Spray Shellac For Straw Hats?

[Mr. Lucky]

I have been trying to renovate some older milan straw hats and I have been using the stiffener that I got on Ebay (you know the one). Well, the hats just laugh at it and flop on! Has anybody used any spray shellac products to stiffen a straw hat?

Thanks.

 

[Mr E Train]

Actually, I don't know. Which one, Kahl, Scout, Leko, some other one? I got a boater with a brim that was weakened in one area, and steaming and some Kahl stiffened the hell out of it. Are you using steam?

 

[Mountain Man]

I also have used spray polyurethane varnish on an ancient boater that probably predates WWI and was made of reeds rather than straw - it was terribly fragile until I gave it about 4 coats of the spray - I used a satin finish product, and it neither made the hat shiny nor did it make it darker in color - it did stop the crumbling and cracking, though, and I have worn the hat several times - took about 2 weeks for the varnish smell to subside. Don't know about other straws (toquilla, milan, raffia, etc)

I have been trying to renovate some older milan straw hats and I have been using the stiffener that I got on Ebay (you know the one). Well, the hats just laugh at it and flop on! Has anybody used any spray shellac products to stiffen a straw hat?

Thanks.