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Stretching a hat - advice please....

Rogera

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,365
Location
West Texas
Has anyone had any badluck with them? Or are they relatively useful for keeping the size of a hat?
I have one, but never have used it yet. Now that I actually have a fedora which fits me, it might be time to?

I successfully used one to resize an old Pilgrim I bought off of Ebay. I am more of a long oval and the hat was VERY round. I just put the stretcher in it, stretched it and steamed it and let it cool and now it fits nicely. Just be careful how much pressure you put on the sweat so you don't break any stitches. Be particularly careful with vintage hats. I don't see why there would be a problem using it with mild pressure to maintain the size of a hat either.
 

-30-

A-List Customer
Messages
443
Location
TORONTO, CANADA
There at two types, one being a 2 way (front to back) and the other a 4 way. (front to back and/or side to side.)

I would imagine that the 4 way, although being the more expensive of the two, would also be the better.


Regards,
J T
 

John Galt

Vendor
Messages
2,080
Location
Chico
I buy a lot of vintage hats and find the stretcher an indispensable tool if used with caution. As I have said elsewhere, there is a reason every hatter has one. Note, though that it's usefulness is limited to about 1 size safely, and maybe 2 with a good sweatband and great caution.

I have three, each with different tapers. The stretchers with sizing scales are safer and much more useful.

I once used the stretcher with the scale under a small (6 /7/8) crown block to re-block a 7 3/8 that I rebuilt for a friend before I ultimately bought some crown blocks. It wasn't perfect, but with some steam & hand shaping, it came out very good, and he was quite happy.
 

T Jones

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6,786
Location
Central Ohio
I'm a 7 1/8 LO. I have a 7 1/8 Bradford that fits a little too tight. If I have it stretched to a LO will it stay that way or will I have to continue stretching it from time to time to maintain the long oval?
 

The Wiser Hatter

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4,765
Location
Louisville, Ky
I would use a stretcher on a hat to keep it trained. If it would not stay an wanted to string back. Art sells a hat band block to his customers made to their head shape. To keep their hats fitting properly.
 

T Jones

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Messages
6,786
Location
Central Ohio
I would use a stretcher on a hat to keep it trained. If it would not stay an wanted to string back. Art sells a hat band block to his customers made to their head shape. To keep their hats fitting properly.
I have two nice that are a bit tight fitting for me. I have a Bradford Ltd 7 1/8 and a Stetson 3X OR size 7. I'm a 7 1/8 LO. I think for me I would probably rather have them both re-sized to fit my 7 1/8 LO and be done with it. On the otherhand, if stretching them just the one time would keep my hats at a LO I would go that route.
 

ManofKent

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3,039
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United Kingdom
In my limited experience a stretched hat (I only stretch by less than a full size) will hold the new size on its own if you condition the sweat thoroughly. Obviously if you sweat a lot or get it wet then you might get shrinkage...
 
Messages
10,524
Location
DnD Ranch, Cherokee County, GA
Yay = if you are a long oval, hat stretchers get modern hats to the shape that used to come from the factory.
If you are a hard to find size in the vintage market, they let you buy a size down & train to your size.
I have quite a few & use them constantly.
 

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
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6,786
Location
Central Ohio
Yay = if you are a long oval, hat stretchers get modern hats to the shape that used to come from the factory.
If you are a hard to find size in the vintage market, they let you buy a size down & train to your size.
I have quite a few & use them constantly.
You mean wearing a size smaller vintage hat more often will eventually conform to the larger size?
 

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
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6,786
Location
Central Ohio
That can create other headaches.
I noticed that when I squeeze my size 7 Open Road on to my 7 1/8 LO head the crown tends to taper a bit. So I'm guessing a hat stretcher would have the same effect....which is probably why I'll send it to a hatter and have it resized to my LO head and be done with it.
 

Doc Glockster

One of the Regulars
Messages
199
Location
the ranch
As someone who often gets a hat sweaty under various wearing conditions, I have had many a hat shrink when I put it away for a few weeks. If I'm not wearing a hat at least every few days, it gets a hat stretcher: no "If's", "and's" , or "but's".
 

Redfan45x

New in Town
Messages
21
Location
Spring Valley, Minnesota
I might have to consider using it on one of my other hats then, I have one which comes close to fitting but is a tiny bit too small. It did fit better 2 years ago, so maybe the felt just tightening up on me
 
Messages
10,524
Location
DnD Ranch, Cherokee County, GA
I might have to consider using it on one of my other hats then, I have one which comes close to fitting but is a tiny bit too small. It did fit better 2 years ago, so maybe the felt just tightening up on me

More like the sweatband is drawing up on you. Leather will draw as sweat evaporates taking oils in the leather with it.
The felt will follow the sweatband...
 

fedoracentric

Banned
Messages
1,362
Location
Streamwood, IL
OK, so what I am seeing is this: a hat stretcher is best used to keep the size of a hat intact. If you have a size 7 hat, then keep the stretcher at size 7. But if you have a size 7 and think your stretcher will make it a 7-1/4, then that is a bad idea. Stretchers are not for upsizing unless you are only tugging it a small amount. It is a bad idea for trying to go up one or two full sizes.

Is that correct as far as most here are concerned?
 
Messages
10,524
Location
DnD Ranch, Cherokee County, GA
.... It is a bad idea for trying to go up one or two full sizes.

Is that correct as far as most here are concerned?

Definitely a bad idea to use a stretcher to go up 2 full sizes. I have had good success going up one size = 7 1/2 to 7 5/8.
Keeping those up-sizes well trained as well as maintaining existing sizes that fit are why my stretchers are well used...
 

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