How to shrink an AB????

[Red Dust]

Can anyone advise me on going about shrinking my AB only very so slightly, I have about a 1cm gap of space in my hat and would like some advice how to make it feel snug against my head.

Would spraying my head with water act as a substitute for sweat and make the hat conform to my head shape more??

Any replys very much appreciated

Red Dust

[Indiana G]

i would go with the foam trick in the sweat.....that way, you can shrink it gradually over time instead of all at once. when it shrinks down enough, then remove the foam.

i've heard this work for akubra's but not sure abouot AB's....maybe steve's used some resiliant materials to compensate for this.

[Red Dust]

whats the foam trick G?

[Snakewhip_Sable]

I used the old lampshade trick for mine. Though some folks don't recommend it, it worked out swell for me!

[Red Dust]

lampshade/foam.... please follow up with explantions!!! people

regards

Red Dust

[BoilermakerJones]

Foam: Take a small amount of foam tape and put it between the sweatband and the hat. It takes up the extra room. Put the foam where you have the most space, if you have a long head - put the foam at the sides.

Lampshade: Flip down the sweatband and lightly moisten it. Flip the sweatband back up and then place the hat over a lampshade with the smallest wattage bulb running.

If the sweatband naturally shrinks, which most people say it does, you can remove the foam tape. If you use the lampshade trick you can't go back again - you also risk toasting the hat/sweatband.

Hope this helps.

Matt

[Piker]

Hat Size Reducer Tape:

http://mainstreethats.com/catalog/index ... ucts_id=35

[Tron7960]

I found my HJ was just a touch bigger than I liked. I noticed my Federation came with some hat reducing tape. It's basically weather stripping tape. I put a piece under my sweat band in the front and back for a perfect fit. I found placing it in the front and back maintained the shape I wanted.

[bigrex]

I found my HJ was just a touch bigger than I liked. I noticed my Federation came with some hat reducing tape. It's basically weather stripping tape. I put a piece under my sweat band in the front and back for a perfect fit. I found placing it in the front and back maintained the shape I wanted.

Yep it's weather stripping tape, you can get it at any larger hardware store.

[DanielJones]

If you can't get your hands on some of the hatters foam sizing tape, I find that if you take some of the white tissue that dress shirts are sometimes wrapped in or the white tissue for gift wrapping, cut off a hank of it, sort of roll it into a flat tube and stuff it under the sweat band either in the front or back to get the desired fit. You may need it front & back depending. But then from there let the hat & sweatband shrink & conform to your mellon slowly. That way you'll get a better more personalized fit.
Worked for me anyhow.

Cheers!

Dan

[Weston]

Yep, I think stuffing a little something in the sweat to take out a little slack is the best way to make it fit. You can take out a little at a time as the sweat conforms to your head. Folded paper towels work great.

I once tried folding the sweatband down to get a better fit. That worked really well, and as the sweat shrunk down a little, I unfolded it and it now fits absolutely pefect. Only problem is the sweat now has a permanent crease from the fold. I can't feel it, but I see it when I take off that hat.

I ruined a sweatband with the "lampshade trick". Had to send the hat off for repair and it was a long time getting it back. I'd avoid that method unless you want to have Sable over to show you how, he seems to have figured it out.

Or, if all else fails, grow out a robust afro!

Weston

[Fletch]

My AB was a bit loose when I got it a couple of years ago, however within a couple of days to a week of wearing it snugged right up. If you just got it, you can expect it to tighten up a smidge with a little bit of use. Mine did perfectly.

[gabrielle]

I have about a 1cm gap of space in my hat and would like some advice how to make it feel snug against my head. Red Dust

Hey Red if it's only a little big the hat will shrink some naturally after you wear it a bit. Your best bet is the hat foam, which you place under the sweatband to snug up the hat, and remove when the hat shrinks.

DO NOT put your AB on a lamp to shrink it if it's only a little big, you might end up with a too small and/or fried hat.

You can wet the sweatband all the way around and let it dry natural overnight to shrink it a little. That's what I did with my hat and it worked fine...just wet it and place on crown to dry.

Good luck

[Fedora]

Some ABs may be a little loose when you get them. I actually add 1/8 an inch to the head measurement, because leather will shrink once you sweat in it, and it dries. Since most folks these days do not own hat stretchers(a good investment by the way) I size my hats up just a hair, so that once it does shrink, you won't get a headache. The Federations are the same way. A little loose when you get them, but in a few days, they fit. Fedora

[Kokopelli]

Some ABs may be a little loose when you get them. I actually add 1/8 an inch to the head measurement, because leather will shrink once you sweat in it, and it dries. Since most folks these days do not own hat stretchers(a good investment by the way) I size my hats up just a hair, so that once it does shrink, you won't get a headache. The Federations are the same way. A little loose when you get them, but in a few days, they fit. Fedora

Here is the advice you should take! Spoken by THE MAN himself, the expert.

[Red Dust]

Thank you my main man Steve.. i havent had chance to thank you properly.. its an awesome hat and i think i just pressed the panic button to quickly when i first recieved it.. and after 2 days i have noticed it mold to my head alot more!

Just another question.. will my hat have a reverse taper/mushroom apperance once the sweat has shrunk.. i only say this because the crown is generally abit broader than my head and was wondering if the rest of the hat will follow suit or not.

Thank you to Steve for your reassureance and everyone for there advice..

p.s. I will be posting pics in the "post ur Ab's here" thread soon!

Red Dust

[Tron7960]

We are all looking forward to the pics Red Dust!

[mrtimely]

I talked to Todds Costumes, who sells HJ Indy hats.
He said to dampen the inside of the band and place on a warm lamp.
Be careful not to light the hat on fire with an excessively hot lamp.
use of alchohol will increase the effect.

MrTimely
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