STEP BY STEP NAPTHA BATH

[belfastboy]

Hi guys... just finished (for the most part) my winter season hat naptha bath... thought I'd post some comments and have a question myself...

So I used 3 gallons of Crown white gas, bought at Walmart in the camping section... I wanna say I paid in the $13-14 range per gallon (3 cans). I don't recall the price exactly, but it was the same price as the Coleman Camp Gas, I do recall. I used the plastic tub I've used before with no problem. When I did it last year, I filtered the used gas through a coffee filter back into the cans, but I decided to just use new gas again, and used the old stuff to kill weeds in my driveway cracks (worked well!). I sprayed out the container with the garden hose but then noticed a dried powdery coating the inside of the container, below the 3 gallon mark. It's been a year, so I'm not sure what it might've been, remnants of stuff that came out of the hats last year? or maybe the container itself breaking down due to the gas? The container is plastic, not quite as stout as a pickle bucket, and I did leave the old gas in it for some time before I filtered it. In any case, I used a scouring brush and scrubbed it all out with water, and went along with my bath plans.

I bathed 4 hats this time, 3 lighter beige colors, and 1 green one. I used Lexol leather conditioner on all of the sweatbands, inside and out before the bath. I highly recommend doing this, I didn't have any issue with the sweatbands except what I'll detail later. Back to the bath. I think I determined this time to do the order of the least dirtiest first, as each subsequent one would be exposed to the previous one's dirt. And by dirt, I mean dust, etc from years packed away, these were all vintage lids won at auction. It did not occur to me until after to perhaps have done the darker green hat first or last due to color(it was in the middle, dirt-wise).

All of them came out relatively well, with a couple stain spots I used a toothbrush to scrub out. A couple did not, one that looks like it might've been an ink mark on the brim (maybe to indicate exact front across from the bow inside at the back). The gas scrub just kind of smeared it some. As well, there was a light mark of something on the ribbon of one hat, and the gas scrub got most of it out, but when it dried, there's a light stain of the area I scrubbed. So I need to try some method to get that out of the ribbon. Not sure about the brim mark, it's not hideously noticeable, so wouldn't be too bad If I left it alone. Anyone have any experience with ribbon stains?

Another thing, I did notice some shrinkage this time moreso than the last. In my container, the gas comes up to about the brim of the hat upside down. I turned the sweatbands out to spare them the dunking as much as possible, but I did press down a little bit to get the entire brim wet, so the sweatbands did catch some gas. So after, I noticed some shrinkage on at least two of them, not unbearably tight, or an entire size shrunk, but enough for me to put them on hat stretchers to hopefully stretch them back to size. Anyone else encounter shrinkage due to the gas bath?

The hats were dirtier than I initially thought, because there's a good amount of grime on the bottom of the container now. I'm debating washing one more hat, that's REALLY hammered, to see if I can get some of it's dirt out too. I'll decide this weekend.

Oh yeah, this year I just wore basic nitrile gloves that worked fine. My hands didn't spend much time in the gas, so no issues there.

Overall I'm pleased with the results, tho it seems to me the dirt was actually covering up a lot of wear on the felt... which I thought was weird... hadn't noted that last year on other hats.

I restore hats only using the naptha bath if absolutely required. And before it do it I tear the hat down so I am cleaning only the felt in the naptha. I have come to the position that using naptha is not always necessary or even the best way. If the hat is just dusty and shop worn I will bathe it in a low Ph soap, Orvis Paste. It is kinder and gentler than naptha, I can do it in the house as it leaves no mess or odour. Naptha is great if there are grease or hair product stains but sometimes it can take out too much including some dye and leave the felt with uneven colouration.

Also up in Canada I pay almost $30 for a gallon of naptha so it is an expensive product. I also use separate wash baths...one for light colours and a separate one for darks or very dirty felts.

Glad it worked out for you.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I use it sparingly and have been brushing it on and blotting with paper towels. I believe the brush VS dunking/soaking was introduced to me by Eric @Short Balding Guy It’s worked reasonably well, but nothing is perfect.

 

[Timeras1]

I restore hats only using the naptha bath if absolutely required. And before it do it I tear the hat down so I am cleaning only the felt in the naptha. I have come to the position that using naptha is not always necessary or even the best way. If the hat is just dusty and shop worn I will bathe it in a low Ph soap, Orvis Paste. It is kinder and gentler than naptha, I can do it in the house as it leaves no mess or odour. Naptha is great if there are grease or hair product stains but sometimes it can take out too much including some dye and leave the felt with uneven colouration.

