My Project Hat- Advice Needed!

[Ande1963]

Okay, I'm about to try my first restoration project, and I could use some input. Here's the hat... a simple, vintage Royal Stetson:

As you can see, it's dirty and the sweat band is a mess. I bought this on ebay, and it wasn't in as good a shape as I had hoped for when it arrived. I tried to stretch it a bit, and the band just fell apart. So, since it's a hat I really like (it's soft, a good shape for me, and I like the color), but not really worth the investment of sending it to Optimo, I figured I'd see what I could do myself.

I have already removed the liner. Next is the band removal (deanglen hooked me up with a couple of new bands!) This brings me to my first question, though. What type of cleaning is best for this project, and should I remove the band before or after cleaning?

I've read here and elsewhere about using naptha, both pro and con. I'm leaning toward not using it, but trying Woolite or some other mild cleaning product. Do you guys feel strongly that naptha is the way to go? Would it be wise to remove the band now, or would leaving it in help the hat maintain its shape?

I should also mention that I will need to stretch this thing a little bit. I'm assuming the felt will have some leeway in that area, before I put in the new band.

I'll have more questions later, but one more thing for now... is it silly to attempt this without a hat block? I don't own one yet. I have a big head (7 5/8 or so), so I think it'll be a little challenging to find one. I own a lathe, so I could make something round, but I probably need an oval block to fit my long oval head.

Thanks in advance for the help. Yes, I have searched around the site quite a bit, and have found some answers. I hope you all don't mind me asking a new slew of questions.

Anj

 

[Art Fawcett]

is it silly to attempt this without a hat block? I don't own one yet. I have a big head (7 5/8 or so), so I think it'll be a little challenging to find one.

I wouldn't use the word silly Ande, but extremely challenging would fit better. If you can wait, I'd put it away until you have the block you need. In any case you will have to soak the hat ( naptha or woolite) and the odds of it coming out correctly without a block are pretty long.
Please DO remove the sweat and ribbon before doing the reno. I see a spot on the brim binding also so you might want to work on that first. If it won't come out you'll need to replace that also, thus remove it prior to soaking.

Stretching & reshaping after soaking has been successful for some on the lounge so I'll let them speak up as to how they did it.

Good luck

 

[Ande1963]

Thanks so much for the input, Art. I stripped the hat down to just the felt tonight, and I'm looking into a block.

Once I soak the body in whatever, and then put it on the block to shape, how do I get that snap brim back? Is it a function of how the hat is already shaped and stitched, or is it up to me to make that happen somehow?

Anj

 

[Art Fawcett]

Just looked at the pic again Ande & realized that's not a bound brim, but a cav or welted edge. Sorry, didn't look hard enough.
You really need a brim flange to get the snap it originally had but it might work if when you put it on the block, while wet, massage the brim to a curled upright position and when it dries you will have a fighting chance of it being OK

 

[Ande1963]

Gotcha... thanks again, Art.

Anj

Just looked at the pic again Ande & realized that's not a bound brim, but a cav or welted edge. Sorry, didn't look hard enough.
You really need a brim flange to get the snap it originally had but it might work if when you put it on the block, while wet, massage the brim to a curled upright position and when it dries you will have a fighting chance of it being OK