Club Obi Wan

I just got my Peter's Brothers Fedora, and I was wondering if it can get wet.

I know this seems strange, but I don't want to goof and destroy my brand new hat.

Any tips you can offer would be great. It rains a lot more than it snows down here in North Carolina, so I need to know if a downpour could hurt it, and how to dry it, and what kind of reshaping is needed when indeed it does get wet. Also, I noticed how stiff the felt is, which to me is a plus, very sturdy hat, does that wear off?

Thanks a whole bunch!

~Aaron

Absolutely. It's one tough hat. One thing I do, though, is to give them a very light misting with regular Scotchgard. But they're made to wear and enjoy in ANY weather. Take a look at the Wisconsin train ride pics that are posted elsewhere. You'll see a PB being enjoyed in a heavy snowstorm. Just as good as one can get for a outdoor hat...equal to the Fed's/ Akubras. High regards. Michaelson

When it does get wet set it on the crown and let it sit and try on it's own. DO NOT attempt to dry it with artificial heat etc...I should not need any reshaping if you do this. Just make sure you set in on the crown otherwise if you set it on the brim it may taper. And yes it will soften up with use and not be as stiff... Enjoy!


Henri

I'm still waiting for mine to soften up. It's been a few months of regular wear and I don't baby it at all. Still looks like the day it came out of the box. This is THE stiffest hat I've ever owned. I've worn it in the rain too.

My PB is stiff. If you can believe it, I have other hats that are stiffer. I have two western Stetson's and a Resistol, that make a PB feel like an Optimo. :-)

-S

Here are some of the pics I posted in the events section.

This is me and my PB in the snow.



Here I just tossed the hat down in the snow bank and snapped a pic.



Of course, only try this hat trick with your PB if you are 21 years or older

Pyro, the last picture looks like you are a two fisted beer drinker. :-)

Mmmmm...... Snow.... :D

Nice Pics!

Glad to know my hat will hold up, thanks for all your advice guys!

Pyroxene-

AAARRRGH! You set the hat on the brim?!

Seriously though, nice hat. We recently had snow in New Hampshire (October 23!) and I wore my hat (as always). The only problem I encountered was the water pouring onto my papers when I got to my desk and looked down! These hats are awesome.

rick5150 wrote:Pyroxene-

AAARRRGH! You set the hat on the brim?!

Actually this is a good tip. I just snapped the brim up in the front and it's actually resting more on the sweatband or bottom of the crown than the brim. For short sets or stays, it didn't seem to hurt.

Pyroxene,

I was just playing! You know a lot more about this stuff than I do. If you wanted to sit your hat on the brim, in an operating microwave, with a copy of the New York City Business listings on the crown you can do it, and it would probably work for you too.

You have brought much respect and peace to this forum when it was needed.

Rick

Thank you.

I can't do the 'snap brim' suggestion with my PB, as the brim is set stiff as a board. I always set mine on it's crown. Whether it's a PB or a Fed, that's been my practice to date. Regards. Michaelson

Other than getting it wet (which I have) is there any other way of accelerating the softening up process? Mine still feels like Odd Job's hat.

That's a really good question. I don't know how to soften the hat other than through wear. I know NeosMatrix is trying to think of a way but I haven't heard anything on it.

It's funny too. Just when I think the hat is starting to soften, it seems stiff again on the next day.

I believe Joe Jr makes his hats out of cowboy felt. I think I saw where someone posted that it's 5X beaver. So, it may be a long time before the hat softens up if it ever will.

Cheers,
Pyr.

PB feds are one very tough piece of quality haberdashery. I think Joe Jr. actually uses bulletproof beaver pelts (some sort of crossbreeding between beaver and armadillo), although how they manage to get the things off the beasties, I'll never know. BTW, don't try to staple your PB to your forehead... you'll just break the stapler. Thank you Joe Jr.!

Henry Sr.

Soak the hat in Naptha.....smells like paint thinner. It is used as a dry cleaning slovent. Used to clean felt hats. Air dry after placing on spinner in the solvent tank. This is what hat shops who know what they are doing use to clean felt hats. Will take out the stiffner. Remember, stiffner is used mostly on western hats to hold that familiar cowboy shape. Dress hats are much more pliable. IF YOU TAKE OUT THE STIFFNER OF A POOR QUALITY FUR HAT, IT MAY NOT EVER LOOK THE SAME.

I recommed sending your hat out to an experienced renovator and explain to them what you want to achieve. I ONLY use Naptha to spot clean stains from my hats, and it will take things like tree sap out of your pants, hat, jacket.... good stuff.

or you could do what I did to one of my Feds...
Beat the living sh*t out of the crown! Sit on it, stamp on it, kick it across the room!
If you get folds - don't stress, they will fade and be gone eventually (promise) but the crown will be infinitely softer and still able to hold your bash.

Hey!

Will Naptha take tree sap off of car paint without ruining the paint??

I have 3 vehicles at home that are RUINED because of 2 large polars in the next yard. We've tried everything!!!

Regards,

Farn

Funny, I have the exact same problem at my place. I use to remove the sap with "Lacknafta" as it's called here in Sweden. If think it's same as your Naptha. It get rid of the sap, but doesn't touch the paint. Just wax the spot it afterwards. Of course, I can't guarantee that your Naphta and our "lacknafta" is the same.

Regards

Andy

ANDY! :!: :!: :!:

Man! Just thought I'd say hi, haven't seen you around?
Where are you from?

ANOTHER SWEDISH GUY, beware guys.

The dictionary says "naphtha, thinner" so I think they are the same.

Hur står det till?

Regards,
Swindiana, in Luleå

If one of you says "Børk, børk, børk", I'm outta here.

Man, all these great hat stories. I really want to get a good one now.

Let me be the first one not to say "Børk, børk, børk" then, cause I'd want you to pschtyckque around you know.
What about smörgåsbord?

I'm getting way off topic here...

About the Akubra hats, do they ever have to be "re-stiffened"?

Regards,
Swindiana

Swindiana!

I'm from way down south. MALMÖ!!!

Any snow in Luleå yet?

See ya around!

Andy

Yes, a couple of light coatings of snow byt mostly rain for the last three days.

I'll PM you , probably using a different language.

Nice to meet you!

Regards,
Swindy

Yes it is very good stuff. I have used it on FELT hats of course, and to take tree sap out of my wife's pants (she was still wearing them, used a dampened rag and rubbed),and have used it to take stain out of a pair of high quality men's dress shoes (took wax off to the bare leather, then repolished perfectly with stain wax).
Try any cleaner on the finish in an inconspicuous spot...I am very impressed with Naptha. PLEASE USE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CAN WITH ANY SOLVENT AND USE ONLY IN WELL VENTILATED PLACE< AVOID CONTACT WITH SKIN>
THANKS TO ALL!
Andykev

This is THE stiffest hat I've ever owned.

Now, when you say stiff, do you mean stiff for a fedora, or stiff for a cowboy hat? :junior: -IJ