What Hat Are You Working On Today?

[RickP]

Another box had the new brim curling tool... separate slots for 3/8" and 1/2" curl. Found it on ETSY and Im guessing it came from somewhere in eastern Europe. Fun little piece of wood! If anyone knows what the label says Im all ears lol

Halfway across the world just so I can torture a Texas Cowboy hat lol

 

[RickP]

AND NOW FOR THE MAIN EVENT! Thank god for the new Jiffy Steamer. I was going to roll the brim edge in a pan of boiling water, to get started But soon discovered that I dont have a round pan big enough to roll this big old brim through. Guess Ill have to go digging for a bigger broiler pan that doesnt have any roast residue left inside.. I "Painted" the outer edge with a brush and hot water, and periodically hit it with a bit of steam. It has fought me tooth and nail for every ounce of curl, but after an hour Im starting to make a bit of progress. The bottom edge has the nice rounded roll I was hoping for.... Theres hope! Its just going to take a little work to get the top rolled over just the way I want. I DID discover a valuable tool hanging in the garage... I had about 2 feet of heavy wall silicone tubing that is a perfect fit for working the 1/2" roll with my fingers to get rid of some wavy places. Wish I had enough of it to go all around the brim in one piece, but we have to work with what we have sometimes lol

One hour down... 5 or 6 more to go? The edge of the brim is already substantially more rigid. And the brim doesnt feel so darned big.... I think this is going to work! May not be the best way to do it, but as Sinatra said "I did it MY way!"

 

[RickP]

Day one of the transfomation is at a good stopping point. This has been fun..... fought me every step of the way lol. Lost my daylight for a better pic but can see where it started and where it is now. Finally got most of the wavy edges out of the new curl. Threw the new concho hatband on so its easier to compare "before and during" ( were not to the " after" point yet lol. My gameplan is to work more of a curl-over on top instead of just the edge standing up. Brim feels narrower already. AND NO CUTTING INVOLVED!

The fact that I havent cussed or broken down in tears yet tells me theres hope for a good outcome! Wish me luck!

Company are supposed to start arriving here tomorrow night, so I probably need to finish cleaning the house tomorrow before I try to do anything else on the hat. Give it a chance to rest and dry out

 

[TimmyV]

Day one of the transfomation is at a good stopping point. This has been fun..... fought me every step of the way lol. Lost my daylight for a better pic but can see where it started and where it is now. Finally got most of the wavy edges out of the new curl. Threw the new concho hatband on so its easier to compare "before and during" ( were not to the " after" point yet lol. My gameplan is to work more of a curl-over on top instead of just the edge standing up. Brim feels narrower already. AND NO CUTTING INVOLVED!

The fact that I havent cussed or broken down in tears yet tells me theres hope for a good outcome! Wish me luck!

Company are supposed to start arriving here tomorrow night, so I probably need to finish cleaning the house tomorrow before I try to do anything else on the hat. Give it a chance to rest and dry out

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Curl looks very nice Rick !!
* I "borrowed" one of the wife's 9.5 x 13 x 2 broiling pans to dip the edges in boiling water .