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My new aero

Messages
11,168
Location
SoCal
You'd rightfully said that in my case the jacket was just too big- Sell it and get one that fits.
Of course, that led me to contacting John C.....
et cetera, et cetera. :)
 

technovox

One Too Many
Messages
1,242
Location
San Francisco
I took two Aero FQHH jackets new (one took a few extra weeks as I was in Scotland/France) and soaked them in the HOT shower until they weighed about 25 pounds. I then put them in the dryer for ~10 mins at a time, trying them on to make sure I hadn't gone too far. I ended up doing this maybe 4-5 times in total, finally just using the dryer on cold mornings to get it softened up and a little smaller. It worked great. .
So just to double check - after soaking the jacket in the shower and all the drying, did the jacket actually shrink? Or was your intent more of a softening/breaking in treatment?
 

Cyber Lip

Practically Family
Messages
782
Location
Seattle
The sleeves look like they will shrink up to right above your thumb knuckle or thereabouts. To me that's the perfect length
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
So just to double check - after soaking the jacket in the shower and all the drying, did the jacket actually shrink? Or was your intent more of a softening/breaking in treatment?
Both. I lost some weight between the order and the pickup. Worked a treat. And it harmed the hide not. I do think that some hides would not do as well - I did a nice USWings goat G-1 that lost some of it's goodness after. It is a beater, so I didn't really worry, but it showed me that HWT is not for all hides.
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
You'd rightfully said that in my case the jacket was just too big- Sell it and get one that fits.Of course, that led me to contacting John C.....et cetera, et cetera. :)
Ah, OK. I thought I had told you to HWT and you hosed your jacket lolI never tell anyone to DO IT. Only that it works if done properly and I have done it myself. I believe Aero's FQHH can take it an laugh. Repeatedly.
 

technovox

One Too Many
Messages
1,242
Location
San Francisco
Both. I lost some weight between the order and the pickup. Worked a treat. And it harmed the hide not. I do think that some hides would not do as well - I did a nice USWings goat G-1 that lost some of it's goodness after. It is a beater, so I didn't really worry, but it showed me that HWT is not for all hides.
Thanks! I gather this would probably work better on a horsehide. And I see that Aero also suggests something similar as a break-in treatment on their website.
My reason for asking- I just scored an off-the-rack Himel that's perfect in the shoulders and arm length, but a bit roomy in the body. So I'm waiting for a warm sunny day to try out the shower/slow drying process. Ideally this will make the jacket a bit more form fitting.
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
Scott, any thoughts about how the HWT might affect the lining?
I didn't do the lining Fanch, but I reckoned that it got a little shrinkage from the dryer and humidity from the leather. Just right. I would not soak the lining myself and have not. If the HWT was done without thought - just putting the soaked jacket in the dryer on high and left to completely dry, I could foresee the lining being too large after. Mine had alpaca and heavy Tartan, and both came out perfectly.
 

Fanch

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,490
Location
Texas
Good thoughts. My concern about the HWT has always been the lining rather than the FQHH.
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
Thanks! I gather this would probably work better on a horsehide. And I see that Aero also suggests something similar as a break-in treatment on their website. My reason for asking- I just scored an off-the-rack Himel that's perfect in the shoulders and arm length, but a bit roomy in the body. So I'm waiting for a warm sunny day to try out the shower/slow drying process. Ideally this will make the jacket a bit more form fitting.
I,would not wet the bits that are good. Just the torso. And...be careful to only put it in the dryer in short stints - trying it on every time to make sure you don't ruin it. Wear it a little wet at the end to help it form to your body. After I did that a few times, I put a light spray of Lexol on it. It's not a heavy treatment like Pecards which is not for new hides.
 

technovox

One Too Many
Messages
1,242
Location
San Francisco
I,would not wet the bits that are good. Just the torso. And...be careful to only put it in the dryer in short stints - trying it on every time to make sure you don't ruin it. Wear it a little wet at the end to help it form to your body. After I did that a few times, I put a light spray of Lexol on it. It's not a heavy treatment like Pecards which is not for new hides.

Good advice. And exactly my approach- taking it slowly, trying not to water down the arms. And a leisurely sun dry. Kind of like the Levis/Aero method. Better to error on the side of caution. The last thing I want is to make the sleeves too short. I'll post the results. Maybe even take some before and after pics.
 

wild_balls

Practically Family
Messages
594
Location
WESTCOAST OF SWEDEN
Congratulations, great jacket without the pockets! Sleeves will wrinkle and shorten over time! Hwt will do the trick if you want a more tight fit, I have done it on several hh jackets, it works!

Cheers Joakim
 

Seb Lucas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,562
Location
Australia
You can stick them in the washing machine with normal wash detergent, let it rung a cycle and then let it dry over the next few days. No problem. I've washed most of my jackets. They never shrink. They improve in flexibility and look. A new jacket always feels and looks cumbersome.
 

Dude59

New in Town
Messages
36
Location
Jacksonville, nc
I wore it a bit this weekend driving 260 miles with a/c and then around my place at night, it is becoming more flexible especially when warm with body heat. The jacket is fantastic and I am very happy with it, I would like to get the body a little more snug so I will try the HWT, was also thinking that I might just soak it the next time I have a long trip to do and then just ride the motorcycle while it dries, this way it will dry while formed to my body. Any thoughts on this idea?
 

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