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STEP BY STEP NAPTHA BATH

Bob Roberts

I'll Lock Up
Messages
11,201
Location
milford ct
so I attempted my first bath on Sunday ... I must admit that I am more than pleased with the result

I bathed my 1930s Stetson No.1 Quality that had some pretty deeply soiled areas due to hard wear in its time.

I first treated the heavily soiled areas with a white vinegar solution then dropped the hat in the bath for about 8 hours agitating it ever 2 hours or so ... then simply hung it to dry

The before shots
4cb42ffed70f58395a8e4dcb41268147.jpg

5a86656750161fd4635bf8ed50df7595.jpg

68e04ae3300833c15b13720afd39b748.jpg

5a6f4a01eff30a9682698fb59b6e0e16.jpg


after treating with the vinegar solution and bathing

fdecb16ca75539f4b8b6bcbea25d32d1.jpg

1e4bb68f75c58bdd4411d07423b480f2.jpg

06b3fceda1abb3475c08b7ae3271b8a6.jpg


some heavy rain was predicted so I tented the situation :)

2cfc5b3c2adef8b4a46fb9d81d1e9ffc.jpg


the result

cb3d436f1fcd7d85b5b192dcc7e06ba7.jpg

6dbf7340506ae981c59d6f20bc73dbb2.jpg

77994dc88d90c0e2b2d7ce5e96262704.jpg


The hat looks fantastic... better than the photos show .

I was hesitant to try this at first and admittedly skeptical of what the result would be ... sure glad I did it



Sent from my space aged handheld communication device and universal translator
Bravo!
 

Short Balding Guy

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,871
Location
Minnesota, USA
Naptha can remove some stains very well.

FYI: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-stratoliner-society-vintage.8329/page-40#post-1279162

I have had only 2 hats that have had problems with the naptha bath. Both experienced liner fade and leather disintegration issues. I suspect they would have had the issues even without the cleaning. The felt of both turned out better, not the liners or leather sweats. As a result I do treat the leather sweats with some "conditioner" after the bath, brushing and steaming.
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,592
Location
NJ
Heck Moon, I'm truly impressed!! You sold me!
I had no idea what I was doing ... just took a shot
... and the damn thing worked !!!

I had read all over that it would do nothing for the ribbon so I was expecting nothing to change ... but as you can see from the pics the ribbon came out beautifully clean

Cannot wait to wear my newly cleansed No.1
 

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,592
Location
NJ
Way to go Anthony! The Coleman White Gas bath has brought many a hat back to wearable condition for me. Well documented. Additionally, I have followed up with some serious hat brushing and steam. Your hat looks great.

Thanks for sharing that Anthony. The thread needed some new step by step pics.


Thats Amazing @moontheloon Anthony ! Shiny and New Looking . Thanks !

Thank you gentleman

I am impressed with the result of my complete shot in the dark

The process took very little effort ... just some time and a walk out to the yard now and then to shake things up
 
Messages
10,839
Location
vancouver, canada
so I attempted my first bath on Sunday ... I must admit that I am more than pleased with the result

I bathed my 1930s Stetson No.1 Quality that had some pretty deeply soiled areas due to hard wear in its time.

I first treated the heavily soiled areas with a white vinegar solution then dropped the hat in the bath for about 8 hours agitating it ever 2 hours or so ... then simply hung it to dry

I treated the sweat with leather conditioner before and after ... I see no ill affects

The before shots
4cb42ffed70f58395a8e4dcb41268147.jpg

5a86656750161fd4635bf8ed50df7595.jpg

68e04ae3300833c15b13720afd39b748.jpg

5a6f4a01eff30a9682698fb59b6e0e16.jpg


after treating with the vinegar solution and bathing

fdecb16ca75539f4b8b6bcbea25d32d1.jpg

1e4bb68f75c58bdd4411d07423b480f2.jpg

06b3fceda1abb3475c08b7ae3271b8a6.jpg


some heavy rain was predicted so I tented the situation :)

2cfc5b3c2adef8b4a46fb9d81d1e9ffc.jpg


the result

cb3d436f1fcd7d85b5b192dcc7e06ba7.jpg

6dbf7340506ae981c59d6f20bc73dbb2.jpg

77994dc88d90c0e2b2d7ce5e96262704.jpg


The hat looks fantastic... better than the photos show .

I was hesitant to try this at first and admittedly skeptical of what the result would be ... sure glad I did it



Sent from my space aged handheld communication device and universal translator
I was most surprised at how quickly the naptha odour disappeared.
 

