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Exactly!
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OTHER THAN eBAY Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest
- Thread starter Rick Blaine
- Start date
Bowen, here is a quick update. I’ve made some progress but definitely have more to do. That ring doesn’t want to go away!
Here is the progression so far — left to right is the original hat, initial steam/shape/brush, and then result after 7 steps shown below:
Here are the tools and cleaning supplies used.
Here are the steps I used so far:
1. cleaned with diluted woollite + sponge. This didn’t do much for looks but water was dirty so it did remove some grime. Let dry.
2. used the granual cleaner on small stains and on the ring. Used my thumb to grind it in and the hat brush to clear away. All stains pretty much disappeared and ring somewhat blended in.
3. shaped hat using blue bowl inside and large spoon outside. Not easy to do but did reduce the ring bump a bit. I think a hat block could help a lot here! Also flattened brim on edge of counter
4. used foaming spray overall. This brightened the whole hat but did nothing to the ring. Once dried, I used hat sponge and brush overall.
5. repeated step 3. Ring flattened a bit more.
6. very lightly used sanding block and thumb size sand paper selectively on ring. Brushed again. Definitely saw improvement.
7. repeated step 3
Maybe an hour of work to do all of this but it took a good part of a day. I plan to repeat some of these steps but I’m going to let the hat rest for awhile
.
AbbaDatDeHat
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 8,838
Muy bien. You’ve gotten my vote for effort. Pic #3 looks impressively better.Bowen, here is a quick update. I’ve made some progress but definitely have more to do. That ring doesn’t want to go away!
Here is the progression so far — left to right is the original hat, initial steam/shape/brush, and then result after 7 steps shown below:
View attachment 424765
Here are the tools and cleaning supplies used.
View attachment 424766
Here are the steps I used so far:
1. cleaned with diluted woollite + sponge. This didn’t do much for looks but water was dirty so it did remove some grime. Let dry.
2. used the granual cleaner on small stains and on the ring. Used my thumb to grind it in and the hat brush to clear away. All stains pretty much disappeared and ring somewhat blended in.
3. shaped hat using blue bowl inside and large spoon outside. Not easy to do but did reduce the ring bump a bit. I think a hat block could help a lot here! Also flattened brim on edge of counter
4. used foaming spray overall. This brightened the whole hat but did nothing to the ring. Once dried, I used hat sponge and brush overall.
5. repeated step 3. Ring flattened a bit more.
6. very lightly used sanding block and thumb size sand paper selectively on ring. Brushed again. Definitely saw improvement.
7. repeated step 3
Maybe an hour of work to do all of this but it took a good part of a day. I plan to repeat some of these steps but I’m going to let the hat rest for awhile
Thanks for the update.
What does the inside look like? If it’s pounced as nice as the outside some folks have had fortune turning the hat inside out. That requires a lot of work.
Just a thought.
B
- Messages
- 11,677
Tremendous progress. Well done.Bowen, here is a quick update. I’ve made some progress but definitely have more to do. That ring doesn’t want to go away!
Here is the progression so far — left to right is the original hat, initial steam/shape/brush, and then result after 7 steps shown below:
View attachment 424765
Here are the tools and cleaning supplies used.
View attachment 424766
Here are the steps I used so far:
1. cleaned with diluted woollite + sponge. This didn’t do much for looks but water was dirty so it did remove some grime. Let dry.
2. used the granual cleaner on small stains and on the ring. Used my thumb to grind it in and the hat brush to clear away. All stains pretty much disappeared and ring somewhat blended in.
3. shaped hat using blue bowl inside and large spoon outside. Not easy to do but did reduce the ring bump a bit. I think a hat block could help a lot here! Also flattened brim on edge of counter
4. used foaming spray overall. This brightened the whole hat but did nothing to the ring. Once dried, I used hat sponge and brush overall.
5. repeated step 3. Ring flattened a bit more.
6. very lightly used sanding block and thumb size sand paper selectively on ring. Brushed again. Definitely saw improvement.
7. repeated step 3
Maybe an hour of work to do all of this but it took a good part of a day. I plan to repeat some of these steps but I’m going to let the hat rest for awhile
- Messages
- 19,001
- Location
- Central California
Bowen, here is a quick update. I’ve made some progress but definitely have more to do. That ring doesn’t want to go away!
Here is the progression so far — left to right is the original hat, initial steam/shape/brush, and then result after 7 steps shown below:
View attachment 424765
Here are the tools and cleaning supplies used.
View attachment 424766
Here are the steps I used so far:
1. cleaned with diluted woollite + sponge. This didn’t do much for looks but water was dirty so it did remove some grime. Let dry.
2. used the granual cleaner on small stains and on the ring. Used my thumb to grind it in and the hat brush to clear away. All stains pretty much disappeared and ring somewhat blended in.
3. shaped hat using blue bowl inside and large spoon outside. Not easy to do but did reduce the ring bump a bit. I think a hat block could help a lot here! Also flattened brim on edge of counter
4. used foaming spray overall. This brightened the whole hat but did nothing to the ring. Once dried, I used hat sponge and brush overall.
5. repeated step 3. Ring flattened a bit more.
6. very lightly used sanding block and thumb size sand paper selectively on ring. Brushed again. Definitely saw improvement.
7. repeated step 3
Maybe an hour of work to do all of this but it took a good part of a day. I plan to repeat some of these steps but I’m going to let the hat rest for awhile
The old crease lines can be somewhat camouflaged by a new crease, but it’s a different story if you plan to leave it open crown.
