The Trials and Tribulations of Hat Stiffener

[suitedcboy]

I have used the Bulls Eye Shellac from Home Depot and Denatured alcohol several times. Very pleased with the results. It can lighten dark hats if you use it heavy. I think if I did a dark hat again I'd go for a higher alcohol percentage. The gunmetal grey 100% beaver I stiffened got some lightening but I like what it did. I like the grey lighter on that hat.

 

[Dm101]

I used the Bulls-Eye Shellac clear spray in the can on my Amish hat tonight, worked perfectly!! I sprayed about 3-4 layers on the inside of the crown with drying and steaming in between the layers. Put a heavy book on the hat with it upside down to compress the crown back to a proper flat top. Sprayed it down with some 91% alcohol on the inside as a final move. Then sprayed the outside top of the crown paying attention to the valley of the telescoping, ensuring I got the shellac in there to hold it in place. Another steaming on the inside and out and left to dry the rest of the evening.

The top of the crown is back to being flat-telescoped and stiff as cardboard while the rest of the hat is mildly stiff...just how I wanted it. Now the hat sits at the right height on my head instead of punching out and looking like a knobbend on my head while drooping over my ears.

Took the liberty of sewing a rolled up handkerchief onto the leather sweatband while I had it being worked on for a nice cloth sweatband that will actually catch sweat instead of rolling it down my face.

Tomorrows good warm weather won't be so bad after all. I can enjoy the range without sweat getting in my eyes.
Tomorrow night...we drill ventilation holes!

 

[Dm101]

Whoowee.....Shellaced my Amish hat to get it back flat-topped. Shellac on the inside of the telescope crown...then steam..then shellac...then steam...then shellac the outside of the crown...then steam. made the telescoped part of the crown nice and stiff. Now it doesn't punch out and let the hat sag onto my ears anymore or squash when I pick it up by the top. Perfect!

Buuuuuut...I may have flattened it down a little too much...lost about half an inch of height on the hat.
Honestly, I can deal with that...it went from a traditional Amish hat to a "Charlie Prince" style high-riding hat.

But where I really messed up at was putting in the sweatband...
Decided to get rid of the leather sweatband and the weather stripping I had to use to make the large hat fit my little oval head.
Decided to stitch in a rolled up bandana...made it a little too tight...especially in the forehead area.
The hat is already a 7-3/8 when I wear a 7-1/4 so I'm not stretching it out any further than it comes stock. I'll just have to rip it all out tonight and cut the bandana in half then roll it and stitch it in....again.

Gat-dayum my forehead sure hurts...got red marks dented in it like someone rolled me down the assembly line...on my face.

But the shellac worked a treat!

 

[Dm101]

Well...I may have flattened it down a little too much...lost about half an inch of height on the hat.
Honestly, I can deal with that...it went from a traditional Amish hat to a "Charlie Prince" style high-riding hat. BUT, with the right type straight-sided crown like I love...not that tapered crown.

But where I really messed up at was putting in the sweatband...
Decided to get rid of the leather sweatband and the weather stripping I had to use to make the large hat fit my little oval head.
Decided to stitch in a rolled up bandana...made it a little too tight...especially in the forehead area.
The hat is already a 7-3/8 when I wear a 7-1/4 so I'm not stretching it out any further than it comes stock. I'll just have to rip it all out tonight and cut the bandana in half then roll it and stitch it in....again.

Gat-dayum my forehead sure hurts...got red marks dented in it like someone rolled me down the assembly line...on my face.

But the shellac worked a treat!

(Still can't wait to get that stetson next week...Excited about seeing the quality differences between real fur and wool!)

 

[Dm101]

Welp...since I've got a date at the range with the wife I can't wait till I get home to make this hat fit. I back pulled some of the thread and knotted it off...then cut about 1.5" of each side at the rear.
Now it's looser, but tight enough that it won't fly off. Won't be riding around with the car Windows open though...

Yeah...I totally understand why custom fit hats are a thing here. This ain't something you want to keep MacGyvering around...[emoji19]

Sent from my LG-M210 using Tapatalk

 

[Dm101]

Welp...since I've got a date at the range with the wife I can't wait till I get home to make this hat fit. I back pulled some of the thread and knotted it off...then cut about 1.5" of each side at the rear.
Now it's looser, but tight enough that it won't fly off. Won't be riding around with the car Windows open though...

