STEP BY STEP NAPTHA BATH

[Frunobulax]

thanks Jim ... and thanks for the Sunday morning impromptu tutorial

I'm tickled with the result

Any time I can help, my friend.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[moehawk]

Great job on the hat, moon! Looks a heck of a lot better!
I've done several naptha baths with only one negative effect, a tip patch fade. Water-washed a few too, naptha wouldn't touch the old sweat-dirt ring on the brim of my well-loved OR but Woolite in warm water got most of it out.
I have thought about using gasoline as a dry cleaning agent, as I have read about it somewhere around here in a link to an old book, but I wonder about the additives that are in gas now that weren't back in the old days. Not just if they would ruin felt or leather, but also the lingering chemicals that might not evaporate with the fuel. Anyone here ever try it?

 

[25B]

Ok, well I've read through every page of this thread (and several others on using Naptha to clean hats)...and I've recently acquired a nice, early, 7X clear beaver OR hat. It will likely need cleaning when it gets here judging by the pics I saw before buying it.

I *was* considering using the Coleman White Gas to do so, but read earlier in this thread that it might be best to consider outsourcing this task to a professional. Well, I called a local "professional" hatter (they make their own hats) and first off, it took a few tries before I could get them to tell me how they would clean the hat if I took it to them. Finally got someone else on the phone and he eventually admitted they clean them in naptha. He insisted that the sweatband would have to be replaced because cleaning it that way would (absolutely, 100% guaranteed) destroy it...and (he) would know because (they've) been cleaning hats for 35 years. But then again, he also told me used hats have pretty much zero value...lol

In any case, I've determined that they are not going to receive my business.

I've read others recommending various competent, professional hatters that can clean this hat. If anyone has any recommendations in particular from first-hand experience, I would appreciate if you could message me with your recommendations and experiences with them. I was keen to try cleaning it myself at first, but after reading the strong suggestion from knowledgeable people to send out 7X CB to professionals, I think I am going to heed that advice.

Thank you for any recommendations...please feel free to message me (if I can receive PM's yet? Hopefully?)

 

[Frunobulax]

Great job on the hat, moon! Looks a heck of a lot better!
I've done several naptha baths with only one negative effect, a tip patch fade. Water-washed a few too, naptha wouldn't touch the old sweat-dirt ring on the brim of my well-loved OR but Woolite in warm water got most of it out.
I have thought about using gasoline as a dry cleaning agent, as I have read about it somewhere around here in a link to an old book, but I wonder about the additives that are in gas now that weren't back in the old days. Not just if they would ruin felt or leather, but also the lingering chemicals that might not evaporate with the fuel. Anyone here ever try it?

Don't. Gasoline has all sorts of crap in it. Coleman fuel is what you want.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Frunobulax]

Ok, well I've read through every page of this thread (and several others on using Naptha to clean hats)...and I've recently acquired a nice, early, 7X clear beaver OR hat. It will likely need cleaning when it gets here judging by the pics I saw before buying it.

I *was* considering using the Coleman White Gas to do so, but read earlier in this thread that it might be best to consider outsourcing this task to a professional. Well, I called a local "professional" hatter (they make their own hats) and first off, it took a few tries before I could get them to tell me how they would clean the hat if I took it to them. Finally got someone else on the phone and he eventually admitted they clean them in naptha. He insisted that the sweatband would have to be replaced because cleaning it that way would (absolutely, 100% guaranteed) destroy it...and (he) would know because (they've) been cleaning hats for 35 years. But then again, he also told me used hats have pretty much zero value...lol

In any case, I've determined that they are not going to receive my business.

I've read others recommending various competent, professional hatters that can clean this hat. If anyone has any recommendations in particular from first-hand experience, I would appreciate if you could message me with your recommendations and experiences with them. I was keen to try cleaning it myself at first, but after reading the strong suggestion from knowledgeable people to send out 7X CB to professionals, I think I am going to heed that advice.

Thank you for any recommendations...please feel free to message me (if I can receive PM's yet? Hopefully?)

While a competent hatter that offers this service can provide good results, there are few pitfalls in doing it yourself. Coleman fuel is cheap and plentiful. I have cleaned numerous hats this way and, like others, the worst experience I've had is washing out the liner tip on one hat.

Your 7X should be tough as nails. If your sweat is in good shape (soft and pliable) it should show no ill effects. The naphtha will not hurt the felt.

Anthony's hat is likely much older than your recent purchase and look at his results.

This is basically dry cleaning. In fact dry cleaners use to regularly offer this service, using the same stuff they use on your suits and shirts.

If you're more comfortable sending it out, by all means do. But several on here have bathed many hats and had uniformly good results.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Bamaboots]

What Fruno said! All who have tried this were first timers at one point with most not having seen it done first hand, myself included. I've now done it 6 or more times with good to excellent results every time. It amazed me when a $10.00 price sticker from a 60 a 70 year old hat remained intact and attached after cleaning.

 

[moontheloon]

While a competent hatter that offers this service can provide good results, there are few pitfalls in doing it yourself. Coleman fuel is cheap and plentiful. I have cleaned numerous hats this way and, like others, the worst experience I've had is washing out the liner tip on one hat.

