Club Obi Wan

Anyone? I have always blocked my 7 1/8 hats with my 7 1/8 block and I have an old 7 1/4 hat that fits fine (my head size happens to be right between the two sizes) but I am making a new 7 1/8 raiders block that is going to be the definitve block for me and I would like to block this hat on it. SO...is it possible to pop the 7 1/4 hat on my 7 1/8 block and "shrink it down? how would I do this? The felt is really amazing vintage borsalino felt and is hard to shrink with heat / water. My guess is that I would need a brim flange (but I don't have one). Can this be done? Has anyone blocked a larger hat down to a smaller size?

-John

I have done many. Put the hat on the block and use steam, from a little to alot. As Art says, he has never seen a hat that won't shrink with steam. Fedora

Thanks Fedora! If it doesn't work you may have a 7 1/4 hat coming your way for a reblock if that's ok. Now I just need to get me a steamer, teapots probably won't do the trick...

-John

teapots probably won't do the trick...

I would suggest an open pot with the burner on high. To really shrink a hat down, it helps to have large amounts of steam and also the heat that goes with an open pot. I have a couple of small steamers, and they just don't throw out enough steam for downsizing a hat. Fedora

If it is possible to shrink a hat, then how far down can it be shrunk? Like could you shrink a 7 3/4 down to a 7 1/2 or 7 1/4 ?

I have shrunk rabbit blends two sizes down,i.e. 7 1/2 to 7 1/4. It is much harder to shrink beaver felt though, and I have not suceeded in shrinking beaver down more than one hat size, and then it was a loose 7 1/4. So, it depends on the felt. Fedora

How about stretching a hat with out loosing brim width? What are the limits and such?

I have stretched up one hat size, but you always lose something in the process. I would rather downsize, then you lose nothing. Fedora

I have beaver stetson that I would like to shrink down to a size suitible for a 2 year old.

Hey Ren. I have an idea. Buy a new Stetson, wear it in the rain, watch it shrink before your very eyes, and voila, it should fit the young man. regards, Fedora

Fedora wrote:Hey Ren. I have an idea. Buy a new Stetson, wear it in the rain, watch it shrink before your very eyes, and voila, it should fit the young man. regards, Fedora

That's how I picked the stetson in the first place for him to wear. I might have to remove the sweatband so it can keep on shrinking.