Hat and moths!

• May 9, 2007

• #21

Pat_H

A-List Customer

Messages

442

Location

Wyoming

I had wondered about this.

Several years ago "Carolina Wool Eating Moths" showed up here, a new species for our region, apparently. We had a bit of a problem with them in this house, and they went after a rarely worn pair of wool trousers, which I rarely wear, and did some very minor damage to them. And they went after a South American wool sweater and did it some damage. They didn't go after any dry cleaned and stored wool items at all. The better the quality of the wool item, the less it seemed to interest them.

They didn't bother any of my good beaver felt hats at all. The moths got into a Russian fur hat I have, but didn't bother it, they apparently were only touring it. They did bother a wool newsboy, and they ate one single tiny hole in a Stetson Australian type hat.

After that, we cleaned everything out extensively, and both cedar strips to discourage them. They still show up once a year, but in very minor numbers and they don't bother anything that I can keep track of. It is aggravating, however.

I'm encouraged by the reports of cedar working.

 

• May 10, 2007

• #22

Undertow

My Mail is Forwarded Here

Messages

3,126

Location

Des Moines, IA, US

Good thing I read through this thread, I need to rejuvenate my moth balls! All my suits are in hanging suit bags with cedar balls at the bottom. My hats are in the open but I keep hanging mothballs (basically hanging urinal cakes) around the closet. I have a big closet.

 

• May 10, 2007

• #23

Joie DeVive

One Too Many

Messages

1,308

Location

Colorado

Another lesser known devil, is the larval stage of the carpet beetle, The beetles themselves are about the size of the head of a pin and black and brown. Their youngsters like wool, especially felts, and feathers.
The same precautions apply.

 

• May 11, 2007

• #24

E

EricH

One of the Regulars

Messages

259

Location

Twin Cities, MN

We're always fighting moths here. I like to use the moth traps made by Safer available at any good hardware type store. They don't kill the larvae, but they attract and trap the male moths.

When I get an infestation, the traps let me know right away and help reduce the chances of them "getting together" and reproducing.

And like the others above, its all about cedar, moth balls, and good storage practices or if you are Art, bombing monthly.

Eric

 

• May 11, 2007

• #25

P

Prairie Shade

A-List Customer

Messages

394

Deep Freeze

When you get ready to put your felts up for the season, a trip to the freezer followed by bagging with an air tite bag and put in the box. Death to any critters!!! Simple, no smell, next question?

 

• May 11, 2007

• #26

S

SHARPETOYS

Call Me a Cab

Messages

2,425

Location

Titusville, Florida

Walk in cooler

I have a couple of custom hat makers friends that bought used walk in coolers and they keep there felt hat body's in the walk in...No moths etc...I believe they said it also helps the felt to age...

 

• Feb 16, 2017

• #27

Hambone87

New in Town

Messages

37

Location

Phoenix, Arizona

Good day from Phoenix. I am wondering how vital it is to store my Fur Felt Fedora for the summer in a cedar box of if I can use the cardboard box and place cedar chips into it. Is it vital to have inserts in the box.

 

• Feb 16, 2017

• #28

Hambone87

New in Town

Messages

37

Location

Phoenix, Arizona

Hambone87 said:

Good day from Phoenix. I am wondering how vital it is to store my Fur Felt Fedora for the summer in a cedar box of if I can use the cardboard box and place cedar chips into it. Is it vital to have inserts in the box.

Click to expand...

As opposed to storing my socks in one.

 

• Feb 16, 2017

• #29

moontheloon

I'll Lock Up

Messages

8,590

Location

NJ

cedar box, cardboard box, on a shelf, hanging on the wall ... all are fine my man

if you leave them out in the open and the area is humid just be sure to brush the hats occasionally to keep debris and dust from caking in the nap

dust covers are also an option

... and welcome home

 

• Feb 16, 2017

• #30

Frunobulax

Messages

19,141

Location

Funkytown, USA

Cedar chips are a decent idea for any long term storage to fend off the critters.

Dittos on Moon's welcome.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

• Feb 16, 2017

• #31

Benzadmiral

Call Me a Cab

Messages

2,815

Location

The Swamp

The plastic covers, the clear thin plastic wrap, are a good idea, especially for dark-colored lids.

As for boxes, if you have a hat store near you, you could ask them for one or two of their shipping boxes. I got several from Meyer the Hatter some years ago. These are cardboard, about 3-4 feet tall, and with the interior rings/separators. You can stack 5-6 hats in one tall box. Otherwise the shop would just have to throw them away; they'd probably be glad to be rid of 'em.

 

• Feb 17, 2017

• #32

Redfokker

Messages

12,384

Location

Albany Oregon

Welcome to the Fray. Much to my wife's dismay, I have a number of hats on open display in a bedroom (junk room). I have a book shelf full of history books. I hang hats on 12" lengths of small moulding wood and clean paint stirring sticks. I slip them under the books and they are quite stable to hang hats on. I agree about the dust factor.

 

• Feb 17, 2017

• #33

Hurricane Jack

Messages

17,604

You can buy bags of dust-free American Redwood Cedar shavings at Lowes & Home Depot. This is not the mulch stuff. I always sprinkle some into the box whenever I store a hat for any length of time.