How to stiffen up the brim on a lite felt hat

EdinLA44 · 03-18-2006, 09:55 PM

I've got a casual Orvis dark green Fedora style *crushable* hat that is made of lite felt. I can't seem to keep the rear brim flipped up. As soon as I start to walk in it, it just flops down. Is there something I can spray on or apply that will give the brim a bit of stiffness so it will stay where I want it to?

jamespowers · 03-18-2006, 10:12 PM

Have you tried steaming the brim? Exposing it to steam from a kettle will usually revive the stiffner. shape the back of the brim as you want it to be and then let it cool from the steam. That should set the brim up in the back. Work slowly and there is no need to apply too much heat and burn your hands. Just get the area you want to shape warm with the steam and shape it.

Regards,

J

RBH · 03-18-2006, 10:28 PM

Most of the hats that are that style are made to have the brim turned down all the way. But I have had some luck using Scout Felt Hat Stiffener to ''stiffen up'' a soft lite felt.

EdinLA44 · 03-18-2006, 11:34 PM

Thanks RBH. I just ordered some of the Scout stiffener. That should do the trick.

johnnycanuck · 03-21-2006, 09:53 AM

The scout hat stiffener does work good. also you can try some scotch guard. Adds a little but of weather protection.

besdor · 03-24-2006, 03:23 PM

Your life felt hat is made of wool. Don't expect much from it . You can try to stiffen it up but you will make the hat feel very rough. It's meant to be soft .

thefedorastore · 03-25-2006, 06:07 PM

There are a few felt stiffeners on the market. I found that the Bickmore Kahl hat stiffener lasts longer than the other brands, like Scout. Bickmore is nothing more than denatured alcohol, and a natural resinous glaze. I don't know why, but it seems to last longest on my hats that are a bit 'tired'. I have found that the other brands work just as good as a clean hairspray. A good way to go to save a few bucks. Then you just need to freshen it up now and then, and hairspray is about $2.00 a can as opposed to $5 to $9 for a bottle of stiffener. As always, steam first to get your shape.

adamgottschalk · 04-08-2006, 02:22 PM

I have an old Cavanagh that tonyb gave (thanks, Tony!). The brim has gotten a bit soft, not much snap left to it (stingy 1 7/8" brim). I ordered some Bickmore Kahl hat stiffener. I'm still not quite clear on how to do this. Shaping a crown the way you want it, then steaming and letting dry I can visualize. With some of the snap gone, the brim doesn't turn down where I want it (it's too far forward now). How do I hold the brim down while steaming it? With laundry clips or something? I was thinking I should maybe turn it up all around, then steam it and apply the stiffener and let dry. Than when I go to snap the brim, won't it do it naturally? Any suggestions appreciated.

Brad Bowers · 04-08-2006, 02:42 PM

adamgottschalk, what your brim really needs, more than anything, is to be re-flanged. This will put the proper snap back into it. Send it to Art, or perhaps there is a hat shop in town that can perform this service.

Brad

adamgottschalk · 04-08-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Bowers

adamgottschalk, what your brim really needs, more than anything, is to be re-flanged. This will put the proper snap back into it. Send it to Art, or perhaps there is a hat shop in town that can perform this service.

Brad

Thanks, Brad, I may just do that. I went back to the hat just now and, as I'm a perfectionist, I realize it's not nearly as "bad" as I thought it was. But I also realize what my thinking is: it strikes me that when you snap a fedora brim down in front (up in back), the spot where it turns from up-facing to down-facing should be flat. That is, when you look at it dead on straight, it should appear level at that point where it turns. Is that probably right? I know it matters how wide the brim is and all that. But, for example, with the old Cavanagh I have, that spot of turning from UP to DOWN retains much of the UP, and the down-turned part is a smallish part of the front, as opposed to, say, snapped all the way across from right to left, like ear to ear. Is that how it's supposed to be?

Aerol · 04-08-2006, 07:35 PM

Try John Helmer Haberdasher on Broadway at Salmon. Great selection and great service. I always stop in when I'm in town...about 3X per year.

Fedoraphile · 05-24-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefedorastore

There are a few felt stiffeners on the market. I found that the Bickmore Kahl hat stiffener lasts longer than the other brands, like Scout. Bickmore is nothing more than denatured alcohol, and a natural resinous glaze. I don't know why, but it seems to last longest on my hats that are a bit 'tired'. I have found that the other brands work just as good as a clean hairspray. A good way to go to save a few bucks. Then you just need to freshen it up now and then, and hairspray is about $2.00 a can as opposed to $5 to $9 for a bottle of stiffener. As always, steam first to get your shape.

Hairspray, huh? Hmmm.... don't have any of that stuff. What about gel? (Horrors!!)

Fedoraphile

Fedoraphile · 05-25-2008, 02:54 AM

I applied a generous coating to the underside of the brim of an Indiana Jones style fedora, as it was too floppy for my taste.

