Let your hat shrink?

Last Crusader · Post by **Last Crusader** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:31 am

I own a Akubra Federation Deluxe. The size is 59cm. My head is a bit smaller, nearly 58cm. I´m using tape all around now but the fit is not perfect. Is it possible to let the hat shrink a little to a better fit? I hope someone can help.

Regards

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:29 pm

Last Crusader wrote:I own a Akubra Federation Deluxe. The size is 59cm. My head is a bit smaller, nearly 58cm. I´m using tape all around now but the fit is not perfect. Is it possible to let the hat shrink a little to a better fit? I hope someone can help.

Regards

You could always try to increase the thickness of the sweatband

i read about it on the web page about "The Turn", sorry but i cant find it right now

Last Crusader · Post by **Last Crusader** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:45 pm

You could always try to increase the thickness of the sweatband

Yes, as I said I use tape behind the sweatband all around already. But isn´t it possible to shrink the diameter of the crown as well?
Where are all of our fedora experts?

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:48 pm

Last Crusader wrote:
You could always try to increase the thickness of the sweatband
Yes, as I said I use tape behind the sweatband all around already. But isn´t it possible to shrink the diameter of the krown as well?
Where are all of our fedora experts?

Fedora said something about this in his last post here...

viewtopic.php?p=185101#185101

Bufflehead Jones · Post by **Bufflehead Jones** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:54 pm

Erri,

The turn has to do with turning the hat to get the brim swoop. I think that you are talking about 3K$'s idea about folding the sweatband in half.

There is a thread or two somewhere that talks about using the lampshade trick that I believe was originally thought up by Fedora (Steve of AB hats).

It basicly consists of wetting the inside of the sweatband and putting it on top of a lampshade and turning on the lamp. I would also suggest that you put a towel or something over the top of the lampshade to keep it from possibly burning the hat. After ten minutes or so, check the hat to see if it has shrunken to the correct size. It is supposed to be able to take a hat down almost a full size.

I think plenty of people have sucessfully done this. However, I would think that there is a chance that the hat may taper, but I guess there is no guarantee how it will come out. If it did, you could always have Fedora reblock the hat and during the reblock, make it whatever size you want.

Hopefully, VP will come along and post all the links that have threads to discuss this. Or you could do a search for lampshade and see what you can find. It is hard to beat VP, he will probably have it posted before you have a chance to read this and type in the search.

Last Crusader · Post by **Last Crusader** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:34 pm

Thanks Bufflehead.

I´m going to try it as you suggested.

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:43 pm

No offense to Duckman, I mean Bufflehead, but have you tried wearing it around for a while? Akubra's sweatbands shirnk down, almost mysteriously to fit their wearer. I am speaking from experience. Wear it a while and see if it doesn't shrink to fit.

K on the run · Post by **K on the run** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 5:29 pm

My Akubra deluxe was a bit to big at first . The bashing made it shrink some and for that final fit I used steam on the sweatband and underneath it (on the inside of the crown). I then used a hairdryer to gently dry the sweatband and the rim of the crown. That did the trick. You have to be very careful and remember to do it in small and gentle steps.

-K

Ghos7a55assin · Post by **Ghos7a55assin** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 6:30 pm

Give it a good month or 2. Mine has shrunk almost a full size from the time I bought it to now, a little more than a year. I simply put a hat enlarger once a month to keep it fitting alright.
Mine was too big for me initially too. Don't worry, they shrink ALOT.

ray

CHAUVEL · Post by **CHAUVEL** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 7:13 pm

I concur with all the above, remember an akubra must be LOOSE when new, they will absolutely shrink down over time and use. May i suggest the "baked rabbit method" often employed downunder,i.e. just leave the hat in a parked car on a hot day for a couple of hours and presto , best served with a chilled beer of your choice, works for me, cheers chauvel.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 8:12 pm

Most any fedora I own will conform to my head if I wear it enough. This has certainly been true of my Akubra and AdventureBilts.

bink

T.E. Lawrence · Post by **T.E. Lawrence** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 9:17 pm

If ya wear it enough it should shrink...mine always do.

VP · Post by VP » Mon Sep 05, 2005 11:08 am

Bufflehead Jones wrote:Hopefully, VP will come along and post all the links that have threads to discuss this. Or you could do a search for lampshade and see what you can find. It is hard to beat VP, he will probably have it posted before you have a chance to read this and type in the search.

viewtopic.php?t=5716
viewtopic.php?t=6352

Mulceber · Post by **Mulceber** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 4:26 pm

May i suggest the "baked rabbit method"

Yeah, but down under? Wouldn't you come back to find your hat burnt to a crisp? :junior: -IJ

indybill · Post by **indybill** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 2:11 pm

Get out there and sweat up that sweat band good a few times. That and wear it as much as you can. It should shrink a bit and conform to your head. It took my newest hat a month or two to feel like it fit me right.

Regards,
Indybill

Skippy · Post by **Skippy** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 2:16 pm

Shrink? I wish! I sweated buckets into my AB sweatband in China, which held up fantastic, but definately got looser, rather than tighter

DanielJones · Post by **DanielJones** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 4:01 pm

I'd have to agree with most here. You can use the filler method for a while and wear it every day. Eventually it will shrink to fit and you can remove the filler. Has worked on every hat I own.

Cheers!

Dan

Let your hat shrink?

Let your hat shrink?

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