Stretch-O-Block Advice Needed

[EstherWeis]

And I'm not even the least bit bothered!
Everyone has their own way of doing things.
Hell, the way you guys do it is probably waaaay faster.
I figure you learn every day, and we can all help each other, right?!



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[tommyK]

I always steam or iron from the outside of the hat. Never directly on the leather. I don't use one of these heated stretchers, I didn't like the results I was getting and got rid of it. If I,m cleaning the underside of the brim I'll protect the sweatband with painters tape and put something over any logos or gold lettering to protect it from the tape. I don't use a tea kettle any more either, not strong enough.

http://www.harborfreight.com/steam-cleaner-kit-8823.html

 

[Frunobulax]

Wow, industrial strength, Tommy!

I use something akin to this, which I appropriated from my wife's collection of tools. I like that it gives me five gentler jets than the one strong one.

 

[tommyK]

Yea, Fruno! You go to some place like JJ Hat center and see the steam their machine is kicking out, I knew my tea kettle just wasn't cutting it. As ever be very cautious with this stuff, folks. best to practice on a $50 or less hat first, not your prized Whippet!

 

[moontheloon]

Wow, industrial strength, Tommy!

I use something akin to this, which I appropriated from my wife's collection of tools. I like that it gives me five gentler jets than the one strong one.

I use something that looks pretty similar ... but it is a GE that I stole from my mom and is probably from the 1970s or so

works great ... kicks some pretty strong steam

nothing like the pedal driven machines at JJ of course ... but does the job for me

 

[Frunobulax]

You can get a tabletop Jiffy steamer for ~$120, and I've thought about it. But this keeps me from going too far, too fast.

 

[clintfisher]

Loving this read thanks for all the valuable input guys!

 

[clintfisher]

I reached out to Kevin at Pork Pie Hatters (JJ owned) for a stretching YouTube video, he is going to do one next.

I've got a Whippet coming to me tomorrow that I am taking to my hatter to size up, I'm not experimenting on that beauty!

Yea, Fruno! You go to some place like JJ Hat center and see the steam their machine is kicking out, I knew my tea kettle just wasn't cutting it. As ever be very cautious with this stuff, folks. best to practice on a $50 or less hat first, not your prized Whippet!

 

[clintfisher]

I got a jiffy and love it.

You can get a tabletop Jiffy steamer for ~$120, and I've thought about it. But this keeps me from going too far, too fast.

 

[DOGMAN]

The problem with stretching hats with one of these devices is that if you leave the sweatband in it will leave a pronounced ridge in the felt. Not a big deal on wide ribbons but on thin ribbons it looks awful. Since I don't usually take out the sweatbands (many are delicate on vintage hats) I developed a technique to flatten out the ridge in the felt after.

I have experienced this ridge.I fold out the sweatband,dampen the ridge with distilled water on the outside of the hat.Take one of my wooded hat stretcher on the inside of the felt.Then I steam iron the ridge till it's gone.Worked for me.

 

[RJR]

I've had success doing as Dogman suggests.