New Member to the Hat Forum

[Fivesense]

Buy some hat brushes if you don't already have some...one for the black hats and one for lighter colored hats. Brush you hats often....also a few hat sponges. You can clean a hat up with use of both of these. The sponge helps "absorb" dirt and some staining. You can just wash the sponge out with some soap and water when it gets dirty, squeeze it out and rinse it a few times to get all the soap out of it, let it dry when it looks clean and use it again.

If the hat bug has bitten you, at some point in time you may have 40 or 50 hats, some true vintage hats that you scoured the listings on eBay or Etsy or the Goodwill sites, and some from a custom hatter....and you will look back at how things were so easy and simple like there are now...hahaha! You really know how bad it gets when you start buying clothing items to simply match a hat you own...(or plan to buy). A few years later you can realize you are "hat-a-zoid" and you have so many hats and other things connected to your attire, you need to move into a larger home, something over 5,000 square foot just for the "necessary" storage room, closets, etc.....when it gets past that point, well, haha, you'll admit that you can never have enough hats.....and even if you don't drink...a belt of Scotch will come in handy.

I bought the hat brush and sponges for my Silver Belly, and I need to go back to buy the black brush and sponges for the black beauty. I brushed the Silver Belly last night and couldn't believe how much dust came off! Do they treat hats with some powder before leaving the factory? Or do felt hats just pick up a lot of dust?

After years of brushing, how much of the fur is removed? Or does the fur on quality hats stay pretty well bound?

 

[belfastboy]

I bought the hat brush and sponges for my Silver Belly, and I need to go back to buy the black brush and sponges for the black beauty. I brushed the Silver Belly last night and couldn't believe how much dust came off! Do they treat hats with some powder before leaving the factory? Or do felt hats just pick up a lot of dust?

After years of brushing, how much of the fur is removed? Or does the fur on quality hats stay pretty well bound?

Another step that is effective is using packing tape. Wrap it sticky side up around your hand and use it as a last step in the process. Amazing how much dust and debris it picks up even after the brushing.

 

[Frunobulax]

Buy some hat brushes if you don't already have some...one for the black hats and one for lighter colored hats. Brush you hats often....also a few hat sponges. You can clean a hat up with use of both of these. The sponge helps "absorb" dirt and some staining. You can just wash the sponge out with some soap and water when it gets dirty, squeeze it out and rinse it a few times to get all the soap out of it, let it dry when it looks clean and use it again.

If the hat bug has bitten you, at some point in time you may have 40 or 50 hats, some true vintage hats that you scoured the listings on eBay or Etsy or the Goodwill sites, and some from a custom hatter....and you will look back at how things were so easy and simple like there are now...hahaha! You really know how bad it gets when you start buying clothing items to simply match a hat you own...(or plan to buy). A few years later you can realize you are "hat-a-zoid" and you have so many hats and other things connected to your attire, you need to move into a larger home, something over 5,000 square foot just for the "necessary" storage room, closets, etc.....when it gets past that point, well, haha, you'll admit that you can never have enough hats.....and even if you don't drink...a belt of Scotch will come in handy.

Hat-a-zoid. I like that.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Do they treat hats with some powder before leaving the factory? Or do felt hats just pick up a lot of dust??

I think they use powder on light colored hats.

 

[belfastboy]

I bought the hat brush and sponges for my Silver Belly, and I need to go back to buy the black brush and sponges for the black beauty. I brushed the Silver Belly last night and couldn't believe how much dust came off! Do they treat hats with some powder before leaving the factory? Or do felt hats just pick up a lot of dust?

After years of brushing, how much of the fur is removed? Or does the fur on quality hats stay pretty well bound?

One of the knocks against some modern hat manufacturers, Stetson being one, is that they do use a powder to even out the dye in the felt. Where it becomes a real detriment is how it then reacts in the rain. The powder becomes wet and streaks may appear. Akubra is one modern manufacturer that does not use a powder and hence their hats are great at withstanding drenching and coming out looking good. I have not experienced the downside of a powdered hat becoming streaky but of my two modern STetsons I have yet to get them drenched.

 

[Redfokker]

Hat-a-zoid. I like that.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Hatzilla!

 

[Redfokker]

One of the knocks against some modern hat manufacturers, Stetson being one, is that they do use a powder to even out the dye in the felt. Where it becomes a real detriment is how it then reacts in the rain. The powder becomes wet and streaks may appear. Akubra is one modern manufacturer that does not use a powder and hence their hats are great at withstanding drenching and coming out looking good. I have not experienced the downside of a powdered hat becoming streaky but of my two modern STetsons I have yet to get them drenched.

I have not noticed that on my modern sage Strat "Excellent Quality". I'll have to take a closer look under a loupe. Maybe Moon de-powdered it before it came to me.

 

[Fivesense]

We're getting a bit of rain right now, as opposed to the typical snow this time of year. Regardless, I do want to wear my Stetson 6Xs regardless of the weather. I don't plan on standing in the rain for hours, but how repellant are 6X beaver felt Stetsons? I've read a number of forum posts in the FL archives regarding waterproofing felt (Scotch-Gard, Camp Dri etc...) so should I treat my hats with anything or just let them dry after getting wet?

