J.T.Marcus
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,354
- Location
- Mineola, Texas
Remember this?
It was under the tree, in plain sight, but we left town on Christmas Day, and didn't get back till three days ago. A week and a half of anticipation! My first project was a "Lion Hat" which was close to being garbage. No size tag, but I wear a 7 1/8, and it was way too small; just sat on the top of my head.
The sweatband was something like what we used to call "oilskin." It had deteriorated badly. Project: clean, stretch to 7 1/8, replace sweatband. (in other words, an entire rebuild.)
I completely disassembled the hat. After a wash and rinse in cold water, I placed the body on the stretcher. I SLOWLY cranked it out to 7 1/8. (The gauge is calibrated for proper size, with the sweatband removed.) I let it sit for three days, to dry. (I know, it has a built in heating element, but I wasn't in a hurry; and I've heard stories about "over-cooked" hats.)
When I began to put it back together, I discovered the only sweatband I had left was a fabric one, out of a "Burlington Coat Factory" special, from a few years ago. (Oh well, we're not talking about a BORSALINO, here.) I also found the ribbon, which was washed separately, had shrunk. It missed wrapping around the hat by 1". (I know, I stretched the hat. However, grosgrain shrinks, too. That's why it works!) I pinned the ribbon together, soaked it, and put it on the stretcher for a day (till dry).
Then I put it all back together. The crease and dents were done by hand, no steam or water.
One of the nicest things about this kind of stretcher is the lack of taper! (It shapes the crown the way most of us like best.)
It's a 2" brim, and my ideal is 2 5/8, but it will see some action. Ive had it on the entire time I was setting up this post, and I completely forgot it was on my head. It's that comfortable!
It was under the tree, in plain sight, but we left town on Christmas Day, and didn't get back till three days ago. A week and a half of anticipation! My first project was a "Lion Hat" which was close to being garbage. No size tag, but I wear a 7 1/8, and it was way too small; just sat on the top of my head.
The sweatband was something like what we used to call "oilskin." It had deteriorated badly. Project: clean, stretch to 7 1/8, replace sweatband. (in other words, an entire rebuild.)
I completely disassembled the hat. After a wash and rinse in cold water, I placed the body on the stretcher. I SLOWLY cranked it out to 7 1/8. (The gauge is calibrated for proper size, with the sweatband removed.) I let it sit for three days, to dry. (I know, it has a built in heating element, but I wasn't in a hurry; and I've heard stories about "over-cooked" hats.)
When I began to put it back together, I discovered the only sweatband I had left was a fabric one, out of a "Burlington Coat Factory" special, from a few years ago. (Oh well, we're not talking about a BORSALINO, here.) I also found the ribbon, which was washed separately, had shrunk. It missed wrapping around the hat by 1". (I know, I stretched the hat. However, grosgrain shrinks, too. That's why it works!) I pinned the ribbon together, soaked it, and put it on the stretcher for a day (till dry).
Then I put it all back together. The crease and dents were done by hand, no steam or water.
One of the nicest things about this kind of stretcher is the lack of taper! (It shapes the crown the way most of us like best.)
It's a 2" brim, and my ideal is 2 5/8, but it will see some action. Ive had it on the entire time I was setting up this post, and I completely forgot it was on my head. It's that comfortable!