Your 7X should be tough as nails. If your sweat is in good shape (soft and pliable) it should show no ill effects. The naphtha will not hurt the felt.

Anthony's hat is likely much older than your recent purchase and look at his results.

This is basically dry cleaning. In fact dry cleaners use to regularly offer this service, using the same stuff they use on your suits and shirts.

If you're more comfortable sending it out, by all means do. But several on here have bathed many hats and had uniformly good results.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

in 100% agreement

I had never done this before and took my maiden voyage with a hat from the 1930s ... I literally dropped it in the fuel ... agitated the container every couple hours ... took it out with a pair of grill tongs and hung it on a cymbal stand

thats it ...

the thing looks amazing

you do not have to be a professional hatter to do any of that ...


trust me .. .this is not something you need a professional for

all you need is a container ... some camp fuel ... a hat that needs cleaning .. and some common sense ...

literally that is it

 

[25B]

Ok, well I shall take your esteemed and respected advice under due consideration and will give strong thought to going ahead and attempting cleaning it myself.

This is the post I was referring to in my previous post...(emphasis mine...)

My advice is to avoid this route altogether. Be selective and buy hats that are intact and clean and learn how to steam and crease them to restore their shape and style. Hats in good condition will be more expensive than those that are soiled and damaged. But you will buy fewer of the better and in the end, the cost will be equal. Certain special felts - velours and older clear beaver felts, for example - are very difficult if not impossible to recreate today and are worth the cost of restoration at a custom hatter.

So...I was taking his advice into consideration too.

Anyway, if anyone can recommend a professional cleaner in the Southern US, I will consider that too. I think I'd read of at least one person recommended in this thread that is in the south, but it did not have his full name or contact information...so I'd still appreciate his info if someone might kindly inform me...

But, the more I read in these threads and the encouragement from those of you that have done this before, I am going to give serious thought to doing it myself. I'd just be quite heartbroken if I messed up this hat...that's why I'm apprehensive.

 

[moontheloon]

Ok, well I shall take your esteemed and respected advice under due consideration and will give strong thought to going ahead and attempting cleaning it myself.

This is the post I was referring to in my previous post...(emphasis mine...)


So...I was taking his advice into consideration too.

Anyway, if anyone can recommend a professional cleaner in the Southern US, I will consider that too. I think I'd read of at least one person recommended in this thread that is in the south, but it did not have his full name or contact information...so I'd still appreciate his info if someone might kindly inform me...

But, the more I read in these threads and the encouragement from those of you that have done this before, I am going to give serious thought to doing it myself. I'd just be quite heartbroken if I messed up this hat...that's why I'm apprehensive.

Alan always gives sage advice

but honestly there is nothing a hatter would do that you couldn't do yourself

you either buy a few $10 gallons of fuel and drop the hat in ... or pay a hatter to drop your hat in a couple $10 gallons of fuel

I am a hat wearer and vintage hat collector ... by no means am I a hatter ... and i just bathed a 1930s No.1 Quality Stetson with wonderful results having never done it before

 

[belfastboy]

Karl @KarlCrow , I think paraffin is kerosine . Naptha is Coleman Fuel , and I think dry cleaners use something just like it . Dry-cleaning suppliers I imagine sell it . Better triple check before trying .

Another name for it is "white gas". I bought mine in a camping supply store, Coleman brand. Pretty standard in these parts.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I wonder how well this would work on my works of Art? They all need cleaned but can't afford to send them away to get it done right now. Maybe at least try spot cleaning them with white gas.
Johnny

 

[Hurricane Jack]

...but read earlier in this thread that it might be best to consider outsourcing this task to a professional.

If it was me you were referring to my point to Karl was that if you only have one hat to do, by the time you buy a couple of gallons of fuel, a container of some sort, etc for PROBABLY just a few bucks more you could have your hat dry cleaned IF you could find a dry cleaner who still cleans hats. Since I have occasion to do Western hats as well my container is/was a new Rubbermaid trash container at the time, due to the diameter of a western hat & therefore requires more than a couple of gallons of fuel. And I don't particularly like straining & filtering the fuel back into the can, & storing or disposing of it once it gets too dirty to be used again. But that's just me. I do plan on doing two hats soon.

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

You, can think about, reusing fuel, especially on dark. Use it for a first cleaning. I have a post on here way back, where I showed a hat cleaning process, with white fuel. Be careful with plastic containers, do it far from the house, 2 or 3 gallons of fuel that breaks free of that plastic, due to fire, will end the game, quicky. IMHO and for what it's worth. Oh, Lowe's sells both white fuel and Naptha, here. Reuse where you can, I just funnel it back into a, metal container, the solids, they sink and stay. I lose about a pint each time. Be safe out there. Look up a thread I did, back in 2011...?

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[Rogera]

so I attempted my first bath on Sunday ... I must admit that I am more than pleased with the result

I bathed my 1930s Stetson No.1 Quality that had some pretty deeply soiled areas due to hard wear in its time.

