My Beater Open Road

[Duck]

Won this beat up Open Road as the only bidder. The hat was beat up, dirty, and stained, just as listed. I was wanting to try my hand at hat cleaning and thought this was perfect!!!! If I messed it up, I would not be out much money!!
Soaked the hat for 10 hours in naptha (thanks RBH) and I am very pleased with the results. There are some small stains that did not come out and the wind string button is rusted. Here are some before and after pics.
Before:

After:

My new every day hat and now an Open Road Guild member.

 

[Scary Mc]

Great job on the cleanup. Fantastic job on the bash!

 

[budward]

I say. That looks really good. Sometimes if the overhaul is too good, it kinda takes away some of the character that took years to creep into the felt. The way you got it bashed after the naptha bath, though, looks like you preserved the character and lost the dirt. Primo.


Budward

 

[ideaguy]

OK! seeing is believing, I'm not a restorer, but will try the naptha bath;
RBH has been kind enough to walk me through it, and I just got 2 cool hats
in. Will do the before and after...

 

[RBH]

I say. That looks really good. Sometimes if the overhaul is too good, it kinda takes away some of the character that took years to creep into the felt. The way you got it bashed after the naptha bath, though, looks like you preserved the character and lost the dirt. Primo.


Budward

Budward, you said it better than I could. That hat is still full of character.
Great job Duck, sometimes a few stains or spots will remain but as Budward said...character...thats a great looking fedora!!!

OK! seeing is believing, I'm not a restorer, but will try the naptha bath;
RBH has been kind enough to walk me through it, and I just got 2 cool hats
in. Will do the before and after...

Thats just it, ideaguy, you arent restoring, you are just what I like to call bringing a little bit of the luster back to a vintage fedora.
I cant wait to see your results!!
Good Luck...

 

[Duck]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Yes the hat has character and I like it!! Like RBH says, this is not restoring, just removing some of the years of grime. And it is very easy.
Don't fear the dirty hat!!!!!!!!

 

[RBH]

Hey duck, what about a photo of you wearing that fantastic fedora ?

 

[GentlemanFarmer]

Great job. I may have to give the naptha bath a try someday (my hats are pretty clean right now). Welcome to the Guild

 

[Duck]

I am wearing it a lot!!!!!!!!!

 

[RBH]

Great picture Duck! That O R looks really good on you.
Thanks for the pic.
:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Scary Mc]

Duck, you look like an Arkie! Seriously though, the hat looks great on you.

I spent a year in Ft. Smith apprenticing with a fly fishing guide and smuggling books in from Oklahoma.lol I miss the fishing, not Ft. Smith.

 

[Duck]

Thanks RBH & Scary Mc. I am in Fayettevile & I don't go to Ft. Smith unless I have to.lol