Yeah...I totally understand why custom fit hats are a thing here. This ain't something you want to keep MacGyvering around...[emoji19]

Sent from my LG-M210 using Tapatalk


Sent from my LG-M210 using Tapatalk

 

[Dm101]

Not too bad...after shellacing it rides about an inch higher on my head. I'll definitely be re-setting it so it rides half an inch lower but is still flat later tonight.

Good thing all it takes is steam...

Sent from my LG-M210 using Tapatalk

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I can't help but notice that the title of this thread has been changed.

 

[Julie Bourdages]

alright, as stupid as it may sound id rather be safe then sorry,
I use lacquer thinner and laquer to stiffen my hats, is it safe to keep whats left of the mixed ratio in a mason jar once im done or no?

 

[Mark70]

...is it safe to keep whats left of the mixed ratio in a mason jar once im done or no?
Don't see why not, as long as air doesn't get to the mixture it should keep for a while. Are you stiffening a straw or felt hat?

Now if you're looking to clean a fur felt hat, a good soak in a naptha bath is the way to go. There's a thread with a similar title on the forum that has a great write-up.

 

[belfastboy]

I have not had great success storing paints or lacquer products in a mason jar as they don't seal tight for me. Far better to go to a paint store and buy an empty and new paint can. They come in the various sizes are cheap and they give you the air tight seal you need.

 

[JVaughn1613]

In the past
Working as a commercial floor sealing specialist this subject has tweaked my interest and thought on how I came about to using a product that I used on a daily basis at work.
Testing first on general felt fabric to get the mix and feel right then tried it on a hat - this is the recipe

For a hat stiffener
I use water based floor sealer ( used in commercial floors )
Strong mix 10 parts of water to 1 part sealer
Weak mix up to 20 parts of water to 1 part sealer
I personally use 4 to 6 very thin coats
It can be brushed on or sprayed on
The product dries in 20 min for re application but full dry is several hours to 24 hours depending on temperature

That’s my secret that I’m willing to share with the Fedora Lounge community

In the past
Working as a commercial floor sealing specialist this subject has tweaked my interest and thought on how I came about to using a product that I used on a daily basis at work.
Testing first on general felt fabric to get the mix and feel right then tried it on a hat - this is the recipe

For a hat stiffener
I use water based floor sealer ( used in commercial floors )
Strong mix 10 parts of water to 1 part sealer
Weak mix up to 20 parts of water to 1 part sealer
I personally use 4 to 6 very thin coats
It can be brushed on or sprayed on
The product dries in 20 min for re application but full dry is several hours to 24 hours depending on temperature

That’s my secret that I’m willing to share with the Fedora Lounge community

I'm curious what kind of floor sealer you used for this recipe. I looked a little online and found sealers for all different types of floors including wood, concrete and vinyl floors.

 

[JFerdora]

I broke out my Peters Brothers hemp straw Indy hats today & it was a little wonky form storage so I went to the hardware store & I bought a 1/2 pint of clear shellac & som denatured alcohol as well as a small spray bottle. I mixed up 8 ounces of shellac to 4 ounces of alcohol & it seems to have done the trick of stiffening it up. even thought the liquid is a tan colour, does anyone know if I can use this on felt & other straw hats?

Thanx!!!
Charlie

P.S.- I read about doing this online.

Bruce, I did the same as in bought a 1/2 pint ($3) of clear shellac but used 91% alcohol ($1) and used a mixture of 4:1. I took 8 oz. of 91% alcohol and 2 oz. of clear shellac mixed in a spray bottle. Sprayed several coats until damp on upper and lower side of a 3 yr. old mink color fur felt Stetson Temple ($229) which would no longer hold shape. Sprayed lower side first. After approximately 30 minutes when lower side was no longer tacky, I sprayed the upper side of brim. Drying time was approximately 30-45 minutes. I shaped the brim as it dried and let it set overnight. The stiffness of the brim was absolutely perfect as was the shape with NO discoloration. I could not have been more pleased. NO problems, quick, easy, worked perfect, at a cost of ONLY $4. Cheaper than any other product sold or advised (shellac chips).

