Any tips on how to correct this?

[TonyRush]

I have an AB Deluxe and I've noticed that the back of the brim has developed a more severe curve upwards than appears in the films. It's not just a matter of bending it back down...it's actually curving upwards.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get the felt to relax a bit so it's not trying to stand up too tall in the back?

Tony

[Hollowpond]

;0 Sorry...had to be done.


Travis

[TonyRush]

lol -- true.

I took this with my iPhone but you should be able to see clearly how the
back of the hat is sloping upwards at too steep of an angle:



Compare that with the back of Harrison's hat here:

http://screencast.com/t/tqQt9tSUK and
http://screencast.com/t/kxCe7WYF3C

In both those shots from KotCS, the slope of the back is more gentle until about 1/2" from the edge of the brim. The whole back of my brim is sloping.

[jnicktem]

The picture isn't loading for me.

[TonyRush]

That's weird. Here's a screenshot:

http://screencast.com/t/aXq96a0FrKKI

[Jakob Emiliussen]

Looks to me like it's been lying with the back of the brim against something - maybe a wall. However, I believe that the best solution would be to let it sit on a plain surface (a table - just like on the pic) for some time. It might straighten itself that way. My own beaver blend does straighten itself in a couple of days if I do this.

Regards
Emiliussen

[TonyRush]

Actually I take great care to always sit it on a flat surface with the front of the brim hanging over the edge and the back touching nothing. So, sitting it on a flat surface won't seem to do anything to pull that back brim back down.

Any other thoughts?

[binkmeisterRick]

I can't see the pics, either, but have you tried spraying the brim with water and reshaping it?

[gwyddion]

If you push it down, it doesn't want to snap back to it's original state? My hats sometime do that when they've hit something, but a little push and they always snap back

Regards, Geert

[TonyRush]

If you push it down, it doesn't want to snap back to it's original state? My hats sometime do that when they've hit something, but a little push and they always snap back

Regards, Geert

No, it appears this is the default shape of the back of the hat. If you push it down, it just pops back up....and if you push it too far down, then it simply flips the other way so that the back of the brim resembles the front of the brim.

Tony

[Chewbacca Jones]

Bink is right. Get some water you trust (use distilled, myself) and a spray bottle. You can usually find them in plant and flower shops in bath supply sections.

Anyway, spray the water onto the brim and reshape with your hands. If it's stubborn you may have to hold it how you want it for a while.

If that doesn't work, you should talk to Marc. There may be a felt shrinkage thing going on.

[Fedora]

Just steam the back and hold it in the desired position till the steam dries. Repeat if necessary. The steam won't hurt our hats. It's a faster fix than using water, plus, Marc had water repellent treatment added at the factory so it might not absorb enough. Steam is the normal fix for problems with any AB hat. Fedora

[TonyRush]

Thanks Steve -- I had a nice note from Marc with some suggestions, too.

I appreciate you!
Tony

[suburbancomics]

Looks like I am a little late to this party but I am having the same problem with my Mag/HJ/AB. Since it is HJ felt would it be a poor idea to steam the brim and reshape or should I give it a try?

[Fedora]

Yeah, use some steam on the back. The brims are the HJs I make are shrunk already by me, so you should not see any more shrinkage. Fedora

[Michaelson]

Speaking of 'cause', if you wear your hat in the car, and your car seat has a head rest (as most all of them do), you may not realize that it's the head rest that is bending your hat brim upward on a regular basis. In my case I'm never aware my brim has been bent until I remove my hat at a later time.

I find it happens to my hats all the time when I'm driving our Malibu that has head rests. No such problem when I'm driving the Plymouth. No head rests in that old monster.

Regards! Michaelson

[suburbancomics]

Thanks Steve, I will give the steam a try.

[theinterchange]

My Keppler did this on it's own, but I'm not going to correct it unless it gets really radical, I kind of like it. Were I going for screen accuracy, it would annoy the fire out of me though.

Randy

[Fedora]

You see alot of fedoras in old films with this kicked up back. That is one thing I never liked about those hats. I like a little curl at the end of the brim, in back, but most of my own hats are turned down in the back. Just a personal preference, although I wear both kinds. Fedora