Club Obi Wan

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

I don't know if your hat is tapered or not and if that is one of the reasons you are going this route, but I would try folding strips of paper towel or foam and placing them under the sweatband. If that doesn't make your hat fit, then go
for a more drastic solution.

The only dumb question is the one you dont ask.

Ohh man a leather-sweatband and boiling water!? I made very bad experiences with those two things when they come together! I nearly ruined mine with that!

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

Michaelb,
I have had many hats that were too large for me, by about a size or so. I put a little foam, or even a paper towel, behind the sweatband. Within a month, the sweatband shrank down naturally to fit my head.
I would try this first.

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

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

Wow! So it worked? You left it on the lamp for three hours? Wouldn't that melt/damage the liner after a while? I thought it was supposed to be in ten minute increments? Very cool!

Thanks!

Michael B

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

This is a pre-owned fed. Given to me by a kind hearted anonymous soul who moved on to greater things---and hats (Adventurbilt)