 

[thomasfarley19]

Maybe I need to read more threads but has anyone developed a formula for using shellac flakes and alcohol. I'm trying to restore an old Stetson that won't stiffen with alcohol alone (which I have done in the past) I keep finding amazing deals on old hats and want to restore them without doing damage. Any advice would be great!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Maybe I need to read more threads but has anyone developed a formula for using shellac flakes and alcohol. I'm trying to restore an old Stetson that won't stiffen with alcohol alone (which I have done in the past) I keep finding amazing deals on old hats and want to restore them without doing damage. Any advice would be great!

Are you sure it (they) needs to be stiffened? Vintage hats, particularly old westerns, were not made like the stiff modern felt we usually see on recently produced hats. I’ve bought several hundred vintage hats at this point and I can’t recall more than a couple that I could even consider adding stiffener to. I have had some completely un-stiffened hat bodies that required stiffener, but that’s a whole different thing. I’m just curious that you’re finding multiple vintage hats that require stiffening.

 

[belfastboy]

Maybe I need to read more threads but has anyone developed a formula for using shellac flakes and alcohol. I'm trying to restore an old Stetson that won't stiffen with alcohol alone (which I have done in the past) I keep finding amazing deals on old hats and want to restore them without doing damage. Any advice would be great!

I have used shellac flakes extensively to stiffen hats. I used the best quality denatured alcohol sold by Mohawk as Shellac Solvent. It is 95% ethyl alcohol with 5% of methyl so I can't sip it while I work. I mix about a fat tablespoon of flakes (Super Blonde is the lightest colour I can locate) into about 250ml of the alcohol. Stir/agitate ...let sit for 24 hours agitating during that time when I think of it. Be careful not to leave it sitting for an extended period as the flakes will sink to the bottom and clump. The longer they sit the harder they clump.
I apply by brush rather than spray. My mixture is a very light one as that gives me the most control. I want light applications and do it multiple times if necessary. You can always do more coats but you can't remove the shellac once it is in the felt. I do it last thing of the day and let it sit overnight before a second (if necessary) application.

 

[thomasfarley19]

I have used shellac flakes extensively to stiffen hats. I used the best quality denatured alcohol sold by Mohawk as Shellac Solvent. It is 95% ethyl alcohol with 5% of methyl so I can't sip it while I work. I mix about a fat tablespoon of flakes (Super Blonde is the lightest colour I can locate) into about 250ml of the alcohol. Stir/agitate ...let sit for 24 hours agitating during that time when I think of it. Be careful not to leave it sitting for an extended period as the flakes will sink to the bottom and clump. The longer they sit the harder they clump.
I apply by brush rather than spray. My mixture is a very light one as that gives me the most control. I want light applications and do it multiple times if necessary. You can always do more coats but you can't remove the shellac once it is in the felt. I do it last thing of the day and let it sit overnight before a second (if necessary) application.

Thank you, I'll give it a try.

 

[thomasfarley19]

Are you sure it (they) needs to be stiffened? Vintage hats, particularly old westerns, were not made like the stiff modern felt we usually see on recently produced hats. I’ve bought several hundred vintage hats at this point and I can’t recall more than a couple that I could even consider adding stiffener to. I have had some completely un-stiffened hat bodies that required stiffener, but that’s a whole different thing. I’m just curious that you’re finding multiple vintage hats that require stiffening.

This one particular is a Remington Stetson, I love the color but I prefer a stiff hat. Otherwise it just doesn't seem to sit on my head correctly. The bowl of the hat is always too deep and lets a softer hat rest on my ears. The stiffer hats hold the hat on top of my head instead.

 

[belfastboy]

Thank you, I'll give it a try.

There is no harm in multiple coats and I find that the critical key.....use a dilute mix and use multiple coats as required. In this way I can achieve the stiffness I want and not risk getting it too stiff. I use the cheap disposable brushes and when done with each coat I spritz it with the alcohol and it is ready to use again. 5 or 6 uses and I toss it.

 

[jlee562]

This one particular is a Remington Stetson, I love the color but I prefer a stiff hat. Otherwise it just doesn't seem to sit on my head correctly. The bowl of the hat is always too deep and lets a softer hat rest on my ears. The stiffer hats hold the hat on top of my head instead.

This sounds like it may be a sizing issue? A hat with less stiffener should conform to your head shape more readily than a very stiff hat. If you're putting your hat on straight (i.e. not doffed to one side, or front/back) and it's dropping to your ears, that hat is too big.