Leather Replacement Sweatband

[Walter Neff1940]

Hello
Would anyone have a leather sweatband for sale that I could use to replace my cloth sweatband in my straw panama. I need one that is 23 inches (7 1/4) Thanks.

 

[belfastboy]

Hello
Would anyone have a leather sweatband for sale that I could use to replace my cloth sweatband in my straw panama. I need one that is 23 inches (7 1/4) Thanks.

Bond here in the Lounge has good ones for sale at a fair price. He also has an Etsy site,,,,FineVintageFedoras

 

[LuvMyMan]

Yep, Bond would be whom I would head to for a leather sweatband, (if you are going to be skilled enough to do a self replacement)!

 

[RJR]

Bond here in the Lounge has good ones for sale at a fair price. He also has an Etsy site,,,,FineVintageFedoras

Second for Scott (Bond).

 

[Walter Neff1940]

Yep, Bond would be whom I would head to for a leather sweatband, (if you are going to be skilled enough to do a self replacement)!

I don't believe it is a difficult job to restitch it. Just deciding if it is worth the price and time and what the advantage would be to replace the cloth band with leather.

 

[belfastboy]

The hatter in my city charges $35 to replace a sweat band. I had thought of doing it myself but the $$$ to buy a new one means I am only paying the hatter $20 for the stitching so I get them to do, seems money well spent.

 

[Walter Neff1940]

Yes, but I don't have a hatter and would have to mail it and added cost. I am confident I can do just as good as sending it away if I decide that route.

 

[JackieMatra]

Bond as FineVintageFedoras on Etsy, has offered both pre-sewn sized, and non sized nor sewn sweatbands, in both standard and vented versions in various colors.

 

[Lonn]

Hi,
Did you resolve this? I bought 5 or 6 leather sweat bands some time ago here and still have four or five of them in a box somewhere. PM me. I would be more than happy to pass one on since there is little chance I will use all of these. I did do exactly what you are talking about to an awesome vintage Stetson Panama I found with a disintegrated band. I used some nice ribbon I got here as well for a hatband. Made a really nice hat out of what would have been junk.
Lonn

 

[Walter Neff1940]

Hello Lonn
I sent you a PM.

 

[TheDane]

Watch out! A leather sweatband takes up quite a bit more space than a grosgrain (fabric) one. A replacement will probably make the hat a size smaller - maybe even more.

 

[LuvMyMan]

Watch out! A leather sweatband takes up quite a bit more space than a grosgrain (fabric) one. A replacement will probably make the hat a size smaller - maybe even more.

Good advice there! Yep. You have to account for many things when it comes to working on a hat!

 

[Walter Neff1940]

Not sure I see that. The cloth sweatband is like a padded type and a leather band isn't that thick. What would account for the reducing in size? Thought Lonn would get back to me and since he hasn't not, I have never done anymore to find a band.

 

[RJR]

Contact Lounger Bond.

 

[TheDane]

Well, it doesn't sound like the usual petersham/grosgrain sweatband. I would need a picture to be certain.

If you "flange" it properly, you may have enough room for the leather band. Hard to say(?)

 

[Walter Neff1940]

Here are the hat pictures.
http://thefedoralounge.com/threads/post-new-hats-here.28145/page-1442#post-2041648

 

[RJR]

Here are the hat pictures.
http://thefedoralounge.com/threads/post-new-hats-here.28145/page-1442#post-2041648

With that cloth sweat,I'll about bet that you'll have a size issue if you install a leather replacement.There are several thicknesses plus the reed to accommodate.

 

[Walter Neff1940]

With that cloth sweat,I'll about bet that you'll have a size issue if you install a leather replacement.There are several thicknesses plus the reed to accommodate.

My head measures 22 5/8 and the hat interior measures 23 so making it smaller would not be a bad thing.

 

[TheDane]

That is just around a size too big, so you may have room for the leather after all.

You should definitely check out Brad's tutorial: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/stitch-awl-tutorial-sweatband-installation.38010/

- and especially note, that the reed should be cut longer than the leather. The reed should also be placed just below the opening of the crown - not inside the crown! That way the leather will "bell" properly

 

[Walter Neff1940]

Anybody have an extra leather sweatband they don't need? If not, I may just keep the cloth band as it may not be worth it to switch. Thanks to all.