I did buy the rain covers for use if I plan any prolonged exposure to rain.

 

[Fivesense]

I just called Stetson directly and they recommend Bickmore Gard More Stain and Water repellant (which I use for my western boots). Has anyone used this on felt? I guess if Stetson is recommending it, it can't be bad...

 

[Joao Encarnado]

I've never treated any of my hats for rain.
I have several hats I wear when it's raining, so one gets wet I let it dry by it's own and wear another.
It you let it soak a bit in the rain, it may bleed die but this is mostly in dark colors.

 

[Fivesense]

I've never treated any of my hats for rain.
I have several hats I wear when it's raining, so one gets wet I let it dry by it's own and wear another.
It you let it soak a bit in the rain, it may bleed die but this is mostly in dark colors.

I used the Bickmore today and went out in a light rain about 4 hours later. No change one way or the other, but that could be because the felt is good enough as is. I enjoyed brushing the hat down later anyway, like I was preparing a dog for a show.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

I enjoyed brushing the hat down later anyway, like I was preparing a dog for a show.

You can tell that when you get a long hair finish hat.

 

[Ryan.Scott00]

Hello Gentleman, my name is Ryan. I've decided it's time to update my own personal style and wardrobe. I've always been a big fan of the 1920s-1940s clothing, and when it comes to hats I've worn them most of my life, but I have decided it's time to step up from the ball caps and wear something that reflects my developing person and professional life. So I joined this lounge to learn the do's and don'ts of the fedora hats, and gain some general knowledge. I wear khaki pants and polos most of the week at work. When I'm off I swap over to some nice jeans. Younger guy here will be 29 this year.

 

[Redfokker]

Welcome Ryan, you are going to fit right in. I recommend you spend a lot of time reading the myriad of post threads here on the lounge. Pick a topic, any topic and there will be valuable wisdom from the denizens of the Lounge. Also, make it a daily ritual of looking through the "what hat are your wearing today" thread. You will get many ideas of styling there. Don't be afraid to ask questions, put them in the Ask a Question get and Answer thread, don't start a new thread, more people will see your question and give you sage knowledge there.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Hello Gentleman, my name is Ryan. I've decided it's time to update my own personal style and wardrobe. I've always been a big fan of the 1920s-1940s clothing, and when it comes to hats I've worn them most of my life, but I have decided it's time to step up from the ball caps and wear something that reflects my developing person and professional life. So I joined this lounge to learn the do's and don'ts of the fedora hats, and gain some general knowledge. I wear khaki pants and polos most of the week at work. When I'm off I swap over to some nice jeans. Younger guy here will be 29 this year.

Nice fedoras inspire me to pay more attention to my wardrobe.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Hello Gentleman, my name is Ryan. I've decided it's time to update my own personal style and wardrobe. I've always been a big fan of the 1920s-1940s clothing, and when it comes to hats I've worn them most of my life, but I have decided it's time to step up from the ball caps and wear something that reflects my developing person and professional life. So I joined this lounge to learn the do's and don'ts of the fedora hats, and gain some general knowledge. I wear khaki pants and polos most of the week at work. When I'm off I swap over to some nice jeans. Younger guy here will be 29 this year.

Jeans? May I recommend an Open Road, preferably vintage, one of its clones by other manufacturers, or an Akubra Campdraft? Both dressy and casual, town and country:

 

[Frunobulax]

Nice fedoras inspire me to pay more attention to my wardrobe.

Me too.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Frunobulax]

Welcome Ryan, you are going to fit right in. I recommend you spend a lot of time reading the myriad of post threads here on the lounge. Pick a topic, any topic and there will be valuable wisdom from the denizens of the Lounge. Also, make it a daily ritual of looking through the "what hat are your wearing today" thread. You will get many ideas of styling there. Don't be afraid to ask questions, put them in the Ask a Question get and Answer thread, don't start a new thread, more people will see your question and give you sage knowledge there.

Welcome to the Lounge, Ryan. Take Red's advice and adapt your own style. We have two simple dos and don'ts here:

Do: wear a hat
Don't: not wear a hat


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[FedOregon]

Nice fedoras inspire me to pay more attention to my wardrobe.

Same here, Bob. I've started picking out my clothes and hat before I go to bed. Otherwise I end up being late to work. I failed to do that last night and I was almost 20 minutes late this morning.

I never gave much thought to my clothes until I started wearing fedoras.

Welcome, Ryan!

 

[Ryan.Scott00]

Jeans? May I recommend an Open Road, preferably vintage, one of its clones by other manufacturers, or an Akubra Campdraft? Both dressy and casual, town and country:

View attachment 69366

Thanks Benzadmiral, I'm liking the Stingy Brim, diamond top Fedoras. The main pants I wear to work are some blue and gray semi-formal dress pants. So I've been trying to decide what color hats to get. So I can wear them to work and casually. I know it will mean a few for work, and a few for casual.