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Custom hat fit

CumminsCowboy

New in Town
Messages
4
Location
United States
Hello,
I have a very long oval head, which necessitated my buying a custom western hat. After wearing too tight hats for so long, I love the fitn of a custom hat. My hat keeps losing it's shape and getting tight around my forehead after it gets soaked in the rain a few times. I'm taking good care of the hat, not leaving it on the dash of the pickup or anything. I've sent the hat in to the shop that made it to have it fixed, but it happened again and I don't want to keep sending it back. Is there anything I can do to get it to be comfortable again? I've tried a hat jack similar to my head shape that my hatter gave me with no success. The hat is 100% beaver, if that helps. Thank you.
 
Messages
10,587
Location
Boston area
I feel your pain, and what a headache that is. I'm a XLO, or Extra Long Oval. Are you certain that the block is being put in correctly; that is right side up, and front facing front? Do you allow the hat to completely dry with the band block in it?
 

Art Fawcett

Sponsoring Affiliate
Messages
3,717
Location
Central Point, Or.
Welcome to the Lounge CC. What I do for my clients is to make a band block the exact shape of your head that can be kept in your hat while not wearing it. Unfortunately there is some expense involved ($35 for the cost of the block) and I would have to send you a conformer so there would be some shipping involved but your hat will always fit. Ill fitting hats are a pain.
 

CumminsCowboy

New in Town
Messages
4
Location
United States
Welcome to the Lounge CC. What I do for my clients is to make a band block the exact shape of your head that can be kept in your hat while not wearing it. Unfortunately there is some expense involved ($35 for the cost of the block) and I would have to send you a conformer so there would be some shipping involved but your hat will always fit. Ill fitting hats are a pain.

Art, that would certainly be a worthwhile investment for me.
 

56FordGuy

One of the Regulars
Messages
145
Location
Wyoming
I asked about a similar problem a few weeks ago. I have two custom hats, both by the same maker. One was originally made as a LO, the other wasn't but was stretched into a LO when I bought it. The LO fits perfectly, and if I don't wear it for a couple of weeks it will snug down just enough to be noticeable, but expands right back once worn. The one that was pushed into an LO when I bought it has never been right, a couple of hours after purchase it had shrunk enough to be painful.

The suggestion I got was to steam the hat and stretch it oversize, then let it dry with the stretcher in it. Once removed, it should be right. I haven't had the chance to try it yet, but it's an option.
 

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