Club Obi Wan

I saw some video demonstration here a ways back in which someone flash-burned a hat to get rid of all the excess "hair" on the surface of a hat when finished.

Me, I accidentally burned a hat somewhat a ways back while steaming it (like an idiot) but the resulting area on the surface of the hat was wonderful - smooth, perfect, etc.

And it reminded me of that video.

Anyone have good results doing this? Anyone screw up a hat trying this?! lol! It's painful but it happens big time of course.

Yes of course but I use it differently from most custom hat makers that use it. Remember, former firefighter.

Well, if you're going to light a hat on fire, who better to have in the room, right?

I seem to remember a few years back Mark was making a hat for Steve that had a lot of mink in the felt and ended up incinerating it. Probably could have used John's help.

Chewbacca Jones wrote:Well, if you're going to light a hat on fire, who better to have in the room, right?

not a bad start. I wouldn't suggest people try this at home or outside. The main reason I don't talk about it is I don't want people to try it and something horrible happens. You may think you have everything dialed in but you don't. "Fire is a good tool but a terrible master."

Ridgerunner58 wrote:I seem to remember a few years back Mark was making a hat for Steve that had a lot of mink in the felt and ended up incinerating it. Probably could have used John's help.

thank you for bringing this up. I did talk to mark about this and his thinking was way off. he was very, very lucky he didn't hurt himself.

again, please don't try this.

BendingOak wrote: again, please don't try this.

Well, I have 2 fire houses within 6 blocks of my neighborhood, so of course I have tried it!
(ignoring Johns sage advice...)

While it is rather unsettling watching your hat in flames, the results are incredible.
But it needs to be done right, you can't just splash stuff all over and ignite it.

I know this is a bit off the subject but there are some straw hats on the web with designs burned onto them.
This is done with a small propane torch that burns through the openings of a thin metal stencil leaving a desired
pattern.

Anyway back to the thread

-Dusty

Hm, I have an third-hand AB that was made by Steve, but reblocked by Mark. The finish is super smooth. I wonder if he didn't burn that hat.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Oh there's no way I would try this! It happened quite by accident. You can't see the area at all when the hat is either dry or wet but, in the process of drying, the torched out area stays dark/ wet a little longer.

A rookie move but such will be with hats.

Dalexs wrote:

BendingOak wrote: again, please don't try this.

Well, I have 2 fire houses within 6 blocks of my neighborhood, so of course I have tried it!
(ignoring Johns sage advice...)

While it is rather unsettling watching your hat in flames, the results are incredible.
But it needs to be done right, you can't just splash stuff all over and ignite it.

just by reading your post I'm sure you use it like every hat maker I have ever talked with. I use it in a different way. one reason it has much better results and I don't want to be to blame for someone getting hurt.

Indiana Jeff wrote:Hm, I have an third-hand AB that was made by Steve, but reblocked by Mark. The finish is super smooth. I wonder if he didn't burn that hat.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

They both use it but the term burning shouldn't be used as your not burning the hat.
I use fire on all my hats but not like these two. firefigher They are using the most common way people use fire to scorch a hat (felt).

again, don't want people to play as people think they know what they are doing but they don't. I had someone say, "well, I'll try it outside, that will be safe." not thinking about wind.

I just remember something one of my BC used to say all the time. "you (meaning the public) just don't think like we do. again, don't play with fire there are other ways to get a fine finish.

Just re-reading some of the threads as i've been gone for so long... This thread caught my eye.

When "burning" a hat, doesn't it stink after? I mean, if any of you had accidentally set your arm hairs on fire, you'd know what i mean by the stink. The hat is made of hair... And burning hair kinda stinks, right?

I keep my hat away from other peoples grubby hands. No way its going near fire! The closest it was to fire was at the Indy Stunt show in Disney World.


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Bottom line, it's an act best left to the professionals or someone professionally trained to perform this particular task. John Penman is your man.

Regard! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:Bottom line, it's an act best left to the professionals or someone professionally trained to perform this particular task.

Regard! Michaelson

Couldn't agree more. Heck I'm usually told to step away from the kitchen when I try to make pasta




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