Flattening Brim & Stitching Sweatband?

[makitright]

Use a steam iron set on high - cotton setting - max steam - make sure you have a piece of cotton linen in between your iron and anything the iron touches - felt or any ribbon - a decent amount of spray with a spray bottle with distilled water - iron on your flat ironing board. Iron the brim on both sides until you get the shape you are after.

The most critical thing is to always have that cotton cloth in between the iron and your hat - touching the felt or ribbon will create marks on felt and possible distortion of ribbon or ribbon edge binding. Keep the iron moving and don't dwell on any spot for too long.

I like flat brims on several of my hats and use this procedure on a regular basis. I have ironed homburg brims to be perfectly flat with edge binding being perfect.

 

[DOGMAN]

I have did it both ways.

 

[brandondefranco]

Thankyou very much for your help guys. I will give it ago today and post some pictures.

 

[LuvMyMan]

A lot of Scotch may work....then use the iron and cloth between method...the Scotch is for you not the hat!

 

[Bob Roberts]

I have did it both ways.

Done.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Done.

Nope, he didn't done it, he did it.

 

[brandondefranco]

Thanks so much for your help guys and gals (scotched helped ;D) it came out great!

One last question when i took it to the dry cleaners they said it would return back to how it was if they flattened it, so it would be pointless for them to do it. is that true or does he have no clue on what he is talking about?

Heres a photo of the finished product... added a little of my own style to it.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

One last question when i took it to the dry cleaners they said it would return back to how it was if they flattened it, so it would be pointless for them to do it. is that true or does he have no clue on what he is talking about?

They have no clue how felt works.

 

[TheDane]

One last question when i took it to the dry cleaners they said it would return back to how it was if they flattened it, so it would be pointless for them to do it. is that true or does he have no clue on what he is talking about?

I would say: On the contrary! The hats I have cleaned with a naphtha bath looked like they never did before. The crowns needed blocking and the brims needed flanging (in your case, flattening). Tumbling the hat around in a dry-cleaning machine would probably make the blocking/flanging/ironing even more needed.

This is just my non-hatter-two-cents, though. Just guessing, based on (rather few) personal experiences

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I suspect the cleaners just didn't want to fool with just the brim if they weren't going to get any cleaning & renovation work with it. They probably felt it wasn't worth their time for what they could charge especially if you returned a second time if the brim curled back some.

You did a nice job on flattening the brim & it's always good to learn something about the felt & your hat.

 

[Frunobulax]

Nope, he didn't done it, he did it.

Now you done did it!

 

[Frunobulax]

Thanks so much for your help guys and gals (scotched helped ;D) it came out great!

One last question when i took it to the dry cleaners they said it would return back to how it was if they flattened it, so it would be pointless for them to do it. is that true or does he have no clue on what he is talking about?

Heres a photo of the finished product... added a little of my own style to it.

Looks great. And it should stay that way.

 

[007]

I've had good luck just wetting the brim with a spray bottle and setting it on a flat surface to dry but I wasn't trying to get it perfectly flat like yours. You did a good job on that hat.

 

[Wesslyn]

Hey folks.
I've got an old Dobbs hommy that needs a new sweatband. I've read in the past that Optimo is the way to go when it comes to that kind of work.
Has anyone had any recent experience having a sweatband replaced with them? Prices? Time frame? Shipping? Etc etc...
Much appreciated.

 

[mayserwegener]

Supposedly Optimo is only working with Optimo Hats now but you might want to still check. You could try Bob at Black Sheep Hat Works.

 

[Bamaboots]

Wess, our own Bond here provides sweats, cut to length and pre-sewn for do it yourselfers or for a little bit more he'll replace it. He also does refurb work. He's worked on a couple of mine. He's in Iowa so shipping shouldn't be too bad. His prices are very reasonable but contact him for those. Turn around time on two of mine was around two weeks if memory serves. He does good work.

 

[RJR]

Check with Lounger,Bond (Scott Dalsbo).On ETSY as finevintagefedoras.He will replace sweats and/or do complete refurbs.Reasonable prices and turnaround time.

 

[RJR]

I see that 'Bama and I stepped on each other regarding Scott.Correction;he's in Wisconsin.

 

[Bamaboots]

^^^ We typically do on this question. Iowa, Wisconsin. What do I know about the Midwest?

 

[Wesslyn]

Thanks, guys! Can always count on the lounge