Crown Stretching?

Dr.Seuss · Post by **Dr.Seuss** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:17 pm

Any opinions as to how much "play" or "give" there is in a crown's felt? Without tearing, what additional crown height can be obtained from, for example, a five inch open crown, through stretching or a reblock?

Or, is this an exercise in futility, with the crown simply returning to the original 5 inch height, over time?

Sincerely,

airforceindy · Post by **airforceindy** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:36 am

I think Steve has talked about this in one of his disertations on re-blocking HJs on his Raiders block. Depending on the felt quality, and desired open-crown height, it should work, with the felt just thinning.

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:46 pm

That would be a HJ that had not had it's lining put in yet.

airforceindy · Post by **airforceindy** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:08 pm

Oh... ok. So, BOak, would you be able to remove the liner of whatever hat you were working with (not sure which one Suess is planning to stretch) and pull it down on a taller block that way? Would it depend on the thickness of the felt as to how far it would stretch?

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:23 pm

It would depend on thickness AND density of the felt. You can have a think rabbit felt, but have it separate like an old steel wool pad if pulled to far as it just isn't dense enough or elastic enough to allow for the additional stretching.

From what I've read to date, you should be able to pull at least a little less than an addition inch into a crown height if it's something like a dense beaver felt, or dense 50/50 rabbit/beaver blend....but I wouldn't suggest going that far with anything of lesser quality or blend.

I recall Fedora telling me that when he blocked my vintage mercury felt AB several years ago, it was so rubbery when wet, he felt he could have stretched it over a a block for a top hat, it was so elastic...so it all depends on the density and original treatment when the felt was first created. In that particular example, it was a felt created using the old mercury method, which is no longer done.

Bear in mind, this is all based on reading past expose's, and not from personal experience, so take it for what it's worth.

Regards! Michaelson

airforceindy · Post by **airforceindy** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:32 pm

Thanks for the clarification, Michaelson. Are there any other factors that contribute to the elasticity of the felt besides fur blend, density, and thickness? Like age, wear, climate... I've also read the term "kill the felt" so many times on this forum it'd make my head spin; once the felt is "dead" so to speak, can you not stetch it any more? Or does that simply refer to it having settled into (one more pun here) it's final resting place?

Andy

Post by **Michaelson** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:53 pm

Now you're getting into the 'rarified air' of the hatmakers secrets.

That I can not answer, as they won't TELL you what that means, besides it being a technique that stops the felt from tapering anymore. It essentially 'fixes' the felt in the position it is in the process.

Hopefully one of our hat maker types will stick their head in the door and take a stab and adding to your knowledge.

Regards! Michaelson

airforceindy · Post by **airforceindy** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:58 pm

That's cool, I'll take what I can get

Since I'm still pretty new at this hobby, any questions that pop up peak my curiosity and give me a chance learn somethign more about hats. Strange how much I'm enjoying it considering I have yet to even get my FIRST decent hat

Dr.Seuss · Post by **Dr.Seuss** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:16 pm

Gentlemen:

Thank you for the thoughts. "Which" hat, is somewhat of a surprise. We shall see how it stands up to a bit of stretching.

I will be certain to post photos after this endeavor.

Sincerely,