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This is an essential tool for reshaping a hat brim

Zoukatron

One of the Regulars
Messages
143
Location
London, UK
I wish i shared that experience but it did not work for me. But then the two hat subjects were a 1/2 size small on me

When you say the hats were 1/2 a size too small for you, do you mean that you're a size 7 1/2 and the hats were a size 7 (for example), or do you mean the hats were halfway off in size between a 7 and a 7 1/8?
 
Messages
10,847
Location
vancouver, canada
When you say the hats were 1/2 a size too small for you, do you mean that you're a size 7 1/2 and the hats were a size 7 (for example), or do you mean the hats were halfway off in size between a 7 and a 7 1/8?
I am a true 7 3/8 and these were both vintage Borsalinos that had shrunk a bit to sit between 7 1/4 and 7 3/8. Just small enough so that when placed on my head put back to front pressure enough to gull wing the brim. No amount of ironing would remove it as the gull wing was created from that back to front pressure
 
Messages
10,847
Location
vancouver, canada
When you say the hats were 1/2 a size too small for you, do you mean that you're a size 7 1/2 and the hats were a size 7 (for example), or do you mean the hats were halfway off in size between a 7 and a 7 1/8?
The only real remedy would be to send it to my hatter and have him remove the sweat, resize/reblock to a 7 3/8" and reinstall the sweat. I have one of the hats and may still do that just have to decide if it merits the expense.
 

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,795
Location
Central Ohio
If you go to www.blacksheephatworks.com somewhere in his website he shows a DIY brim press. It looks quite easy to make.
You could always make your own flat brim flange similar to this, https://hatterssupplyhouse.com/brim-flange-flat/. .... looks like it would be a pretty easy diy project. Put a flanging cloth over brim as you iron it flat and then put weight on it for about an hour as it cools after ironing, (unless you make your flange with a groove for a tie off cord to secure the flange cloth in place as it cools).
 
Messages
10,847
Location
vancouver, canada
You could always make your own flat brim flange similar to this, https://hatterssupplyhouse.com/brim-flange-flat/. .... looks like it would be a pretty easy diy project. Put a flanging cloth over brim as you iron it flat and then put weight on it for about an hour as it cools after ironing, (unless you make your flange with a groove for a tie off cord to secure the flange cloth in place as it cools).
The one that Black Sheep shows is very simple, made from plywood and for under $20 and a bit of work with a scroll saw and a drill you got a very workable one.
 

T Jones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,795
Location
Central Ohio
The one that Black Sheep shows is very simple, made from plywood and for under $20 and a bit of work with a scroll saw and a drill you got a very workable one.
The brim press that Black Sheep has is for storing your flat brimmed hats to keep the brims flat. I have one. The flat brim flange is actually for making a flat brim and it looks like one could be made fairly easy.
 

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