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Hat Storage

Messages
17,535
Making up some "sachet bags" with Red Cedar chips as I box up some hats for the season. Never had a moth problem & the Red Cedar takes care of any musty odor from vintage felt or boxes. I switch out the chips once a yr.

IMG_5456.jpg


IMG_5457.jpg
 

HatNut-Jack

New in Town
Messages
17
I have a similar question.

I am currently in the process of packing up all of my hats but the ones I wear, for 6-12 months of storage. In addition to individual hatboxes, I have a 31" tall hatbox that I plan to stack about 10 hats in, separated by pieces of plastic.

Given that this could be for 6 months to a year, probably without additional intervention on my part, any recommendations on what to put in the boxes to keep moths away? Would a couple of cedar circles in each box be sufficient, or do I need something longer-lasting, like actual moth balls?
Don't use moth balls, unless you like smelling like an old lady!
 
Messages
10,460
Location
Boston area
So, I’ve been meaning to let you all in on a hat storage hack I came up with this fall. Wanting more protection from dust and interloping insects, I thought plastic bags would work, but wanted to be able to see the hat in each bag. Brainstorm!! The free ones on the roll in the produce department of almost any grocery store are perfect, unless you’re wrapping 6” brims, or Mexican sombreros.

See?!!
5A5753B5-D8EE-41B9-8666-EC950884E7FF.jpeg
Easy to see, plop into the box(es)!
 

RossRYoung

Practically Family
Messages
900
So, I’ve been meaning to let you all in on a hat storage hack I came up with this fall. Wanting more protection from dust and interloping insects, I thought plastic bags would work, but wanted to be able to see the hat in each bag. Brainstorm!! The free ones on the roll in the produce department of almost any grocery store are perfect, unless you’re wrapping 6” brims, or Mexican sombreros.

See?!!
View attachment 197057
Easy to see, plop into the box(es)!
Excellent idea. I’ve always tried to be waste conscious and have read several negative stories of the single use (often just minutes use) grocery produce bags. I saved mine for the dog walks but will keep 6 aside for my vintage collection!
 
Messages
10,460
Location
Boston area
Excellent idea. I’ve always tried to be waste conscious and have read several negative stories of the single use (often just minutes use) grocery produce bags. I saved mine for the dog walks but will keep 6 aside for my vintage collection!

It's best to grab several new bags. Produce can have chemicals or other contaminants.

I can provide MANY MORE POSITIVE stories of multiple, MULTIPLE re-use of those bags. I'm dumbfounded by the campaign to ban them. For years I've kept one tucked away for emergencies (and non-emergencies) under the seat of my bike. It has saved montecristes in rainstorms, held random (unplanned) purchased or found items, etc., etc.
 
Messages
19,096
Location
Funkytown, USA
It's best to grab several new bags. Produce can have chemicals or other contaminants.

I can provide MANY MORE POSITIVE stories of multiple, MULTIPLE re-use of those bags. I'm dumbfounded by the campaign to ban them. For years I've kept one tucked away for emergencies (and non-emergencies) under the seat of my bike. It has saved montecristes in rainstorms, held random (unplanned) purchased or found items, etc., etc.

Doesn't the grocer get upset when you walk out with an entire roll?
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
So, I’ve been meaning to let you all in on a hat storage hack I came up with this fall. Wanting more protection from dust and interloping insects, I thought plastic bags would work, but wanted to be able to see the hat in each bag. Brainstorm!! The free ones on the roll in the produce department of almost any grocery store are perfect, unless you’re wrapping 6” brims, or Mexican sombreros.

See?!!
View attachment 197057
Easy to see, plop into the box(es)!


A “single use” plastic bag! Better not venture into California where you would be drawn and quartered...except we’ve banned knives too, so you might be safe. Hmmm, is there a way to commit an assault using kale?

Next thing you’ll be claiming to still use plastic straws or eat “meat” from actual animals!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Messages
10,460
Location
Boston area
A “single use” plastic bag! Better not venture into California where you would be drawn and quartered...except we’ve banned knives too, so you might be safe. Hmmm, is there a way to commit an assault using kale?

Next thing you’ll be claiming to still use plastic straws or eat “meat” from actual animals!

This is just another reason I was on Lex Luther’s side in the first Superman movie.
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,638
So, I’ve been meaning to let you all in on a hat storage hack I came up with this fall. Wanting more protection from dust and interloping insects, I thought plastic bags would work, but wanted to be able to see the hat in each bag. Brainstorm!! The free ones on the roll in the produce department of almost any grocery store are perfect, unless you’re wrapping 6” brims, or Mexican sombreros.

