Will Naptha or specifically white gas hurt hat liners?

[Magus]

I am wondering if Naptha or white gas hurt the satin hat liner in the champ I am redoing? (I have and plan on using the white gas) It has the oval plastic at the top of the crown as well. This question is approached currently in another thread but I just didn’t’ gather a clear cut definitive answer there. By the way I do have the liner out.

Thanks,
M

 

[Andykev]

I don't think so

If there is a plastic "protector" at the top of the hat, I would refrain from usinig white gas...or any other petrolium bases solvent. The protector could be damaged, or yellowed. If the protector is in good shape, but the liner underneath is dirty, then I RECOMMEND sending the hat to a professional hat cleaning establishment (ie. OPTIMO in Chicago)..or similar. Now, that begs the question, how much is this hat worth, and can you risk it? Champ hats were the "low end" for the customer. Not like a Cavanagh, or a Stetson 1000, or similar. So I have found a gentle wiping of the plastic protector with alcohol has cleaned off any stains, or mildew. If you rip the hat down to the body/liner/sweat/ribbon...ie a full job then you can select what needs what.

 

[GentlemanFarmer]

White gas / naptha

I wondered the same thing myself, only I was more concerned about the leather. The plastic might not be affected as both white gas and naptha aren't really "caustic", if I remember my organic chemistry correctly (but I've been wrong before). I thought that the hydrocarbons might only dry the leather and that a light application of Lexol would remedy that. What do you think?

 

[mthatter]

erased by mt