KarlCrow

One Too Many
so I attempted my first bath on Sunday ... I must admit that I am more than pleased with the result

I bathed my 1930s Stetson No.1 Quality that had some pretty deeply soiled areas due to hard wear in its time.

I first treated the heavily soiled areas with a white vinegar solution then dropped the hat in the bath for about 8 hours agitating it every 2 hours or so ... then simply hung it to dry

I treated the sweat with leather conditioner before and after ... I see no ill affects

The before shots
4cb42ffed70f58395a8e4dcb41268147.jpg

5a86656750161fd4635bf8ed50df7595.jpg

68e04ae3300833c15b13720afd39b748.jpg

5a6f4a01eff30a9682698fb59b6e0e16.jpg


after treating with the vinegar solution and bathing

fdecb16ca75539f4b8b6bcbea25d32d1.jpg

1e4bb68f75c58bdd4411d07423b480f2.jpg

06b3fceda1abb3475c08b7ae3271b8a6.jpg


some heavy rain was predicted so I tented the situation :)

2cfc5b3c2adef8b4a46fb9d81d1e9ffc.jpg


the result

cb3d436f1fcd7d85b5b192dcc7e06ba7.jpg

6dbf7340506ae981c59d6f20bc73dbb2.jpg

77994dc88d90c0e2b2d7ce5e96262704.jpg


The hat looks fantastic... better than the photos show .

I was hesitant to try this at first and admittedly skeptical of what the result would be ... sure glad I did it



Sent from my space aged handheld communication device and universal translator
amazing. Great hat. What is naptha, is it pure alcohol?
 

KarlCrow

One Too Many
it's ok, using a bit of logic, or zoom, camping oil pretty much has to mean what we call parrafin. Easily obtained. Pure alcohol on the otherhand is illegal here except with a purple dye that makes imbibers vomit, and might ruin a hat i expect, as we aren't THAT anxious to solve the homeless problem. Sorry am bed-ridden with a temperature mid-holiday.

such a fantastic result. Well done. I may try this on an old scottish fedora have coming as I have a sneaking suspicion it may need more than a steaming.
 
Messages
19,410
Location
Funkytown, USA
so I attempted my first bath on Sunday ... I must admit that I am more than pleased with the result

I bathed my 1930s Stetson No.1 Quality that had some pretty deeply soiled areas due to hard wear in its time.

I first treated the heavily soiled areas with a white vinegar solution then dropped the hat in the bath for about 8 hours agitating it every 2 hours or so ... then simply hung it to dry

I treated the sweat with leather conditioner before and after ... I see no ill affects

The before shots
4cb42ffed70f58395a8e4dcb41268147.jpg

5a86656750161fd4635bf8ed50df7595.jpg

68e04ae3300833c15b13720afd39b748.jpg

5a6f4a01eff30a9682698fb59b6e0e16.jpg


after treating with the vinegar solution and bathing

fdecb16ca75539f4b8b6bcbea25d32d1.jpg

1e4bb68f75c58bdd4411d07423b480f2.jpg

06b3fceda1abb3475c08b7ae3271b8a6.jpg


some heavy rain was predicted so I tented the situation :)

2cfc5b3c2adef8b4a46fb9d81d1e9ffc.jpg


the result

cb3d436f1fcd7d85b5b192dcc7e06ba7.jpg

6dbf7340506ae981c59d6f20bc73dbb2.jpg

77994dc88d90c0e2b2d7ce5e96262704.jpg


The hat looks fantastic... better than the photos show .

I was hesitant to try this at first and admittedly skeptical of what the result would be ... sure glad I did it



Sent from my space aged handheld communication device and universal translator

Good job, Ant. That's a noticeable difference.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.
 
Messages
18,179
Karl @KarlCrow , I think paraffin is kerosine . Naptha is Coleman Fuel , and I think dry cleaners use something just like it . Dry-cleaning suppliers I imagine sell it . Better triple check before trying .
When it was more common & you could buy it at most service stations back in the day it was known as white gas. That is essentially what Coleman Fuel is now.
 

KarlCrow

One Too Many
It is expensive by volume. If you only have one hat to do it might not be much more expensive if you could find a Dry Cleaners to do it. The problem is very few clean hats anymore.

The stuff is dangerous so be safe with it. Stay outside & away from all structures.
ha hopefully i'm wrong about the hat. And don't worry, i had mentally noted reading the forum where you said it was too hot there to do a gas bath on a hat, so figured it was like other spirits and petroleums.
 

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