See?!!
View attachment 197057
Easy to see, plop into the box(es)!
Good idea.
Also, for a more durable bag that will hold a sombrero if need be, try a box of clear kitchen trash bags. Oh, too big you say?? Just tuck the extra up inside the crown for a little crown support.
Cheap, clear and durable.
B
 

Héctor Fernández

One Too Many
Messages
1,267
Location
Greatest Country, U.S.A.
Interesting, Belfastboy. Can you show photos?

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk
Trying to catch up with topics at the Lounge. I found yours very interesting.

This is a dilemma I feel we all have to face at some point. I store my hats in their original boxes, and the ones missing I build them up or just wrap them in plastic.

I like what you did with your apartment space, it looks cool and it seems very practical.

As to the understanding wife, I have to admit, my lovely wife don't get it, won't get it, but still tolerates it[emoji1]

The problem is I have many hobbies and when I get bored, I just jump on the next new thing. This upsets here greatly and I don't blame her.

At this moment I have them all over the place in the basement.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 

Steve1857

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,306
Location
Denmark
Trying to catch up with topics at the Lounge. I found yours very interesting.

This is a dilemma I feel we all have to face at some point. I store my hats in their original boxes, and the ones missing I build them up or just wrap them in plastic.

I like what you did with your apartment space, it looks cool and it seems very practical.

As to the understanding wife, I have to admit, my lovely wife don't get it, won't get it, but still tolerates it[emoji1]

The problem is I have many hobbies and when I get bored, I just jump on the next new thing. This upsets here greatly and I don't blame her.

At this moment I have them all over the place in the basement.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Thanks for the reply, Héctor. My apartment is quite small, so a basement would come in handy.
It's very rare to find a hat in a box here. Only my vintage top hats have ever come in boxes/leather cases. I envy the wonderful boxes you folks on the other side of the Atlantic have.
I'm sure your long suffering wife is secretly glad for your hobbies. They keep you out of mischief [emoji6]

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk
 

Hat and Rehat

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,442
Location
Denver
Trying to catch up with topics at the Lounge. I found yours very interesting.

This is a dilemma I feel we all have to face at some point. I store my hats in their original boxes, and the ones missing I build them up or just wrap them in plastic.

I like what you did with your apartment space, it looks cool and it seems very practical.

As to the understanding wife, I have to admit, my lovely wife don't get it, won't get it, but still tolerates it[emoji1]

The problem is I have many hobbies and when I get bored, I just jump on the next new thing. This upsets here greatly and I don't blame her.

At this moment I have them all over the place in the basement.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Over the years I have switched enthusiasms as well, Hector. In fact, the evidence is still around cluttering up the joint.
Because of that my wife has been very resistant to my collection of hats. After it created serious tension between us for quite a while she seems to have mellowed considerably. That may be because new hat purchases are now few and far between, and she doesn't know about most of them.
My hats are stored all over the place, in different ways. I bought hooks in bulk on the Bay, mounted them on boards, then screwed them to walls. My bedroom walls are covered everywhere there isn't furniture or a picture and I have to use one of those 2.5' squeeze grabbers to get the ones up high. There are 34 hats on hooks in the bedroom and eight more on a cool hat/belt/tire rack (tree). Outside of the bedroom are seven more above two doors. My bedroom closet shelves hold hat boxes. I just walked through the house and four are on the dining table. I'm a carpenter and remodeled the main floor and finished most of the basement over the years. The only part that is still basically unfinished is the entry hall which runs across the front of the house and also includes the stairs to the basement as well as the downstairs space beneath it. That's because it will involve widening and reengineering the basement stairs so they're less steep. A door to an unfinished walk through the attic is also in that hall. Boxed hats are stacked willy nilly utop other materials and things stored up there. Walking down to the basement a U-turn leads you down a hall with the stairs on one side and a wall covered with hats on the other. A left turn brings you into a wider hall where I have set up my sewing station, which is across from double doors leading into my woodshop on its way to becoming a hatter's shop. The sewing station wall is covered with hats. I just counted 37 in that L shaped hall area. I have a tall barn-shaped shed outside with lofts built in it. Half of the biggest loft is filled with boxed out of season straw hats, multiple hats to a box. The quality ones have rings of the small bubble wrap protecting them, made by cutting strips about 1 1/4". Cheap ones are squeezed into the boxes so they can hold as many as possible, only sorted by progressive size to give some level of care.
I started out using wire hooks with pretty broad curves to not be too hard on the hats, and I try to keep my better hats on those. I then found much less expensive rustic hooks and switched to those. The plan is to order soft rubber balls, maybe from China in bulk, to put on the rustic hooks. I plan to market these hat hook boards as I get my hat business off the ground.
You just have to use your imagination. :)

I just tried to upload a pictorial tour but must of the jpeg files were too large for the server. I'll have to figure out how to reduce them and edit them in later.
 

