Straw hat rehab

[Dave the Hick]

So I found the beautiful hat at a thrift shop for $6 dollars, and it's a bit creased, but for that price I thought I'd take a chance I can rehab it.






On the bow it says "Borsalino" and on the sweatband it says "Borsalino" and "Made in Italy. As you can see in the photos it's a little creased. I'd like to know if anyone has any advice on removing the crease. I'd also like to change the bash if that's at all possible on a straw.

Anyone?

BTW, looking at the pics I see it's not obvious: What looks like a shadow line is the crease.

 

[RBH]

I have used this straw hat as a kind of block for my older Miller panama hat.
On the Miller I wet the hat down and then pulled it down over this straw. [this one has a thick type straw and is pretty tough]

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/3296/hpim1121hl0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

here is the Miller
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3113/hpim1025ht6.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

Good luck and keep us informed as to what you are able to do with it.

 

[cookie]

So I found the beautiful hat at a thrift shop for $6 dollars, and it's a bit creased, but for that price I thought I'd take a chance I can rehab it.






On the bow it says "Borsalino" and on the sweatband it says "Borsalino" and "Made in Italy. As you can see in the photos it's a little creased. I'd like to know if anyone has any advice on removing the crease. I'd also like to change the bash if that's at all possible on a straw.

Anyone?

BTW, looking at the pics I see it's not obvious: What looks like a shadow line is the crease.

gentle steaming

 

[Tomasso]

Sweet!

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3113/hpim1025ht6.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

 

[Dave the Hick]

So steaming works for straw, then?

 

[RBH]

Not to hijack your thread, but I did this today to show how easy it is to re-shape a panama...
The older, stiffer panamas take to steaming better than a soak in water.

Here is a panama that really does not get much wear from me. The 2 1\2 inch brim is just not as wide as I like.
Be that as it is ... its a great hat.
As you can tell from the first photo the classic panama block has relaxed alot.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/728/008kh0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a>
Here is my panama and the 'blocking' straw.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/2109/001xy9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a>
After filling the crown with warm water I placed it on the other straw to help shape it.

After it dries I will try to post another shot.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/8513/010df4.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/716/011le9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a>

 

[Dave the Hick]

Well, I don't have a steamer, but this one's pretty soft, so I'll try warm water.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Well, I don't have a steamer, but this one's pretty soft, so I'll try warm water.

Try cold water first.

 

[Dave the Hick]

Well, a bit o' warm water took the crease right out, and fixed the bash to my taste as well. Pics to follow.

Thing is, at the high point of the crown in front the straw is a bit cracked. Since that's right where it folds over, it's not really noticeable. I'm considering changing the bash again, making it lower and wider, so that cracked part actually sits inside the downturned part. Thoughts, anyone?

 

[mineral]

Well, a bit o' warm water took the crease right out, and fixed the bash to my taste as well. Pics to follow.

Thing is, at the high point of the crown in front the straw is a bit cracked. Since that's right where it folds over, it's not really noticeable. I'm considering changing the bash again, making it lower and wider, so that cracked part actually sits inside the downturned part. Thoughts, anyone?

You've really got something nice for $6.

Anyway, I think you should use glue on the inside to fix the cracks. I wouldn't recommend adjusting the shape of the hat for this purpose.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

While you are showering bring the hat into the bathroom and let the steam gently permeate the straw.

DO NOT bring it into the shower with you

 

[funneman]

I once bought an Adam with a bent brim. It looked like it had been stored
on a flat shelf and the brim puckered in the front. I tried everything, cold water, tea kettle, iron. It looks great when I first put it on, but as the
day wears on and the Florida humidity gets to it, the brim starts to sag again.[huh]
Good luck, great looking hat!
Let us know how you make out and include pictures.

 

[The Elizans]

Churchill Milan Straw (c.1950's)

This is a Churchill very fine Milan straw. I do not have it with me at the moment, so I cannot take a photo of the inside, but when I bought it, from the outside it looked fabulous, on the inside the leather was extremely cracked! Wore it several times last summer but always ended up with flaking bits of leather stuck to my brow! Not a great look! Time for rehab perhaps! lol

P.S. Sorry for austere looking photo!

 

[deanglen]

I like the look, Eli! Sharp!


dean

 

[Dave the Hick]

As you can see, the cracking is pretty bad, but because of where it is it isn't very noticeable. I'd kinda like a lower, wider crown anyway....

The brim curled up way too much. I'm gonna have to soften it again, then put some books on it.

 

[carter]

I may have to find a "blocking straw".

Not to hijack your thread, but I did this today to show how easy it is to re-shape a panama...
The older, stiffer panamas take to steaming better than a soak in water.

Here is a panama that really does not get much wear from me. The 2 1\2 inch brim is just not as wide as I like.
Be that as it is ... its a great hat.
As you can tell from the first photo the classic panama block has relaxed alot.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/728/008kh0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a>
Here is my panama and the 'blocking' straw.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/2109/001xy9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a>
After filling the crown with warm water I placed it on the other straw to help shape it.

After it dries I will try to post another shot.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/8513/010df4.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a>
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/716/011le9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/></a>

Hey Rusty, Is that Panama dry yet? I really want to see the end result.

 

[jpbales]

cool idea

using a hat to block a hat! Here's a thought, you could probably use a stiff felt hat to do the same thing. My Indy fedora is probably at least as stiff as that straw. Just use some steam to shape the felt hat, then pull the straw over the felt might work. Luckily, I haven't needed to try it out yet!