Hat Stretcher Stuck to Sweat!

[Spellflower]

I finally got around to trying out my hat stretcher. It's one of those old wood ones that goes all around and is a several inches high, but it doesn't fill the crown of the hat. I lathered the sweat with Lexol and a little water, gave it a quick burst of steam, and put the stretcher in.

This morning, when I unscrewed the stretcher, it was stuck to the sweat, and actually pulled the sweat in, warping the hat. How can I get it off without damaging the sweat? This hat is in immaculate condition, and the sweat is a joy to behold- I really don't want to rip the finish off it.

Please help!

 

[RPeers]

That stinks man best of luck to you others may have better ideas then me but here are my suggestions get a pastry knife (no sharp edge) try and get it between the sweat and the stretcher and work your way around. Or perhaps an hour in the freezer (breaks the bond of glues, the lexol may be acting like one) just be sure to put some leather conditioner on the band afterwards so it doesnt dry out.

Caveat emptor

 

[AlanC]

:shudder:

 

[Razzman]

Any chance using some additional steam to help to remove it?

 

[Mike K.]

I would also recommend the freezer.

 

[Spellflower]

Okay, I'll go stick it in the freezer.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is it something to do with the wood? How can I avoid this in the future?

 

[feltfan]

Okay, I'll go stick it in the freezer.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is it something to do with the wood? How can I avoid this in the future?

I've never had this problem.
I suspect you'll know more about how to
avoid it in the future when you get the
hat off the stretcher and have a look.
I suspect the Lexol or water reacted with some varnish,
gum, or other compound on the stretcher and caused
it to become sticky or to harden on the sweatband.

BTW, I always let the Lexol soak in overnight and
then wipe off any excess before putting a hat on
a stretcher. I never put one on wet - I don't use
water on the sweat. Not because I know it would
cause a problem, I just haven't tried it before. Might
have been the drying out that did it. If there is some
way to get the leather wet again...

GOOD LUCK!

 

[mtechthang]

Given what you said. . .

I suspect the Lexol or water reacted with some varnish,
gum, or other compound on the stretcher and caused
it to become sticky or to harden on the sweatband.
GOOD LUCK!

I think feltfan is correct. I would suspect though, that the wood isn't "finished" in that way if it is a commercially produced one. I think it is likely that the lexol/leather bonded it to the wood itself (a finish, as it were). The freezer would be my first guess as well with steam being a second guess along side the application of lexol, much the same way you'd use a penetrating oil to loosen a stuck bolt or nut- i.e., very, very carefully!! Doing nothing with the pressure removed might also work. I think we'd be able to tell you a little more specifics if you know the type of wood (soft/hard, for example, could make a difference). Good luck and just go slow! That's the best advice of all (from feltfan)!! You might also PM one of the pros on this one!!

 

[Spellflower]

Thanks for the help, guys. I'm going to leave the hat in the freezer overnight and check it tomorrow.

The stretcher is a vintage model, and I would guess maple, though I'm no woodworker. In any case, it's hard wood. It feels smooth, but I'm not sure whether it's varnished or just sanded and with a natural smoothness due to age and handling. I'll let you know how it turns out.

In any case, I think I'll take FF's advice and dry stretch from now on.

 

[Spellflower]

Well, I retrieved it from the freezer tonight, and slowly loosened the screw, but it was still stuck fast. I dripped some water down into it, held it over steam for a few seconds, but it became clear I was going to have to bite the bullet and try to pry it. I greased a blunt, thin butter knife with Lexol, and carefully wedged it in. To my relief, it came off without pulling off any of the finish on the leather. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I noticed this:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/dspritzler/ResistolSweatDamage/photo#5189271755758154594"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/dspritzler/SAP_Kvzus2I/AAAAAAAAAEs/lu4orkosFDk/s800/IMG_0625.JPG" /></a>

I don't know if it was the stretching, or the pulling that did it , but now it's done, and I feel terrible. This hat was mint, and one of the nicest sweatbands I've ever seen. I don't think it was ever worn. And now I've mucked it up.

So how should I proceed from here? Should I go ahead and continue trying to stretch it? It's still attached, and should still be wearable, just not as nice as it was before I got my hands on it.

Or will stretching it further completely wreck it?

UPDATE: I just examined it more closely, and I think it's just the top finished layer of the leather that pulled apart. It looks bad, but it's a really thick piece of leather, and the threads are still intact. I guess all is not lost. I knew there was a risk to stretching, but I really couldn't bear to part with this hat, so I went ahead with it. Now that I've made a mess of the kitchen, I might as well finish the cake.