Héctor Fernández

One Too Many
Messages
1,267
Location
Greatest Country, U.S.A.
Over the years I have switched enthusiasms as well, Hector. In fact, the evidence is still around cluttering up the joint.
Because of that my wife has been very resistant to my collection of hats. After it created serious tension between us for quite a while she seems to have mellowed considerably. That may be because new hat purchases are now few and far between, and she doesn't know about most of them.
My hats are stored all over the place, in different ways. I bought hooks in bulk on the Bay, mounted them on boards, then screwed them to walls. My bedroom walls are covered everywhere there isn't furniture or a picture and I have to use one of those 2.5' squeeze grabbers to get the ones up high. There are 34 hats on hooks in the bedroom and eight more on a cool hat/belt/tire rack (tree). Outside of the bedroom are seven more above two doors. My bedroom closet shelves hold hat boxes. I just walked through the house and four are on the dining table. I'm a carpenter and remodeled the main floor and finished most of the basement over the years. The only part that is still basically unfinished is the entry hall which runs across the front of the house and also includes the stairs to the basement as well as the downstairs space beneath it. That's because it will involve widening and reengineering the basement stairs so they're less steep. A door to an unfinished walk through the attic is also in that hall. Boxed hats are stacked willy nilly utop other materials and things stored up there. Walking down to the basement a U-turn leads you down a hall with the stairs on one side and a wall covered with hats on the other. A left turn brings you into a wider hall where I have set up my sewing station, which is across from double doors leading into my woodshop on its way to becoming a hatter's shop. The sewing station wall is covered with hats. I just counted 37 in that L shaped hall area. I have a tall barn-shaped shed outside with lofts built in it. Half of the biggest loft is filled with boxed out of season straw hats, multiple hats to a box. The quality ones have rings of the small bubble wrap protecting them, made by cutting strips about 1 1/4". Cheap ones are squeezed into the boxes so they can hold as many as possible, only sorted by progressive size to give some level of care.
I started out using wire hooks with pretty broad curves to not be too hard on the hats, and I try to keep my better hats on those. I then found much less expensive rustic hooks and switched to those. The plan is to order soft rubber balls, maybe from China in bulk, to put on the rustic hooks. I plan to market these hat hook boards as I get my hat business off the ground.
You just have to use your imagination. :)

I just tried to upload a pictorial tour but must of the jpeg files were too large for the server. I'll have to figure out how to reduce them and edit them in later.
Nice write up.[emoji106] I can tell you, my wife will not have it, I could never have hats hanging all over the place, not happening [emoji1]

Frankly, I don't have that many hats in comparison to other members, mainly because this isn't a hobby for me in the strict meaning of the word. I use every single hat I own and that's what keeps the peace around the house. Also, my wife understands hats are not an investment and are not part of our present or any future retirement income, that also make things much easier.

I'm looking forward to see your future work station.[emoji106][emoji106]

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 

Hat and Rehat

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,442
Location
Denver
Nice write up.[emoji106] I can tell you, my wife will not have it, I could never have hats hanging all over the place, not happening [emoji1]

Frankly, I don't have that many hats in comparison to other members, mainly because this isn't a hobby for me in the strict meaning of the word. I use every single hat I own and that's what keeps the peace around the house. Also, my wife understands hats are not an investment and are not part of our present or any future retirement income, that also make things much easier.

I'm looking forward to see your future work station.[emoji106][emoji106]

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Hats hanging everywhere actually looks pretty cool. It beats paintings bought at events in Hotels hands down!
 

Hat and Rehat

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,442
Location
Denver
Nice write up.[emoji106] I can tell you, my wife will not have it, I could never have hats hanging all over the place, not happening [emoji1]

Frankly, I don't have that many hats in comparison to other members, mainly because this isn't a hobby for me in the strict meaning of the word. I use every single hat I own and that's what keeps the peace around the house. Also, my wife understands hats are not an investment and are not part of our present or any future retirement income, that also make things much easier.

I'm looking forward to see your future work station.[emoji106][emoji106]

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
For me it's more than a hobby. I hope to turn it into a business to supplement retirement. There are more ducks to get in a row than I first realized, and life's surprises seem to get in the way, but I'm hoping to enter this from a different angle than most modern hatters.
I'd like to have a hat booth with some blocks and a steamer, as well as hats on display for sale as well as accessories like brushes, replacement pug bands, framed hat art and even hat posters. I want to offer quick brush cleaning and hand blocking at a reasonable price as they wait, using the time to dialog and build relationships as well as educate people about poor, mediocre, a bit better, better still and best hats. Pass out cards and take contract jobs home with me.
So, my 500 odd hats are in all kinds of grades and sizes, because I see most of them, after improvements, as merchandise, which can come in at different price points.
Initially most of the hats, a lot for women, didn't even fit me.
At one point it hit me that I better sport good hats if I wanted people to purchase from me, so I did a lot more shopping for my personal hat harem.
 

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