It’s looks a lot better now, and distressed hats are the cool thing these days.
The liner is stitched in so I haven’t seen the inside. I pulled a section back and it seems to be same pouncing as the outside but it’s minty fresh. If things go south on me I will definitely consider turning the hat inside out but will have that done by a professional. I’m definitely at my limit here in terms of skills and tools.
I’m actually growing very fond of this hat — I wish it was my size!
- Messages
- 19,001
- Location
- Central California
If it defeats you, my I recommend Wolfbrae? Just turn on the @belfastboy searchlight and your problem may be solved and for less than you might think.
Absolutely, thanks for the tip!
- Messages
- 10,840
- Location
- vancouver, canada
To get the old crease marks out it really does take a block. Soaking the hat in hot water and then stretching it over the block works about as well as possible. It takes the heat, the wet and the stretch plus ironing it while on the block to get the crease out and sometimes then there is still the shadow of it. If you plan to have hats as a hobby for a while then owning a block is a great investment. Keep a search on Ebay and you never know something suitable might pop up. Even if the block is in bad shape they can be refurbished with just some elbow grease.
That makes a lot of sense and I appreciate you helping me get on the right path. I will be on the lookout for a block in my size 7 3/8 for future projects but will likely throw in the towel on this size 7 hat. If my niece doesn’t like the distressed look I’ll get her a new hat and find a new owner for this one. If this hat was my size I would definitely continue the battle or pay to have a professional take over. Thank you!
- Messages
- 10,840
- Location
- vancouver, canada
When I first started I would pick up cheap western beater hats on Ebay to work on. In many ways the worse shape they were the better the bargain as I got to work on them so much that I got the most education bang for my buck. I have purchased from Etsy.....Olala Hat Blocks out of France. They are not wood but some kind of resin. I use them on sizes that are called for seldom as I am not sure how well they will stand up over time but they are 1/2 the price of wood or less. And for infrequent use they sure do the trick.
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When I first started I would pick up cheap western beater hats on Ebay to work on. In many ways the worse shape they were the better the bargain as I got to work on them so much that I got the most education bang for my buck. I have purchased from Etsy.....Olala Hat Blocks out of France. They are not wood but some kind of resin. I use them on sizes that are called for seldom as I am not sure how well they will stand up over time but they are 1/2 the price of wood or less. And for infrequent use they sure do the trick.
Bowen, here is a quick update. I’ve made some progress but definitely have more to do. That ring doesn’t want to go away!
Here is the progression so far — left to right is the original hat, initial steam/shape/brush, and then result after 7 steps shown below:
View attachment 424765
Here are the tools and cleaning supplies used.
View attachment 424766
Here are the steps I used so far:
1. cleaned with diluted woollite + sponge. This didn’t do much for looks but water was dirty so it did remove some grime. Let dry.
2. used the granual cleaner on small stains and on the ring. Used my thumb to grind it in and the hat brush to clear away. All stains pretty much disappeared and ring somewhat blended in.
3. shaped hat using blue bowl inside and large spoon outside. Not easy to do but did reduce the ring bump a bit. I think a hat block could help a lot here! Also flattened brim on edge of counter
4. used foaming spray overall. This brightened the whole hat but did nothing to the ring. Once dried, I used hat sponge and brush overall.
5. repeated step 3. Ring flattened a bit more.
6. very lightly used sanding block and thumb size sand paper selectively on ring. Brushed again. Definitely saw improvement.
7. repeated step 3
Maybe an hour of work to do all of this but it took a good part of a day. I plan to repeat some of these steps but I’m going to let the hat rest for awhile
Well, my niece wants to go with a new hat which is understandable and I’m cool with that. Seems like a good opportunity to start a new hobby and with all the help and encouragement and great folks here I sense it will be a rewarding journey. The skills, equipment, and materials seem to be on par with my fly tying hobby which I really enjoy and it benefits my main passion which is fly fishing. Anyway, deep breath, and step #8:
AbbaDatDeHat
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 8,838
Seriously!!! Not matching the hatch per-se but wearing a hat that blends into the background. The whole reason I got into felt hats again recently was in attempt to find a pinkish/red hat that would blend into a notoriously difficult canyon section of the Blackfoot here in Montana. I convinced myself with the right hat I could really tear it up there. I try to get tight in on fish and it is important to blend in. I have a handful of hats and I definitely pick the color that best fits the conditions of the day.
Here is a great pic that shows masterful blending. FYI, thats not me
.Bill
- Messages
- 14,801
Anyone here win this "Multicolor" hat?
Funny as it is a blue hat stuffed into a light colored one.
I hope the "top hat" is a nice surprise when the innards are exposed.
Funny as it is a blue hat stuffed into a light colored one.
I hope the "top hat" is a nice surprise when the innards are exposed.
Just Daniel
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,451
Oh wow, if I had seen it was two hats I would have bought it! Ha! It never even occurred to me, and I was thinking the tan hot on top looks like pretty decent felt.
Just Daniel
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,451
I picked up this one, I just couldn't let a sweet mid40s Royal Stetson DeLuxe go over to "Dad's Collection"
- Messages
- 11,677
I THINK i had this happen once.
- Messages
- 11,677
Nice!I picked up this one, I just couldn't let a sweet mid40s Royal Stetson DeLuxe go over to "Dad's Collection"
View attachment 425433
View attachment 425434
- Messages
- 19,001
- Location
- Central California
I must have looked at that hat 20 times and never realized it was one hat inside of another. My eyes saw what my mind expected.
