How to repair a fedora's brim?

[buler]

How I fixed my brim

You may have read in my "Its all your fault" thread that I got my first hat but wasn't happy with the brim. So today I tried to fix it. I dipped water on a microfiber towel and dabbed it into the brim until the brim was visually damp/darkened. Then I massaged the humped area of the brim until it seemed to be less stiff (no jokes please). Then I rigged up a clothespin to pull the tip of the brim down to where I wanted it to go and let it dry. It seems to have worked. I'm much happier with the look of the brim now. Might try a little more water and a tighter pull overnight to get more of a curve. Also put a thick piece of leather over the brim first before the clothespin so the felt wouldn't show any pinching. Used a bootlace to tie clothespin to a chair for tension.

Hat before with hump:

Brim after fix:

The fix-it rig:

 

[suitedcboy]

Dang! You are WAY up the hat learning curve FAST! Looks great and the method sounds fine.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Interesting approach and great result.

You may find the rig is not needed if you just put more water into the felt - and on both sides so it really absorbs water into the brim. Be careful not to get the flange or the sweatband too wet.

Once the felt is sufficiently waterlogged and excess is dabbed off, it should shape by hand and hold as it dries.

 

[Interbak]

Just don't lay it flat on the table like in your first photo, you'll ruin all your work!

 

[carter]

Interesting method but Gene's method or a lot of steam should achieve the same result.

I'd be concerned that the dye or oils in the leather might stain the felt.

The final result looks good. Either hanging or placing the hat on it's crown will keep the brim from loosing the swoop when the hat is not worn.

 

[thunderw21]

It's been said before but it's good to repeat it.

When not being worn, it's best to flip the brim up before laying it on a table, chair, etc. The original 'hump' on the front of the brim was caused by the brim being down when it was layed down, like in your first photo. If you flip the brim up when it's at rest you'll save yourself time, energy and a nice hat!

Cheers

 

[buler]

Interesting method but Gene's method or a lot of steam should achieve the same result.

I'd be concerned that the dye or oils in the leather might stain the felt.

The final result looks good. Either hanging or placing the hat on it's crown will keep the brim from loosing the swoop when the hat is not worn.

The brim was dry in the area I had the leather/clothespin. I was trying the least amount of water first. Then I would work my way up to more water and finally steam. Luckily the moderate amount of water seems to have done the job. I will be hanging the hat to save the brim.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Alexander Church]

I have a vintage fedora, and well one day I tried putting it on while my hair hadn't been cut in a long time nor combed, and I riped the front of the brim, is there anyway I can get it repaired good as new?
And idk if there are any hatters around here, sadly this isnt 1942, I don't think 2011 duluth MN has shops like that.

 

[4spurs]

Man, you must have one tough head of hair; brim ripping hair.

Maybe if you post a photo of the rip some suggestions might pour in.

 

[Alexander Church]

 

[Neophyte]

HOLY HELL! Pardon my French....

 

[Feraud]

If a modification is acceptable...

 

[Alexander Church]

yeah and the worst part is it was my great grandpa's so now i feel guilty as hell haha

 

[Neophyte]

To me, I think there was some kinda defect in the stitching at the brim break. I don't think it was your fault, so much as I think that age and wear has taken its toll.

 

[johnnycanuck]

As far as I know there is nothing you can do with it but stitich it up yourself. Nice colour though.
Johnny

 

[Yeps]

Well, I think that good as new is out of the question, but you might be able to stitch it alright and hopefully people won't really notice. However, I think that you are pretty much out of luck.

 

[gtdean48]

What Johnny said...

:arated:

As far as I know there is nothing you can do with it but stitich it up yourself. Nice colour though.
Johnny

You can get some matching thread or some of that stuff that is like very thin fishing line. Get a thimble & put the stitches real close together. Good luck..

 

[Feraud]

There is a thread around here where something similar happened and a repair was done.
It wasn't as good as new but I believe the result was good enough.

 

[Rodkins]

One option is to send it to a hatter, have the tear stitched, and have it reblocked with 1/4-inch less brim. The ribbon would then completely cover the stitching.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Feraud, you may be referring to this thread about what happened to my brother-in-law's Brent. The problem with stitching felt together is that it tends to come apart if you put the needle through too close to the edge of the break.

On the hat in question, was the break along the stitching for the sweatband? It looks like it isn't, but that could be a deception if the ribbon has been pulled up.