Hat's too Small...or heads too big!

[diverguy]

I recently picked up a wonderful old Royal DeLuxe Stetson on Ebay...but it is just a bit too small for my fat head. Is it possible to have it STRETCHED a bit? I thought about tying a belt on my head and sleeping with it but my wife said that was not an option! Go figure.

 

[luvthatlulu]

Where are the head-shrinkin' pygmies....er, height-challenged aborigines...when you need 'em?

 

[Feraud]

What size is the hat and your head? This will determine how much the hat can be stretched.

 

[diverguy]

I knew you'd get personal...hat size only says 7/8 and the tag on the back of my head says 7. It's 22 1/4 inches around my coconut.

 

[Feraud]

The difference seems small enough for you to wear and stretch the hat.
Wear it for a while and see if this helps.

 

[diverguy]

okay...I'll try that...but I may still resort to the belt...ow...

 

[diverguy]

Would a little warm water or steam lightly misted help? I really don't know much about dis shtuff...

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I tried warm water and steam on my head. It didn't work.

 

[Feraud]

okay...I'll try that...but I may still resort to the belt...ow...

That sounds drastic! Keep it simple. Wear it when you go out and let nature take its course.
If that does not help then you can start fooling with the gadgets and techniques.

 

[diverguy]

But I do wear my head everywhere!

Okay, I'll try and pull my hat down:rage:

 

[kokopelli]

Steam and wear

Try a steam and wear. If it's a-bit hot at first, use a do-rag, bandana or something at first. I'm sure that one of these and a little steam would help. Ron

http://www.villagehatshop.com/jack_stretcher.html

I recently picked up a wonderful old Royal DeLuxe Stetson on Ebay...but it is just a bit too small for my fat head. Is it possible to have it STRETCHED a bit? I thought about tying a belt on my head and sleeping with it but my wife said that was not an option! Go figure.

 

[luvthatlulu]

The difference seems small enough for you to wear and stretch the hat.
Wear it for a while and see if this helps.

...and take two aspirin each morning!

 

[Garrett]

Take the inner liner strip out between the sweatband and the felt (if it has one, of course). This is a method Art has used before. Good luck.

 

[diverguy]

Ther isn't an inner lining. I may try a little steam but am afraid of hurting the leather sweatband.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I knew you'd get personal...hat size only says 7/8 and the tag on the back of my head says 7. It's 22 1/4 inches around my coconut.

The 7/8 tag means 6 7/8, and your head measurement is closer to 7 1/8 than to 7. This means you want to stretch the hat nearly two sizes. This usually requires removing the sweat band and ribbon before stretching, then reassembling afterwards. If you enjoy craft projects and would like to give it a try, feel free to send me a private message (You have to exceed 20 posts first.). I'd post it here, but last time I did, somebody broke out in "cold sweats."

 

[diverguy]

The 7/8 tag means 6 7/8, and your head measurement is closer to 7 1/8 than to 7. This means you want to stretch the hat nearly two sizes. This usually requires removing the sweat band and ribbon before stretching, then reassembling afterwards. If you enjoy craft projects and would like to give it a try, feel free to send me a private message (You have to exceed 20 posts first.). I'd post it here, but last time I did, somebody broke out in "cold sweats."

Well guess that means I should visit some of the other wonderful places in the Lounge and add my .03 cents worth. (inflation ya know)

 

[OldSkoolFrat]

Get a hat jack, Noggin Tops sells them, any hatter should sell them for that matter. Wet/steam the hat a bit and ssssslllllooooowwwwwlllllllyyyy and gently torque the jack. A little bit at a time.

You are at 21 posts.... pm the man.

 

[Twitch]

Easy if you're too small and the hat is too big- try Barry Bomds' growth hormones and fit in!

 

[The Average Joe]

I've found that getting a haircut helps, too.