Club Obi Wan

So...I've got this new hat...PB custom...rabbit blend...VERY nice LC bash...LOVE the look...it's a little "tall" on my head/body, though...plus, the pinch is off-center from my head!!!

Any tips on a good way to re-center the bash/pinch situation so that it A) centers the pinch on my forehead; B) corrects part of the too tall crown sequents; or...BOTH!!!

Regards!
Indydawg

It came in a turned LC bash?

I managed to un-turn a hat by easing the pinch little by little and spraying a little water on it. Since your hat is new, probably the pinch hasn't really settled in and will be easier to move.

I think if new, you'll be able to move the crease fairly easily. In my experience, it's harder once the crease has set-in in an older hat.

I moved my crease on my Penman Raiders with just a little sprayed water to give it a little more turn. I don't recommend using any hot steam, as far as I'm aware only John's and Steve's beaver felt can take that because it's made from Kryptonian beavers.

I did mine by spraying with a little distilled water, but not soaking the hat, knocking the creases out and allowing to dry. Then re-crease from scratch without water. Worked for me.

When John or Steve sees this thread, though, ignore my advice and take theirs. (as if that needed saying)

Ian

Ian wrote:I don't recommend using any hot steam, as far as I'm aware only John's and Steve's beaver felt can take that because it's made from Kryptonian beavers.

Steam is quite commonly used on fur felt hats. I wouldn't recommend it on say, a Christy's, which is dry blocked, but I steamed the heck out of my Fed IV to no ill effect.

yes, the guys said it all..just a bit of water and pull it out...

Cool...I've done it before...it's just been a long time and I wondered if anyone had discovered a foolproof way to get it right the first time without having to fiddle with it for an hour...

Patience will be a must, right?

Later!
Indydawg

Indydawg wrote:Patience will be a must, right?

Later!
Indydawg

Yep.

jlee562 wrote:

Ian wrote:I don't recommend using any hot steam, as far as I'm aware only John's and Steve's beaver felt can take that because it's made from Kryptonian beavers.

Steam is quite commonly used on fur felt hats. I wouldn't recommend it on say, a Christy's, which is dry blocked, but I steamed the heck out of my Fed IV to no ill effect.

I'm just going off what Steve and John recommend regarding hot steam.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45834&p=659451&hilit=steam#p659451

You posted here agreeing with the abstinence of hot steam on a soft felt hat.

Ian

Ian wrote:

jlee562 wrote:

Ian wrote:I don't recommend using any hot steam, as far as I'm aware only John's and Steve's beaver felt can take that because it's made from Kryptonian beavers.

Steam is quite commonly used on fur felt hats. I wouldn't recommend it on say, a Christy's, which is dry blocked, but I steamed the heck out of my Fed IV to no ill effect.

I'm just going off what Steve and John recommend regarding hot steam.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45834&p=659451&hilit=steam#p659451

You posted here agreeing with the abstinence of hot steam on a soft felt hat.

Ian

Just saying, it's quite common. Ask around on the fedora lounge.

Aye, I know it's very common and, before the above thread, I thought it was okay to that. Having read the thread about Garetts' hat tapering and reading the proceeding comments, I learned otherwise. The thread also made out like it was obvious that steam from a kettle was a no-no. Was news to me.

Might be okay to have a hat taper slightly, when it's already a tapered hat, but taper to an Indy hat is a COWers worst nightmare. Plus, Steve also said that even a Henry will taper if subjected to kettle steam and that's a rabbit/beaver blend.

Just wanted to spare IndyDawg the possibility of the dreaded taper.

Ian

Ian wrote:Aye, I know it's very common and, before the above thread, I thought it was okay to that. Having read the thread about Garetts' hat tapering and reading the proceeding comments, I learned otherwise. The thread also made out like it was obvious that steam from a kettle was a no-no. Was news to me.

Might be okay to have a hat taper slightly, when it's already a tapered hat, but taper to an Indy hat is a COWers worst nightmare. Plus, Steve also said that even a Henry will taper if subjected to kettle steam and that's a rabbit/beaver blend.

Just wanted to spare IndyDawg the possibility of the dreaded taper.

Ian

The thing is, the hat in question in that particular thread was a test hat that did not use AB's felt. (and actually, what I was agreeing to in that thread, was DR Ulloa's post that was saying to Steve to not stop selling his test hats, I was not commenting on steam). Of course, 'm not saying I know more than Steve, that would just be silly. But, as I said before, I steamed the heck out of my Fed IV over a kettle, and it's still straight.