I first treated the heavily soiled areas with a white vinegar solution then dropped the hat in the bath for about 8 hours agitating it every 2 hours or so ... then simply hung it to dry

I treated the sweat with leather conditioner before and after ... I see no ill affects

The before shots

after treating with the vinegar solution and bathing

some heavy rain was predicted so I tented the situation

the result

The hat looks fantastic... better than the photos show .

I was hesitant to try this at first and admittedly skeptical of what the result would be ... sure glad I did it



Sent from my space aged handheld communication device and universal translator

How awesome! That is such a beautiful hat and now it shines even more!

 

[moontheloon]

How awesome! That is such a beautiful hat and now it shines even more!

thanks Roger
I sure am glad I took a shot
almost like getting a glimpse of what it may have looked like 80 something years ago

 

[Bob Roberts]

thanks Roger
I sure am glad I took a shot
almost like getting a glimpse of what it may have looked like 80 something years ago

Hey "Bathboy" ...Now go home and get your little fuckin bathtub and clean some of mine.

 

[FedOregon]

Ok, well I've read through every page of this thread (and several others on using Naptha to clean hats)...and I've recently acquired a nice, early, 7X clear beaver OR hat. It will likely need cleaning when it gets here judging by the pics I saw before buying it.

I *was* considering using the Coleman White Gas to do so, but read earlier in this thread that it might be best to consider outsourcing this task to a professional. Well, I called a local "professional" hatter (they make their own hats) and first off, it took a few tries before I could get them to tell me how they would clean the hat if I took it to them. Finally got someone else on the phone and he eventually admitted they clean them in naptha. He insisted that the sweatband would have to be replaced because cleaning it that way would (absolutely, 100% guaranteed) destroy it...and (he) would know because (they've) been cleaning hats for 35 years. But then again, he also told me used hats have pretty much zero value...lol

In any case, I've determined that they are not going to receive my business.

I've read others recommending various competent, professional hatters that can clean this hat. If anyone has any recommendations in particular from first-hand experience, I would appreciate if you could message me with your recommendations and experiences with them. I was keen to try cleaning it myself at first, but after reading the strong suggestion from knowledgeable people to send out 7X CB to professionals, I think I am going to heed that advice.

Thank you for any recommendations...please feel free to message me (if I can receive PM's yet? Hopefully?)

I wasn't able to leave you a PM yet. I have used Bob Jesse to clean up a 50s Royal Stetson for me, and Mike Miller to clean up and convert an old Stratton western to a more usable outback style hat and both did a great job and did so very rea$onably.

 

[FedOregon]

I'm getting ready to drop an old Champ into the naptha bath, but I pulled out the taped-in liner and soaked it in oxyclean, a little laundry soap and white vinegar. It lessened the staining a little... I also took a tooth brush and scrubbed a bunch of stains on the crown of the hat, and it really did a pretty good job of getting rid of the stains. I posted pics in the Champ thread and I'll take more pics tomorrow of the effects of the vinegar brushing.

If it's cooler in the morning, I'll get out the Coleman white gas/camp stove fuel and see how much more it might clean this one up.

 

[Cane Rod Maker]

What I found interesting back, when I was cleaning old felt, was the fact, that you can soak, the entire hat, sweat band, liner, the entire hat. I only did like 15 hats over time, but never lost one, due to the bath. Plastic liner tip covers made it through, and I had not seen any loss, in cresting detail. Even more amazing, on the right day, that hat when taken out, of the bath, will evaporate so fast, you will see it dry in no time. Wear the hat, hours later. I just for some reason worry about, plastic containers, fumes, a stray or static spark. Freak accident. And not saying this to be a dick, but definitely be straight when you do it, not having a good ole' time, keep your face away from the bucket. Ain't a Damm thing in there that requires your face, inches away from disaster. Safe cleaning everyone. Recycle your products, they are good for several uses. Save your white fuel cans, mark them used: dark, used light etc. Reuse and save some money. I find, I need 3 gallons, to cover a hat. That isn't cheap. And you can apply a brush, to help move a stain, and break it down, but start with a true beater, for that experience. Not here, but elsewhere, I witnessed a cleaning and the stiff bristle brush worked. An older hat brush just might work, if not very soiled. It won't work every time, because some stuff, just won't come out, but perhaps only minimize. Cleaned safely and far enough away from things of value. A note on liner cleaning. I used spot remover and cold water soaked, hand washed gently, it DID, screw up my tip, on what was a old beater the crest faded, notibly, faded.

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[alanfgag]

Ok, well I shall take your esteemed and respected advice under due consideration and will give strong thought to going ahead and attempting cleaning it myself.
This is the post I was referring to in my previous post...(emphasis mine...)
So...I was taking his advice into consideration too.

My advice was meant more as hat buying advice than hat restoration advice. I know that many here use the chemical bath with good results. Most of us accumulate tools to work on our vintage purchases. I used chemicals quite a bit in my earlier life and prefer to keep them at a distance whenever possible now. I am fortunate (or unfortunate) to wear a size in which vintage stock is plentiful. Limiting my purchases by condition is good for my hat diet. If your new 7X is the 7 1/8 long oval recently sold, it might arrive in better shape than you expect. Hope that is the case and hope you enjoy it!