there is something about their attention to detail that makes them stand out from the rest. It doesn't show to others so much when it is on my head...a hat is a hat is a hat....but when I hold them in my hands and inspect them there is an unexplainable quality to them. I guess not a big mystery why their queues are so lengthy.

I’d love to see them both some time. I’ve only admired them from afar, but maybe I could place an order and then try to just forget about it.

 

[1930artdeco]

Thanks, for the replies. I will look into doing it myself but to be honest I may leave it to a pro as I don't have the tooling for this. But then again, I have not looked either. I am slowly expanding my hat wardrobe as I just put a down payment on a panama from Optimo for my wedding.

Mike

 

[Dm101]

Did you try JJ's Hat Center in NYC?
They're open currently in spite of the COVID-19 disaster.
On second thought...I dunno...that could be risky sending your hat to NYC...might pick up a rider on the way home.

 

[LeBois46]

Try AZ-Tex Hat Company in Scottsdale, AZ. Ask for heather.