Stetson And The Old Lampshade Trick
Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Dalexs
Stetson And The Old Lampshade Trick
Hello!
Another dumb question... I have recently obtained a Stetson "Temple" and it may be a tad too big, by about one size. It's a 7 1/4 and it looks like I take a 7 1/8. I am looking to try the Lampshade Method in order to shrink the sweatband a bit, and will be very careful. I was thinking of pulling the band down and dipping it, just a bit, into near boiling water, then holding it over a lamp with a bit of protection over the inside, about ten minutes, try it on for a while and repeat as necessary. I would figure that if the leather sweatband shrinks a bit, then wouldn't that "reduce" any taper towards the top? It seems that some state the opposite...
And this should really work?
Any further info appreciated!
Thanks!
Michael B
Another dumb question... I have recently obtained a Stetson "Temple" and it may be a tad too big, by about one size. It's a 7 1/4 and it looks like I take a 7 1/8. I am looking to try the Lampshade Method in order to shrink the sweatband a bit, and will be very careful. I was thinking of pulling the band down and dipping it, just a bit, into near boiling water, then holding it over a lamp with a bit of protection over the inside, about ten minutes, try it on for a while and repeat as necessary. I would figure that if the leather sweatband shrinks a bit, then wouldn't that "reduce" any taper towards the top? It seems that some state the opposite...
And this should really work?
Any further info appreciated!
Thanks!
Michael B
-
- Dig Leader
- Posts: 516
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 11:20 am
- Location: Löhne, Germany
Oh... Ok, no boiling water. I guess I should just make sure it's soaked with warm water? I remember reading that it had to be wet?
The hat actually has a nice crown to it. I had heard that the "Temple's" had too much of a taper and a wide ribbon, but I was surprised at how nice it looked. It's also a lot softer than I expected and much softer than my other felt fedoras. I doubt it, but I was also wondering if this is a better felt than I thought.
I just figured if you are shrinking the base wouldn't the crown end up with an even more verticle shape? Since it's away from the heat and won't be directly affected?
I actually came up with the paper towel idea myself and just folded it into long strips and it worked great, but the sweat band is now more wrinkled. Maybe it should be, maybe I should stop worrying about that and let it get a more lived in look. Other than that, it just ends up touching the ears slightly, unless I adjust it. It's not that bad.
Thanks for the help!
Michael B
The hat actually has a nice crown to it. I had heard that the "Temple's" had too much of a taper and a wide ribbon, but I was surprised at how nice it looked. It's also a lot softer than I expected and much softer than my other felt fedoras. I doubt it, but I was also wondering if this is a better felt than I thought.
I just figured if you are shrinking the base wouldn't the crown end up with an even more verticle shape? Since it's away from the heat and won't be directly affected?
I actually came up with the paper towel idea myself and just folded it into long strips and it worked great, but the sweat band is now more wrinkled. Maybe it should be, maybe I should stop worrying about that and let it get a more lived in look. Other than that, it just ends up touching the ears slightly, unless I adjust it. It's not that bad.
Thanks for the help!
Michael B
- Hemingway Jones
- Expeditionary Hero
- Posts: 2343
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:11 pm
- Location: Home, Sweet Home: Boston, USA
- Contact:
- Dalexs
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9009
- Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2002 2:49 am
- Location: Jus' nath' of Bawstin
- Contact:
The lamp shade trick is a tried and true method of shrinking a hat just a little bit. Many of us old timers have done it.
There is no need to use boiling water. Just carefully fold out and wet the band, as you said.
Fold it back in and place the hat on top of a lamp shade.
Try on the hat every so often. when the fit is just about right,
take it off the lampshade and put it on your head. This allows the hat to conform to your proper size as the band cools.
That may be why my hats have never tapered. The band shrinks at the base of the hat, which causes the more desirable mushroom effect.
Dalexs
There is no need to use boiling water. Just carefully fold out and wet the band, as you said.
Fold it back in and place the hat on top of a lamp shade.
Try on the hat every so often. when the fit is just about right,
take it off the lampshade and put it on your head. This allows the hat to conform to your proper size as the band cools.
That may be why my hats have never tapered. The band shrinks at the base of the hat, which causes the more desirable mushroom effect.
Dalexs
- shadwell55
- Laboratory Technician
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:47 pm
- Location: Louisiana
- Contact:
lampshade success
did the lampshade trick on my fed last night. hot tap water on the sweatband, and left over a lamp with the band still folded out, for about 3 hours. Nice and snug on my head. I'll try to get my wife to snap a pic or two
The hat fit, mond you, but was slightly loose on the sweatband in the it came down to touch, ever so slightly, my ear tops. This did the trick. Nice snug with no ear contact, and it even, wit the new snugness, makes the brim swoop slightly on the sides, which I have wanted for a while
The hat fit, mond you, but was slightly loose on the sweatband in the it came down to touch, ever so slightly, my ear tops. This did the trick. Nice snug with no ear contact, and it even, wit the new snugness, makes the brim swoop slightly on the sides, which I have wanted for a while
- shadwell55
- Laboratory Technician
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:47 pm
- Location: Louisiana
- Contact:
lamp
actually, i forgot about it
You didn't meantion if this is a new or pre-owned hat. If it is new, I'd strongly suggest adding padding to the sweatband and just wear it for at least a month as the band will shrink slightly and conform to your head. If you artificially shrink it when new you may run the risk of getting it too tight. Then you've got to stretch it to enlarge it again.
If you insist on artificially shrinking it, take it very slow. Better to stop short than go too far.
Regards,
Indybill
If you insist on artificially shrinking it, take it very slow. Better to stop short than go too far.
Regards,
Indybill
- shadwell55
- Laboratory Technician
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:47 pm
- Location: Louisiana
- Contact:
lamping, I'll call it
This is a pre-owned fed. Given to me by a kind hearted anonymous soul who moved on to greater things---and hats (Adventurbilt)