Western straw reshaping?

[indycop]

I was thinking of getting a cheap Western straw for yard use and beach wear but I don't like that all of them seem to come with the brim curled, I like the front and rear dip but prefer flat on the sides. Being that these things are generally stick as concrete can the brim be shape by steam , water or anything?
My daughter has one but it looks like the brim would crack if I tried to shape it.

 

[Mark G]

I've done it successfully on two of my straws. Although they weren't the type with the heavy shellac.

 

[Fredthecat]

Soak it, tweak it

Yep,
I’ve done it with a couple of Wrangler straws from Boot Barn Western Wear stores. I also did NOT try the ones with real stiff heavy shellac.

I soaked the crown in a bucket of water for an hour then gently “reblocked” using an old wood fedora block / hat shaper. Then soaked the brim in tub of water and used 3 1/4” fedora hat flange and an iron.

Results: nice hard working straw hat…in basic fedora shape…You’d never know it was a “Cowboy hat”….but it still ain’t no Panama!

I found the $40 straws to be MUCH nicer to work with, and actually work in, as opposed to $15 ones. For one, they have an actual leather sweatband that makes ALL the difference in comfort working in summer heat.

Go for it. Soak it, tweak it…it’s a cheap hat…YOUR cheap hat.

 

[indycop]

I will try my daughters hat, but it is the HEAVY coated kind.:eusa_doh:

 

[indycop]

Ok I tried steam on my daughters hat. It was so stiff I ended up removing the cloth I had between the iron and the straw and just wet the brim and then ironed it.it had the curly side brim but is now like the shape I want so now I just need to find me a cheap one in 7 5/8 somewhere.

Thanks for the help fellas!

 

[deanglen]

Great job!


dean

 

[RBH]

Nice job IC.. on a cowboy hat the more beat up it is the better it looks!
Just get you one and have at it. I love my fedoras... but I still some times have to wear my westerns!!!!

By the way Dean ol' friend.. great to see you back , and great to see I am not alone in the White Beard Brotherhood!!! lol