Stretching a hat - advice please....

[tonyb]

Can a hat sized 7 1/8 be stretched to fit a true size 7 1/4? If so, is the quality of the hat affected in a negative way?

Nice to have you here, wgiceman.

Please allow me to be the first to tell you that your question has been covered at considerable length in numerous threads here. But, of course, you're new and you wouldn't know that.

EDIT: But I see from your join date that you ain't that new. You just don't drink here all that often. Same diff, eh?

 

[tonyb]

Allow me to add this ...

Yes, it probably can be safely stretched that much, but how safely and successfully depends on the particular hat. Sizes are notoriously inconsistent, some hats take to stretching better than others, etc., etc., etc.

Now, one of the guys who's all into posting links to the pertinent threads will likely do just that. Me, I'm still trying to find the ignition switch on this thing.

 

[wgiceman]

Nice to have you here, wgiceman.

Please allow me to be the first to tell you that your question has been covered at considerable length in numerous threads here. But, of course, you're new and you wouldn't know that.

EDIT: But I see from your join date that you ain't that new. You just don't drink here all that often. Same diff, eh?

Yeah, I had been lurking around for a while, but just started purchasing a few hats myself. I tried to use the search function, but did not come up with anything. I guess I searched on the wrong term.

 

[tonyb]

Yeah, I had been lurking around for a while, but just started purchasing a few hats myself. I tried to use the search function, but did not come up with anything. I guess I searched on the wrong term.

Sounds like you and I are about equally tech-savvy.

 

[wgiceman]

Sounds like you and I are about equally tech-savvy.

There must be an enterprise somewhere searching for guys with skills like ours!!!

 

[zetwal]

There are all sorts of opinions on stretching. And I'm sure you will get some answers here. Meanwhile -

Go to the advanced search function on the Lounge tool bar. Do a title only search for the word (stretching). You will find many helpful threads.

Welcome to the Lounge.

 

[wgiceman]

Sounds like you and I are about equally tech-savvy.

There must be an enterprise somewhere searching for guys with skills like ours!!!

 

[gtdean48]

Can a hat sized 7 1/8 be stretched to fit a true size 7 1/4? If so, is the quality of the hat affected in a negative way?

I have a couple of 7 1/2 hats that I have stretched to 7 5/8 Long Oval. It takes some time & tune ups, especially if you sweat in them & don't let them dry on your head. The condition of the sweatband has a lot to do with stretching vintage lids; if it is good & supple, stretching is achievable. I would never try to go more than up one size (1/8). Do the search as recommended for details.HTH

 

[cooncatbob]

I've had hats that were easy to stretch and others that no matter what I did returned to their original size.
First thing is you need a good hat stretch, a hat jack is okay but they're better choices out there. Here's mine, they're deeper then the hat jack (top of pic) and have provisions so they stay square in the hat.

 

[Michaelshane]

I've seen many sweatbands damaged and even destroyed from stretching.It can happen even if you're being very careful.Don;t ask me how I know......:eusa_doh:

 

[ScottF]

I've had hats that were easy to stretch and others that no matter what I did returned to their original size.
First thing is you need a good hat stretch, a hat jack is okay but they're better choices out there. Here's mine, they're deeper then the hat jack (top of pic) and have provisions so they stay square in the hat.

If you find that you are 'collecting' hats, fork out the extra bucks for a full-size stretcher, vintage if possible - you get a more even hat when you are done, plus you can use it to get creases out of crowns, and they make brushing a hat much easier. You can also use stretchers to get wrinkles out of ribbons.

 

[nulty]

I just took a moderate quality 1960's dobbs from a 7 3/8 to a 7 1/2 approx and so far she is staying pretty good. The sweat was a little thinner than most which probably helped. I used a modern stretcher similar in style to the vintage one on the bottom right in Cooncatbob's picture.

Someone told me somewhere to shoot a little steam into the hat while stretching. You have to take it slow so after giving it a little push for a few days I'll crank it up to where it feels right.Without bowing out the crown much I'll hold the hat over a steaming tea kettle till either me or the hat looks like it has had enough then back off. Then I'll leave the stretcher on for a week. Maybe one more shot at the kettle and let the hat sit in the bathroom while the shower runs..You can rub soe lexol into the leather sweat before stretching which will help but don't over do it....This all takes time

So far , as I said, this dobbs is holding it's own...

 

[4spurs]

Felt stretches a lot easier than the leather sweat band inside the hat.

So here's something to try to stretch your leather sweat band that I learned from a custom cowboy bootmaker down in Oklahoma who recommended this technique for stretching boots.

Take a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water and put it in a spray bottle and spray your sweatband inside and out, then set the stretcher in. He told me that the alcohol helps the water penetrate the leather, and does not harm it.

You may want to protect the felt by placing an impermeable barrier between the sweatband and the felt.

 

[Stan]

I've seen many sweatbands damaged and even destroyed from stretching.It can happen even if you're being very careful.Don;t ask me how I know......:eusa_doh:

Hi,

And, then, you get to teach yourself the skill of sewing in a new sweatband.

Don't ask me how I know, either!

However, I have also learned that if a sweat gives up within a size worth of stretching, then it was already in trouble before the start.....

Later!

Stan

 

[Erehwon]

Hat Strechers - How much are they needed?

Hi,

many of you guys have a lot of hats and it starts to become spring. Thats why i ask: you have a strecher for each of your hats, if you don't wear them in the hot season?

Or are you taking hatstrechers not this serious at all?

Greets,
Arne

 

[gtdean48]

Hi,

many of you guys have a lot of hats and it starts to become spring. Thats why i ask: you have a strecher for each of your hats, if you don't wear them in the hot season?

Or are you taking hatstrechers not this serious at all?

Greets,
Arne

I've got a few stretcher but no way I could have a stretcher for each of my hats! They are in constant use, rotating thru the collection....

 

[tealseal]

I've got a few stretcher but no way I could have a stretcher for each of my hats! They are in constant use, rotating thru the collection....

Do you rotate them through the boxes during the off season, or just wait for felt season to return and start re-stretching the ones that shrunk over the summer?

 

[gtdean48]

Do you rotate them through the boxes during the off season, or just wait for felt season to return and start re-stretching the ones that shrunk over the summer?

They are in constant use, rotating thru the collection.... wouldn't be constant if I waited.....

 

[birdhunter]

How much can you stretch a hat?

I've been going the cheap route to build a collection. Buying 4x cowboy hats and converting them. But I wear 7 3/8 and I don't see as many of them as say 7 1/4 or 7. So how far can you stretch one with steam and a stretcher ?

 

[Undertow]

Others will likely have more information than me but...

I wouldn't go beyond a single size; i.e. 7 1/4 to 7 3/8. Once you start going beyond that, say two sizes, you can warp the crown, flange and brim. Also be careful with your sweatband as those can tear.