To Taper or not to Taper?

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:23 am

After reading everyone’s discussions about how a hat can taper over time, how does it happen? How can it be avoided? How is the Federation in regards to keeping it from happening?

Ico · Post by **Ico** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:51 am

I would like to add another question: is taper reversible? Can it be done by the reblocking?

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:55 am

To beat the folks who are bit more blunt...

....all this information can be found using the search function at the top of the page. This has been discussed 'ad nasium', and Fedora and Marc have covered it in great detail if you can find the strings. (I can't at the moment, but I'm producing a class as we speak, so it's hard enough to write THIS reply conherently!

)

As to taper reversal, only a reblock can do it.

If you have no luck finding those strings, hopefully someone will point you in the right direction to read up on tapering.

Regards! Michaelson

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:07 am

Thanks Michaelson!!!

Ico · Post by **Ico** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:17 am

Thank you, too.

Pandora · Post by **Pandora** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:19 am

Maybe it is this string you are looking for?

viewtopic.php?t=10903

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:21 am

No, but it's just as good, if not better!!

Thank you, Pandora!!

Regards! Michaelson

Pitfall Harry · Post by **Pitfall Harry** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:24 am

One quick tip. Never leave the hat laying flat on a table or any other surface. Store the hat upside down in either the box it came in or a hat box. It's not going to stop the hat from tapering but it will slow down the process some.....at least that's what I've been told. When I'm not wearing my AB Rabbit I keep it in the little holder it came with upside down.

The feds by the way are pretty darn tough. To avoid it tapering quickly don't use ANY steam at all. Also, try to style the hat dry from the start and only use a very small amount of water to "lock in" the look. Also, don't constantly change the style of the hat. Decide what look your going for right away and stick with it. Nothing will taper a hat faster than the constant rebashing of a hat. Trust me.....I know. I destroyed my Fed. Deluxe, but......I learned from it as well.

Hope this helps and enjoy your new hat.

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:26 am

In my experience with all the Feds and Fed Deluxes I've owned over the years, a little steam from a kettle or boiling pan of water to set the 'bash' will not hurt a thing, nor cause taper.

If you do it to MUCH, or use a high temperature professional steamer, you can get in DEEP trouble in short order on the taper side of the issue.

Regards! Michaelson

Post by **Tennessee Smith** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:59 am

Thanks for the links and suggestions, this is what I needed to know.