 

[mtechthang]

I know it looks huge to you now.

I think you might ask one of the pros- it could probably be "glued" to hide a bit of the problem but it'd likely be stiff and might not look much better (or even worse). I think it doesn't look that bad to those of us who didn't see the before. Else this damage the hat is still great? If so, give it some time (put it away- just walk away-- no!!! Don't keep looking at it. WALK AWAY!!!).

I'm not making light, btw. I have done things of a similar nature to a guitar (yep. a vintage one!!). I kept after it and after it till I really messed it up (took a pro and a couple of C notes to make it right again).

Right now, it is a little thing that looks huge to you. The correct thing is to put it down and forget about it for a bit. The hat is probably still fabulous!! (I have a granddaughter who could do way worse things to it without even intending to! Or my two cats!!) The "size" of the damage will fade with time and you'll love the hat in the long run.

 

[Spellflower]

Thanks for talking me down from the rooftop, mtechthang. Yes, it is still a fabulous hat. In fact, if I bought it for the same money in this condition I'd still be pleased. It's just the feeling of having done something stupid. Somehow it's easier to take misfortune doled out by forces beyond our control.[huh]

Anyway, I'm putting it down for tonight. I think the sweat will probably still stretch okay, and if it doesn't, well, it's not perfect now, anyway. At least no one will know when it's on my head.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Hey Spellflower - I feel for ya' man. Mtechthang's right though; it's not as bad as it may seem now. But I know what it seems like since I recently roughed up the finish on a sweat inside a Whippet I hadn't even gotten on my head yet! Turns out the sweatband - although still flexible - was tender and ready to tear and flake if you try to pry it back, so although it looked good it wasn't in great condition. But once I started messing with it I just kept making it worse and worse. Now, every time I look inside the otherwise nice looking hat it mocks me!! Oh well, whatcha' gonna' do?

In any event, I really appreciate you sharing the experience. I've got a straw on the way that will probably run a little small and I had plans to take the exact same approach you took here - now, I'm going to sneak up on it with a little more care. You may have roughed up one hat a little bit, but by posting you may have saved a bunch of others. We thank you for that.

 

[Spellflower]

Just make sure to loosen the screw slowly. If it sticks, STOP! Don't keep loosening, cause that'll pull the sweat away from the threads.

 

[jimmy the lid]

It's just the feeling of having done something stupid. Somehow it's easier to take misfortune doled out by forces beyond our control.[huh]

I feel your pain, Spellflower. I put Lexol on the sweat of a completely pristine OR, since the sweat seemed kind of thin and dry to me. Then I went and tugged it down onto my noggin and heard a sickening ripping sound. It's a terrible feeling... I beat myself up for days.

You've got the right spirit, though. It's still a great hat, and you'll be the only one to know what the sweat looks like when it's on your head. After a while, what now seems like a glaring defect is something you will ultimately take in stride. Hope you enjoy your lid!

Cheers,
JtL

 

[feltfan]

Doesn't look so bad in the picture. Looks like a
buildup of Lexol. You might take a clean, moist
(but not wet) sponge and try to wipe it off. If
it's a tear, it's pretty superficial.

Show us the hat!

 

[Tango Yankee]

I feel your pain, Spellflower. I put Lexol on the sweat of a completely pristine OR, since the sweat seemed kind of thin and dry to me. Then I went and tugged it down onto my noggin and heard a sickening ripping sound. It's a terrible feeling... I beat myself up for days.

Sadly, some sweatbands (even pristine-looking ones) are just too far gone for anything to help.

Regards,
Tom

 

[mineral]

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/dspritzler/ResistolSweatDamage/photo#5189271755758154594"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/dspritzler/SAP_Kvzus2I/AAAAAAAAAEs/lu4orkosFDk/s800/IMG_0625.JPG" /></a>

I don't know if it was the stretching, or the pulling that did it ....

So how should I proceed from here? Should I go ahead and continue trying to stretch it? ....
Or will stretching it further completely wreck it?

I think the stretching did it. The rip happened right at the sewing, where one would expect the highest stress concentrations during the stretch. If you would continue to stretch it, I would strongly suggest that you take a very good examination of the material underneath the finish to see if there are any sign of fracture/tear before trying anything.

I wish you the best of luck.