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[job]

I am having a hard time using my Surface rt tablet with this forum. It's the only place that I've found that I have problems with.
The tablet runs on windows 8.1. When I try to type everything gets jerky. I can only type a letter every 2-3 seconds. Trying to type on screen is impossible and with the attachable keyboard I can type but very, very slowly.

 

[myusedhats]

cleaning hat

hi, can someone help me find the link on how to clean a fur felt hat,thanks

 

[ManofKent]

Try here: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?52584-Links-To-Important-Hat-Forum-Threads

 

[buler]

Here is a thread on some basics. Usually, vacuuming and brushing are your best bet.

Basics-of-cleaning

B

 

[Purplesage]

Cleaning Sticky Subtance from Velour

What's the best method to clean a sticky substance from a velour sweatband? I tried a method I read about on the internet using a mixture of dish soap and warm water where you shake it up and just dab on the soap foam to the stain and wait a few seconds for the foam to lift the stain or substance from the fabric and dab off with a damp sponge. All this did was to spread the sticky substance more into the velour. It's restricted to one panel of a sharks gill ribbon. Any suggestions.

 

[hatsRme]

If you are referring to the adhesive left from a double-side tape used to affix the ribbon in place, I have successfully used acetone to remove that residue from a ribbon. I applied the acetone to a small rag (or Q-tip, maybe) and rubbed and dabbed away. But BE CAREFUL to test first, so as not to cause collateral damage to the body of the hat.

Best of luck, Purp.

 

[FrankMc]

I am still breaking in my hat, a Stetson cowboy hat, and I have a long oval head shape. When it gets too tight on the front and back, I steam and stretch it and it becomes a great fit, but I am wondering when the spaces on the side will not be so loose and open and form more to my head and I don't have to steam and stretch it as often as I do now?

 

[John Galt]

I am still breaking in my hat, a Stetson cowboy hat, and I have a long oval head shape. When it gets too tight on the front and back, I steam and stretch it and it becomes a great fit, but I am wondering when the spaces on the side will not be so loose and open and form more to my head and I don't have to steam and stretch it as often as I do now?

It doesn't sound as if the hat is truly conforming to your head shape in your steaming process. Probably it is not getting soft enough.

My method of conforming a hat is to spray the hat thoroughly with water from a spray bottle, but not directly on the leather sweatband or liner. (Remove the liner or cover with a dish towel - first is better because you may get spotting otherwise).

This will ultimately get the sweat band uniformly damp from the outside in as the water pervades the felt.

At that point, the sweatband & hat body should be soft and truly "conform" to your head shape unless the hat is just too big.

Wear it until it _completely_ dries, shaping the brim and crown as necessary. A little heat (steam) while still slightly damp will help the felt tighten & "remember" the new shape.

It should hopefully now fit with no gaps. If there are gaps still, your hat will most likely need to be re-blocked or replaced, because it is just too big.

 

[myusedhats]

thanks for the info

 

[Purplesage]

hatsRme it wasn't tape adhesive but a glob of something sticky about 1/4 in diameter. It's an old Adam hat with a velour sharks gill ribbon. The ribbon is really in good shape so I hope I didn't do more damage by trying to remove it myself rather then have it cleaned.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Frank what you need to do is head down to Covington, TN an
Buckaroo Hatters and let Major Mike get that hat working for you.

 

[FrankMc]

Frank what you need to do is head down to Covington, TN an
Buckaroo Hatters and let Major Mike get that hat working for you.

I'm going to do just that, a great reason to visit Mike and let Rocky give it a good steam. Besides, my wife has a hat that needs a reshape and stiffening. .

 

[viclip]

What's the scoop on the Canadian-made Smithbilt hats?
I'd like to round off my Open Road collection with a brown OR-type hat & since I've got Stetsons & Akubras already I thought I'd opt for the offering of another manufacturer. Here's the link to Smithbilt's version which they call the "Cattle Buyer":

http://www.smithbilthats.com/products/cattle-buyer

They offer it in various grades of fur felt including 100x Beaver @ CAD $950 (approx. USD $850) [latest addition to to my birthday wish list]. I particularly like the 3" brim, which meets the anti-skin cancer sun protection recommendation. I propose to wear the hat in any & all weather conditions i.e. I'm not looking for a "dress hat".

Can anyone share their experience with Smithbilt hats, esp. their Western/OR varieties?

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

I'm going to do just that, a great reason to visit Mike and let Rocky give it a good steam. Besides, my wife has a hat that needs a reshape and stiffening. .

Will be down there the March 8th and the 9th. With other lounge members.

 

[myusedhats]

pinches

hey guys whats the best way to put pinches back into a fur felt hat??thanks

 

[splintercellsz]

Start off with a dent style you like. I usually use a center dent (use two hands when applying. I am using one since i am holding my camera)

next, choose the pinch style you wish, as there are many. For this, I am using a front-pinch.

End result

Please note that hats respond to pinches differently, and some experimenting may be required to find the right look

 

[1mach1]

Nice "How to" pics, Justin.

 

[alanfgag]

Well done and effortless!... but it does help to start with 1920s Stetson Premier Quality felt. Other hats might require a little steam persuasion.

 

[Seth Duzan]

A simple question...

With possibly a not so simple answer... My lid is showing some lopsidedness and the crown needs a bit of work. Now, I don't have a steamer, and I'm not too sure about using the iron(don't trust myself that much). The weather here has been a bit up and down. Now I have read that when a felt gets wet it retains the shape it dries in. Would it really be ok to just wait for a decent rain and then when I hang it to dry do the little 'maintenance' shaping, or should I just go ahead and wait until I can save the money to have someone do it professionally? I'd rather the cheapest option if I can due to financial status at the moment, but I have no issue with waiting if need be...

 

[splintercellsz]