Semi-Crisis with a MonteCristi

[Daniel Riser]

I bought a Montecristi from ebay. It arrived.

Here is the sad part​

It just arrived in a square box... well it was square, unfortunately the other half of the box has been... flattened to a pancake. Naturally I was alarmed so I quickly opened the box and found the contents inside.

Miraculously there is no damaged straw, however I can distinctly see that the crown has been bent down a little under an inch.

So Panamabob or anyone else: Can I have this Montecristi reblocked? I am a felt guy and am very new to the world of Montecristis.

Thank you, in advance, for your reply,

Daniel Riser

 

[Panamabob]

Steam it, be careful or wear gloves, form it with your hands. It should bounce right back up. A reblock is easy, easy, easy, but varies greatly in cost.

 

[Andykev]

I bet you were STEAMED when you got it!

Get the kettle boiling with a steady stream of gentle steam. Straw takes LESS heat and steam than felt. You can reshape it just that way. Don't over do it! A little at a time. Baby steps. Build that confidence. You will do fine.

 

[scotrace]

Also

As Bob advised me, Mr. Iron is your friend. The brim on mine got an ironing every month or so this summer. Steam setting, fairly warm, with a washcloth between the iron and the hat brim. That thing will flatten right out, easy peasy.
With mine, I've found that it's not as frail as it looks. Treat it as you would a nice felt. A little steam, some care, and it'll form the way you want nicely.
Of course, we need pictures of that new hat!

 

[Daniel Riser]

Well I recently aquired a great great suit, and I am waiting to take good pics of it, so the hat will be in those. I am definitely hooked and I want one from Panamabob now. I've been lurking around seeing all of the Montecristi posts, I got this one because it was only $25 used, a guy was liquidating his stuff so it's a good "weaves per square inch" so I got a deal.

I will try Mr. Iron, if I make a mistake it's only $25. I would be very pleased with this quality of Montecristi in a more 30's shape, I would say this is closer to a "Havana" style, which I love, but I am hunting for a montecristi with the specific intent to look like an extra from Seabiscuit.

Thanks guys for your quick replies!

Dan

 

[Daniel Riser]

Well...

I went and visited a dear friend tonight and I showed him new Montecristi. He proudly said the only thing that was missing was a Cuban cigar.

We went to his jacuzzi (now before Panamabob has a heart attack, I did not soak the hat in the Jacuzzi.)

And he got the sauna ready... a thought came. What's the difference between a hand-held iron, and an iron the size of Kasinski's gun safe?

Well I went in there and very quickly began to work out the bends, creases etc... I immediately put the montecristi on my head (so the leather sweat band wouldn't shrink.) and voila!

My Montecristi is exactly as the good Ecuadorian people intended it!

And to top it off my skin pours are clean too!!!

Thank you all for your advice! Pics to come!

God Bless,

Dan

 

[scotrace]

Covet

Cigars? A Jacuzzi? A Sauna?

You western state guys have all the fun. And then I saw those Gatsby picnic pictures! Sheesh! :cheers1: