Club Obi Wan

Hello, All!!

So it is raining and cold once again here in NJ.

I was wondering how a Beaver Brand Hat from Lee Keppler holds up in the rain.

Any experience?

Any help would be most helpful!


Have a great day!

Mike.

Sure. It's a beaver/rabbit blend, and holds up well against rain.

Once wet, just set it on it's crown or hang from a hall tree and allow to air dry, then brush after dry. You're good to go again.

Beaver Brand are tough hats!

Regard! Michaelson

My Keppler lightened slightly, and tapered after being in a heavy downpour.

Randy

Interesting. Mine never did.

Guess it's the luck of the draw, huh?

Regards! Michaelson

The color lightening was a good thing since I like it better now. And the taper only occurred after the soaking/air dry, but could be coincidental.

Randy

My Keppler held up pretty well, but did taper after a couple months. I wouldn't recommend wearing it in a terrential down pour, but a light rain should be fine. You just don't want the hat to get soaked through. If that happens, its done for.

Dave

Great!! Thanks for the help. How much (if any) would a spray on water proofer help?

Another case of tapering here. Granted, I never really knew to store it upside down years ago, but I also never went through a downpour with it either.

Yeah, invest in water repellant treatment, and use it often. A felt hat is not rain gear, per se. There are better options. With that said, I wear my hats as rain gear. But, I own a hatshop too. If my hat gets saturated, I just pull it over the next smaller sized block to dry. So, I NEVER get the tapers. I feel like all serious hat wearers, should invest in a wood block for their hats. In the size down from what you wear, so you can pull it over the block with sweat still in the hat. This will save you the time and trouble involved in a reblock. I have a block on file at Lamode Hat Blocks, online, that you can buy, and while it is not a block that I use, it does work well for Indy hats. I used to use that block once upon a time, before I got to tweaking it.

But seriously, if you wear your hats in the wet stuff, be sure it is treated well, prior to going out in it. Then, once the hat dries, treat it again. The rain will leach out most repellants, except for the old Scotchguard. But even with Scotchguard, I would retreat it after a soaking, just to be safe. Getting a felt hat wet to the core will change the hat's shape. But on pure beaver, it just takes much longer for the core to get wet. On a beaver blend, chances are, there isn't much beaver in the hat to begin with. Some hats that are billed as beaver blends, actually have no beaver!! Fedora

Fedora wrote:This will save you the time and trouble involved in a reblock. I have a block on file at Lamode Hat Blocks, online, that you can buy,

How can I access this block should I email the company?

ow can I access this block should I email the company?

Yes, do a search for Lamode Hat Blocks. The contact info is on his web page. Then, just tell him you want the block Steve from Adventurebilt has on file for the fans. Opt for the non routed out bottom, as it is cheaper. The non routed out bottom has 3 holes in it, instead of the routed out pedastil, that I buy. This will save you around 0 bucks or so. Fedora

Fedora wrote: This will save you around 0 bucks or so. Fedora

That much, huh?

Regard! Michaelson

Good one, Michaelson!

But seriously, how much would you estimate a block would cost?

This will save you around 0 bucks or so. Fedora

Ha, ha ha. That's what you get when you type in a hurry!! (I had ran out to turn on the irons and my main one is vintage and has no thermostat, and can literally glow red if left on too long! Yikes!!)

Seems like going with the 3 hole bottom will save you around 40 to 50 bucks. Been a long time since I used the 3 hole blocks. I like the routed out kind, as it gives you a little thingy to hold onto when you are working the hat.

The 3 hole bottom blocks used to be around 135.00, but I no longer use them, so not sure. I think I pay around 175.00 per block if I recall correctly. But, I just pay the bill and have not checked recently what Richard is charging. When you gotta have em' the price is not important. I have another block guy, and he gets 225.00, but uses poplar, which is my fav wood for blocks. They last a whole lot longer than basswood, but for hobby use, the basswood is fine. Fedora