It soaked in, and now that it's dried, is plenty stiff. I got rid of the rough feel by brushing the underside.

The hat now has plenty of body, and the brim snaps satisfyingly.

This cheap little trick worked surprisingly well, and didn't leave any stains or marks whatsoever.

Fedoraphile

03-18-2006, 09:55 PM	#1
EdinLA44 Familar Face Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 88	How to stiffen up the brim on a lite felt hat I've got a casual Orvis dark green Fedora style crushable hat that is made of lite felt. I can't seem to keep the rear brim flipped up. As soon as I start to walk in it, it just flops down. Is there something I can spray on or apply that will give the brim a bit of stiffness so it will stay where I want it to? Last edited by EdinLA44 : 03-18-2006 at 10:00 PM.

03-18-2006, 10:12 PM	#2
jamespowers Bartender Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bay Area, Ca Posts: 17,865	Have you tried steaming the brim? Exposing it to steam from a kettle will usually revive the stiffner. shape the back of the brim as you want it to be and then let it cool from the steam. That should set the brim up in the back. Work slowly and there is no need to apply too much heat and burn your hands. Just get the area you want to shape warm with the steam and shape it. Regards, J __________________ People think they are so rebellious and original, when really they are just banal, boring and dumb.

03-18-2006, 10:28 PM	#3
RBH Bartender Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Arkansas Delta Posts: 9,002	Scout Felt Hat Stiffener Most of the hats that are that style are made to have the brim turned down all the way. But I have had some luck using Scout Felt Hat Stiffener to ''stiffen up'' a soft lite felt. __________________ RBH Fedora Fest III March 17th - 20th 2011 Garland Texas

03-25-2006, 06:07 PM	#7
thefedorastore "A" List Customer Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 395	Felt Stiffeners There are a few felt stiffeners on the market. I found that the Bickmore Kahl hat stiffener lasts longer than the other brands, like Scout. Bickmore is nothing more than denatured alcohol, and a natural resinous glaze. I don't know why, but it seems to last longest on my hats that are a bit 'tired'. I have found that the other brands work just as good as a clean hairspray. A good way to go to save a few bucks. Then you just need to freshen it up now and then, and hairspray is about $2.00 a can as opposed to $5 to $9 for a bottle of stiffener. As always, steam first to get your shape.

04-08-2006, 02:22 PM	#8
adamgottschalk "A" List Customer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portland Oregon, Jump Town, Bridge City, Stumptown, The City of Roses, City of Misfits Sculptors Outlaws Poets and Runaways, Jewel of the West, USA Posts: 409	Details on returning a SNAP to a brim I have an old Cavanagh that tonyb gave (thanks, Tony!). The brim has gotten a bit soft, not much snap left to it (stingy 1 7/8" brim). I ordered some Bickmore Kahl hat stiffener. I'm still not quite clear on how to do this. Shaping a crown the way you want it, then steaming and letting dry I can visualize. With some of the snap gone, the brim doesn't turn down where I want it (it's too far forward now). How do I hold the brim down while steaming it? With laundry clips or something? I was thinking I should maybe turn it up all around, then steam it and apply the stiffener and let dry. Than when I go to snap the brim, won't it do it naturally? Any suggestions appreciated. __________________ We're all lying in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

03-18-2006, 11:34 PM	#4
EdinLA44 Familar Face Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 88	Thanks RBH. I just ordered some of the Scout stiffener. That should do the trick.

03-21-2006, 09:53 AM	#5
johnnycanuck Practically Family Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 780	The scout hat stiffener does work good. also you can try some scotch guard. Adds a little but of weather protection.

03-24-2006, 03:23 PM	#6
besdor Vendor/Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: up north Posts: 1,342	Your life felt hat is made of wool. Don't expect much from it . You can try to stiffen it up but you will make the hat feel very rough. It's meant to be soft .

04-08-2006, 02:42 PM	#9
Brad Bowers Bartender Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 2,787	adamgottschalk, what your brim really needs, more than anything, is to be re-flanged. This will put the proper snap back into it. Send it to Art, or perhaps there is a hat shop in town that can perform this service. Brad __________________ Keeping alive the Crofut & Knapp, Dobbs, and Cavanagh legacy since 2004. Visit my blog, The Hatted Professor.

04-08-2006, 07:35 PM	#11
Aerol One of the Regulars Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 257	hat store Try John Helmer Haberdasher on Broadway at Salmon. Great selection and great service. I always stop in when I'm in town...about 3X per year.

05-25-2008, 02:54 AM	#13
Fedoraphile New in Town Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 43	Hair gel works like a charm I applied a generous coating to the underside of the brim of an Indiana Jones style fedora, as it was too floppy for my taste. It soaked in, and now that it's dried, is plenty stiff. I got rid of the rough feel by brushing the underside. The hat now has plenty of body, and the brim snaps satisfyingly. This cheap little trick worked surprisingly well, and didn't leave any stains or marks whatsoever. Fedoraphile

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