Removing the Reed?

[Hurricane Jack]

New information for me, thank you. I have never fully refurbished an Akubra so have never had cause to tear one down.

Around here somewhere are stories about Akubras vs the TSA at airports. Several have had to pull their wire reed before boarding rather than surrender their hat to the TSA.

 

[belfastboy]

Around here somewhere are stories about Akubras vs the TSA at airports. Several have had to pull their wire reed before boarding rather than surrender their hat to the TSA.

That is a wow...and not in a good way.

 

[scottyrocks]

I have decided not to remove the reed.

I pulled it out about a inch and felt the the bottom edge of the small piece of leather that was now reedless. It was no softer or more forgiving than before. I cut off the inch or exposed wire and will let it all be.

 

[CRH]

Ok, so is there any advantage to removing the wire for a hat that needs stretching like all the time? What about just cutting /clipping the wire?