how to "flange" a fedora brim ?

[Justdog]

What is the best way to lower the brim angle all around on a hat. Brim is 2.3/4 but curves up a bit too steep for me.
Thanks

 

[tonyb]

What is the best way to lower the brim angle all around on a hat. Brim is 2.3/4 but curves up a bit too steep for me.
Thanks

The answer is in the title you gave this thread, 'dog. The best way to lower the brim angle is to reflange the brim. Problem is, that may not be the most practical solution, considering that the person with the right flange for the job (as well as the skill and willingness to use it properly) may be quite some distance away.

The job itself is fairly simple and straightforward, and therefore not a particularly costly undertaking, but you'd likely have to pay to get the hat to and from the hat shop. That adds up.

You may be able to do a passable job of it yourself, though, with stuff you have around the house. What kind of hat is this? How stiff is the brim?

 

[Inusuit]

I had the opposite problem....

A brim that angled down from the crown. I soaked the felt at the junction of crown and brim with distilled water, then worked the brim up until it was at the correct 90 degree angle from the crown. I did this by gently pinching the felt to push the brim angle upwards, working around and around until it was even on all sides. Then put the hat with the brim snapped up all around on a flat surface and left it there until completly dry. Has held the shape for about 4 months. Might work in reverse. This was a fairly soft hat with a high beaver content. Could be more difficult with a stiffer hat. Good luck.

 

[Justdog]

Brim

The answer is in the title you gave this thread, 'dog. The best way to lower the brim angle is to reflange the brim. Problem is, that may not be the most practical solution, considering that the person with the right flange for the job (as well as the skill and willingness to use it properly) may be quite some distance away.

The job itself is fairly simple and straightforward, and therefore not a particularly costly undertaking, but you'd likely have to pay to get the hat to and from the hat shop. That adds up.

You may be able to do a passable job of it yourself, though, with stuff you have around the house. What kind of hat is this? How stiff is the brim?

Not stiff really it is a Stetson Deluxe OR nice pliable felt.

 

[Justdog]

Brim

A brim that angled down from the crown. I soaked the felt at the junction of crown and brim with distilled water, then worked the brim up until it was at the correct 90 degree angle from the crown. I did this by gently pinching the felt to push the brim angle upwards, working around and around until it was even on all sides. Then put the hat with the brim snapped up all around on a flat surface and left it there until completly dry. Has held the shape for about 4 months. Might work in reverse. This was a fairly soft hat with a high beaver content. Could be more difficult with a stiffer hat. Good luck.

Thanks . That sounds logical as some of them tend to taper down over time.

 

[indyhan]

hey fedora gang

just got hold of a quite nice fedora made by D'Aquino in Portugal (beaver felt, very soft and floppy, not quite as smoothly pounced as say, winchester beaver though) and it's brim is acting a bit strange on one side. i can't seem to get the right snap i have in mind.
any advice as to how to fix it (all the gear i have is a kettle, i'm afraid)?

thanks you all !

 

[DNO]

What is the best way to lower the brim angle all around on a hat. Brim is 2.3/4 but curves up a bit too steep for me.
Thanks

I've had the same problem. In my case I laid a damp cloth on the brim and ironed it with a hot steam iron. Basically, I was steaming the brim and adding some pressure at the same time (i.e. the weight of the iron). I had laid the hat on several towels to avoid damaging the surface on which I was working, as well. It worked quite well and is quite controllable as long as you do it for short periods at a time. You have to make sure that the hot iron never touches the actual hat. I'm not sure I explained that very clearly...but it did work for me.

 

[indyhan]

thanx gents !