I prefer a spray bottle of distilled water. Shpritz liberally, then push and poke. I do my 'touch-ups' at night before bed so that the hat is dry and ready to wear by morning.

jlee562 wrote:

Ian wrote:Aye, I know it's very common and, before the above thread, I thought it was okay to that. Having read the thread about Garetts' hat tapering and reading the proceeding comments, I learned otherwise. The thread also made out like it was obvious that steam from a kettle was a no-no. Was news to me.

Might be okay to have a hat taper slightly, when it's already a tapered hat, but taper to an Indy hat is a COWers worst nightmare. Plus, Steve also said that even a Henry will taper if subjected to kettle steam and that's a rabbit/beaver blend.

Just wanted to spare IndyDawg the possibility of the dreaded taper.

Ian

The thing is, the hat in question in that particular thread was a test hat that did not use AB's felt. (and actually, what I was agreeing to in that thread, was DR Ulloa's post that was saying to Steve to not stop selling his test hats, I was not commenting on steam). Of course, 'm not saying I know more than Steve, that would just be silly. But, as I said before, I steamed the heck out of my Fed IV over a kettle, and it's still straight.

I've also steamed the heck out of my fed IV and not seen any taper, but I was passing on info that I got from Steve.

I didn't know that your +1 was specifically aimed at the specific portion of the thread about Steve no long selling his test hats because the quoted part of your post from Dave and Steve included a whole mryiad of points - I guess I just thought you were agreeing to it all.

Before reading that thread, I thought that it was just the done thing, steaming your hat (regardless of felt) over a kettle to put the crease in. That thread reset my 'newbieomiter' when it seemed that everyone knew that you don't do that.

Anyhoo, I wouldn't recommend it to IndyDawg beacause of that thread.

So, do you reckon IndyDawg should/can steam his lid over a kettle? Just wondering because I am a newbie to lids, relatively speaking.

Ian

Ian wrote:

jlee562 wrote:

Ian wrote:Aye, I know it's very common and, before the above thread, I thought it was okay to that. Having read the thread about Garetts' hat tapering and reading the proceeding comments, I learned otherwise. The thread also made out like it was obvious that steam from a kettle was a no-no. Was news to me.

Might be okay to have a hat taper slightly, when it's already a tapered hat, but taper to an Indy hat is a COWers worst nightmare. Plus, Steve also said that even a Henry will taper if subjected to kettle steam and that's a rabbit/beaver blend.

Just wanted to spare IndyDawg the possibility of the dreaded taper.

Ian

The thing is, the hat in question in that particular thread was a test hat that did not use AB's felt. (and actually, what I was agreeing to in that thread, was DR Ulloa's post that was saying to Steve to not stop selling his test hats, I was not commenting on steam). Of course, 'm not saying I know more than Steve, that would just be silly. But, as I said before, I steamed the heck out of my Fed IV over a kettle, and it's still straight.

I've also steamed the heck out of my fed IV and not seen any taper, but I was passing on info that I got from Steve.

I didn't know that your +1 was specifically aimed at the specific portion of the thread about Steve no long selling his test hats because the quoted part of your post from Dave and Steve included a whole mryiad of points - I guess I just thought you were agreeing to it all.

Before reading that thread, I thought that it was just the done thing, steaming your hat (regardless of felt) over a kettle to put the crease in. That thread reset my 'newbieomiter' when it seemed that everyone knew that you don't do that.

Anyhoo, I wouldn't recommend it to IndyDawg beacause of that thread.

So, do you reckon IndyDawg should/can steam his lid over a kettle? Just wondering because I am a newbie to lids, relatively speaking.

Ian

I don't really have any experience with PB hats. I'd tend to assume that they would be close in quality to Akubra (depending on the felt used, of course). I can't imagine a little bit of steam on the pinch would cause a really bad taper.

Well, on the PB I had before this one, I always used a pot of boiling water, held the hat a GOOD 6-8 in. above the pot to get it in the "peripheral" steam...and then shaped it with that....personally, I've never tried the direct water application, so...maybe I'll try it this time....who knows, it might work even better than steam.

Thanks for all the great replies, guys! At first, I was just going to send her back to have it shortened a bit...but, I'm thinking I might yet be able to get a look that works for me out of her!

Much obliged!
Indydawg