re-shaping your Hat

[garden gnome]

I was woundering could anyone help me in my seacrh for a way to bring the shape and stiffness back to my floppy hat, it was stiff and well shaped before and i would like to return it to its finer shape. Any help would be greatly appriciated

Thank You

Tim Fretwell
10LA. Co.C

[LonestarRifles]

Basically:
-Get one mixing can
-Denatured alcohol (found at almost any hardware store)
-shellac (found at almost any hardware store)
-1 and a half to 2 inch throw-away brush
-mixing stick (any stick would do, I grabbed one off the ground in my backyard)
-one bowl or hat block (something strong enough to hold the shape of the crown while you brush)

1. Mix the denatured alcohol with the shellac in a 2:1 ratio, respectively.

2. Set the bowl or block inside the crown of the hat and lay the hat down on the table

3. Use the paintbrush to paint the mixture on the hat

4. Let it dry for 6 hours or however long it takes

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as many times as you think you need (usually about 3-4 times will get a nice firm shape)

-Plus, if you want to make it really waterproof you can take out the liner (if it has one) and paint the mixture on the inside, let it dry, then sew the liner back in.

Patrick Smith

[10TnVI]

The post above is for shallacing your hat as was done on some 'Hardee' hats. The disadvantage is that once you do it there's really no going back. Most hats are held in shape by sizing. Sizing is kinda like starch but more durable. The hat is soaked in a sizing solution and then allowed to dry in shape. Thats why most hats eventually droop, especially after repeated wetings, since the sizing is to some extent water soluable. You can still by sizing someplaces. just mix it up, saturate the hat, and let it dry to shape. You can use steam from a teapot of boiling water to adjust the shape(that's how those western supply places reshape hats) and let it set up again. I'd drop a line to some of the better hat makers, like Allen or Bender, and see what they use.

[47thNYReb]

The post above is for shallacing your hat as was done on some 'Hardee' hats. The disadvantage is that once you do it there's really no going back. Most hats are held in shape by sizing. Sizing is kinda like starch but more durable. The hat is soaked in a sizing solution and then allowed to dry in shape. Thats why most hats eventually droop, especially after repeated wetings, since the sizing is to some extent water soluable. You can still by sizing someplaces. just mix it up, saturate the hat, and let it dry to shape. You can use steam from a teapot of boiling water to adjust the shape(that's how those western supply places reshape hats) and let it set up again. I'd drop a line to some of the better hat makers, like Allen or Bender, and see what they use.
From my limited experience reshaping hats, the "sizing" will usually reset itself back up for 2-3 times after a thorough steaming over a pot of boiling water. I usually use the rim of the hat as a seal on the pot until it is fully saturated and then make any necessary adjustments. Unfortunately, here in Florida, we have three reenactment seasons - boiling hot, boiling hot and wet, or my favorite freezing and wet (Olustee anyone?). I have had to reshape my beehive several times and it is finally starting to lose stiffness after reshaping. Thomas N. Rachal, 47thNYVI Co.B

[ScottCross]

I was woundering could anyone help me in my seacrh for a way to bring the shape and stiffness back to my floppy hat, it was stiff and well shaped before and i would like to return it to its finer shape. Any help would be greatly appriciated

Thank You

Tim Fretwell
10LA. Co.C
What is the hat made from, fur felt or wool felt? It makes a big difference, since wool felt will not keep its shape over time.