Club Obi Wan

Hey everyone!

Two quick questions...
1. Can a small hole in a rabbit felt fedora be fixed?
2. Who might do this work?

Thanks a bunch for any replies,

Scotty

If it's not all the way through the hat, like a moth 'bite', sometimes a hat maker can pounce it down....but it all depends on how much damage is there and what quality of felt it is.

Can you possibly post a photo?

Regard! Michaelson

I'm hoping it isnt in the front pinch. Fingers crossed!

Pics would definitely be able to help us.

Here is to hoping It can be fixed. If not, you could turn it into a. Freddy Kruger fedora.

Jeremiah wrote:Here is to hoping It can be fixed. If not, you could turn it into a. Freddy Kruger fedora.

Or Fred Dobbs' hat ...

If it's on the crown and only on surface not the entire way though the felt. There are things that can be done.

Tibor wrote:

Jeremiah wrote:Here is to hoping It can be fixed. If not, you could turn it into a. Freddy Kruger fedora.

Or Fred Dobbs' hat ...

Or sell it to Johnny Depp for $2,000.

Michaelson wrote:If it's not all the way through the hat, like a moth 'bite', sometimes a hat maker can pounce it down....but it all depends on how much damage is there and what quality of felt it is.

Can you possibly post a photo?

Regard! Michaelson

Yeah, what he said........ And to add one more thing. There is also one other thing you can do but it will need a full re-block.

BendingOak wrote:If it's on the crown and only on surface not the entire way though the felt. There are things that can be done.

Scotty - If ANYONE can fix it, it's this man above. He will lead you to water, you just have to drink.....

backstagejack wrote:

BendingOak wrote:If it's on the crown and only on surface not the entire way though the felt. There are things that can be done.

Scotty - If ANYONE can fix it, it's this man above. He will lead you to water, you just have to drink.....

A photo would be helpful.

Yes it is the pinch... Just barely through.


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I see two things going on near the front tight pinch. One looks like a white spot and the other looks like a moth bite?

If what I am seeing is a surface moth bite, it can be lightly sanded with a fine grit sandpaper. At least, that is what I have done when I have had this happen to one of mine... Oak, is that what you are thinking?

maybe if its real small and not deep.If its deep I wouldn't sand it. I would rep block it.

Its at the top of the pinch. The hole is through slightly.
This is not from a moth... Just wear.... and fussin with it.

So what would be the damage to fix this baby?
I'm assume sanding wouldn't help. Re-blocking would change the shape yes?
This was an old magnoli hat. I love it. I have another, but
this one is so broken in. It is definitely tapered fro rain and such.

Thanks for all the feedback fellas. I really appreciate it.

Scott

Well if you have it reblocked it could be turned around so the hole is in the back.


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I was thinking if the hole wasn't all the way though that you could turn the hat body inside out put the moth bite in to the inside of the hat and then pounce the hat again to make it even. inside becomes the outside and the outside becomes the inside hiding the bite. If it is a true hole, re- blocking it may make it bigger, depending on the felt.

Some members of the Fedora Lounge have had success using sandpaper to gently "shave" some fur from the inside of the crown and "transplanting" them into the hole using light adhesive.

Step by step and pictures here: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthre ... post769445" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

thats more about a divot not a hole, if I'm not mistaken.

jlee562 wrote:Some members of the Fedora Lounge have had success using sandpaper to gently "shave" some fur from the inside of the crown and "transplanting" them into the hole using light adhesive.

Step by step and pictures here: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthre ... post769445" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Been there - done that. It works okay on very small insect caused holes.

I have usually obtained the "donor" felt from the brim edge - generally by scraping a small amount of fuz with a pocketknife. Takes patience, a sharp toothpick and a careful choice and sparing use of the right glue.

I managed to "sort of" fix a wear hole in the pinch on the crown of one hat once by gluing a triangular piece of chamois inside the hat as a backing and pushing the damaged area together. Not perfect, but after 20 years its stable and only noticeable on close inspection.

Good thing to do to avoid this at the pinch is to handle your hat by the brim and to wash your hands.

BendingOak wrote:thats more about a divot not a hole, if I'm not mistaken.

Gene (on the Lounge) told me he's used the technique on small holes before.

BendingOak wrote:Good thing to do to avoid this at the pinch is to handle your hat by the brim and to wash your hands.

Yep. Learned this lesson the hard way. Hold the hat by the brim close to the brim break with the thumb underneath next to the sweatband and one or two fingers on top next to the ribbon. Two hands are best, but one is okay. (Brent Black calls this using "soft hands.") Adjust the fit and position using the brim too (although I sometimes use the ribbon to adjust the hat).

Doesn't look as cavalier and cool as what they do in the movies - but then they don't care what happens to the wardrobe.