Felt Hat Stiffer Question

homburg · Post by **homburg** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:48 pm

I bought a bottle of Scout Felt Hat Stiffener to try and tighten up the center pinch on my PB Custom. It has relaxed some over the past year due to wearing and from stretching the hat slightly on the hat retainer. On the bottle it says to spray the inside of the crown with the stiffner. This means I would have to remove the liner unless someone can tell me whether it can be sprayed directly on the outside over the pinched portion of the hat. I was expecting this to be the case until I read the bottle.

Thanks
Homburg

IndianaKrueger · Post by **IndianaKrueger** » Sat Nov 13, 2004 1:04 pm

Hi ,

Where may I obtain this marvelous product ( hat stiff stuff)?

IK

soulman · Post by **soulman** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:47 am

The felt hat stiffiner can be usually found at western clothing/hat shops.
Blue Skies,
Soulman

Texas Jones · Post by **Texas Jones** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 3:43 pm

Here's some

http://www.cowboyshop.com/store/product ... ucts_id=91

To anyone wanting to use stiffener, be sure to try the steam method first. Wool and felt hats ALREADY have stiffener in it, and adding more should be a last resort. If you get too much on your hat, it will get gooey in the rain (all hat stiffener is water soluble) and when is dries it will retain whatever shape you left it in, and dries HARD.

Also, if you use it sparingly in order to minimize spotting, good old spray starch works pretty well. I noticed in my Borsalino that the pinch WOULD NOT get stiff no matter how much I steamed it, so I sprayed some starch on it, worked it in with my fingers, and let it dry. Came out great!

Post by **Ken** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:28 am

What is spray starch and where exactly do you get it?

Ken

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:38 am

Ken;
I reshaped and trimmed my hat last night and used hair spray after having cold sprayed it with water. (By advice of Lock & Co.)

It worked great! Though it still needs a bit of a reblock, but will do for now.
The spray belonged to my girlfriend though, so I may have to take it out on adventure to "even out" the slight smell of spring flowers with adventure reek.

Regards,
Swindiana

VP · Post by VP » Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:54 am

You trimmed it again? Got any pics?

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:20 am

I did. Not yet.
.
.
.
.

I also turned it a bit and rebashed it after cleaning it up and will probably fiddle around with the bow somewhat. If there's any material in there to make it "richer".

I'll try and shoot some pics of it later.

Regards,
Swindiana

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:27 pm

*BUMP*
Some horrid pics up, VP.

Bad lighting and late at night... bare with me.

ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE

Regards,
Swindy

VP · Post by VP » Sat Mar 26, 2005 3:57 am

The fourth one is scary.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:45 am

Thank you.

That's what strong flash and white walls does for you at 1 AM.

Regards,
Swindiana

VP · Post by VP » Sun Mar 27, 2005 3:25 am

But the first one has nice lighting.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:27 am

That's how I'll display my gear from now on then, with me out of the shot.

Regards,
Swindiana

homburg · Post by **homburg** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:03 pm

I reshaped and trimmed my hat last night and used hair spray after having cold sprayed it with water. (By advice of Lock & Co.)

Was this something that Locke & Co. said to do instead of using stiffener?

Thanks,
Homburg

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:49 pm

homburg wrote:
Was this something that Locke & Co. said to do instead of using stiffener?

Thanks,
Homburg

No, that's actually what they said they used, if anything to stiffen their hats up.

Of course, I had to try it out, and it worked.

They didn't mention any brand though...

Regards,
Swindiana

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:53 pm

Just be careful on how much you use, as it will build up over time, and set up like concrete. It's only thinned laquer with fragrence. I know. I've ruined my share of old Stetsons in years past with the use of hair spray before I heard of the real stiffner. I've never had buildup problems using standard felt stiffner, which can be washed out using wool-lite when being reblocked. No so with hairspray. Regards. Michaelson

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:27 pm

How wide is that brim? It looks as if it is 2 1/4" or less.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:12 pm

rick5150 wrote: How wide is that brim? It looks as if it is 2 1/4" or less.

I'd have to measure it to be certain, but given the fact that the Federation brim is 70 x 73mm and I took off about half a cenitmetre in total making it 65 x 68mm, I'd say it's about 2.56 x 2.67inches.

Not sure though, I'll report in tomorrow.

Regards,
Swindiana

Neolithic · Post by **Neolithic** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:24 pm

It looks good, Swindy. I think you achieved the effect you were after.

Swindiana · Post by **Swindiana** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:19 pm

Thanks a bunch, Neo!

I just couldn't get used to the wideness of it on me and I really had to angle the sides up to make me feel comfortable. Now I slap it on my head like nothin' with less 'sea gulling' going on.

Anyhow, popped over and gave it a measure.

62 x 65mm. Must have been som shrinkage going on.

A total of 8mm all around taken off then, if the measurments from Hats Direct are correct.

That's it.

Regards,
Swindiana

VP · Post by VP » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:41 am

Mine is 70 mm on the front, 71 mm on the back, 65 mm on the left side and 68 mm on the right side. Untrimmed.