Also up in Canada I pay almost $30 for a gallon of naptha so it is an expensive product. I also use separate wash baths...one for light colours and a separate one for darks or very dirty felts.

Glad it worked out for you.

That's good advice, and I will take it to heart for that ribbon stain I've still got.... thanks!!

 

[belfastboy]

That's good advice, and I will take it to heart for that ribbon stain I've still got.... thanks!!

I have had good success with vintage ribbon by dyeing it. Sometimes the sun damage or stains or both are just too much and cannot be washed away. I either replace it with vintage ribbon or dye it. You have to be cautious as the ribbon can be either polyester or cotton/rayon depending on age and you have to use a RIT dye on poly and an Acid dye like jacquard on natural fibres. But a further caution; the ribbon can shrink if cotton and leave you short.

 

[DonR]

When using Orivs, do you mix it with water and the bathe the whole hat or just wipe it on? Do you rinse it with water afterward? Would this be the same with Woollite?

Is denatured alcohol just as bad as naptha for aggressiveness?

I have a Stetson Twenty-Five and a Knox Twenty-Five that I would like to clean. They both have a little staining, but the Stetson looks like a heavier stain in the front on the brim where it meets the crown. Not sure if it is a bad sweat stain or not. Before I do anything with either of these, I bought a practice hat to try on first.

 

[BobHufford]

I’ve been using just enough camp fuel to soak the hat, let sit for 10-15 minutes, scrub with a soft bristle brush and rinse with a bit more fuel (Crown from Wal-Mart). I’ll filter as dirt and debris dictate.

Max @drmaxtejeda shared this ammonia solution of Ignacio’s for cleaning ribbons. I have yet to try it.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/ask-a-question-get-an-answer.41576/page-906#post-2462754

 

[belfastboy]

When using Orivs, do you mix it with water and the bathe the whole hat or just wipe it on? Do you rinse it with water afterward? Would this be the same with Woollite?

Is denatured alcohol just as bad as naptha for aggressiveness?

I have a Stetson Twenty-Five and a Knox Twenty-Five that I would like to clean. They both have a little staining, but the Stetson looks like a heavier stain in the front on the brim where it meets the crown. Not sure if it is a bad sweat stain or not. Before I do anything with either of these, I bought a practice hat to try on first.

The Orvis paste gets added to a big tub of water hot water. I have a soft brush with plastic bristles that does not raise the nap that I use to scrub the stains. I also let it soak a while. One good thing about the Orvis paste is that it rinses out really easily....just one rinse usually does it. I have heard reports that Woolite works as well. I have always used the Orvis as that is what my wife has for her work with wool and it has always been easier to steal it from her than buy my own.

 

[belfastboy]

When using Orivs, do you mix it with water and the bathe the whole hat or just wipe it on? Do you rinse it with water afterward? Would this be the same with Woollite?

Is denatured alcohol just as bad as naptha for aggressiveness?

I have a Stetson Twenty-Five and a Knox Twenty-Five that I would like to clean. They both have a little staining, but the Stetson looks like a heavier stain in the front on the brim where it meets the crown. Not sure if it is a bad sweat stain or not. Before I do anything with either of these, I bought a practice hat to try on first.

I think the denatured alcohol is a bit kinder than the naptha but that is an uneducated opinion. I don't use it as it is expensive up here....more than double the price of naptha.

 

[belfastboy]

I’ve been using just enough camp fuel to soak the hat, let sit for 10-15 minutes, scrub with a soft bristle brush and rinse with a bit more fuel (Crown from Wal-Mart). I’ll filter as dirt and debris dictate.

View attachment 561548

View attachment 561549

Max @drmaxtejeda shared this ammonia solution of Ignacio’s for cleaning ribbons. I have yet to try it.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/ask-a-question-get-an-answer.41576/page-906#post-2462754

Now that is a line of laundry I can get excited about!!!!

 

[MikePotts]

I'm thinking of trying a white gas bath on a very stained Orvis suede jacket.....stop me before I kill again!

 

[BobHufford]

I think this is the first mishap I’ve had using naphtha to clean hats. Usually I have no issues with liners, plastic tips (other than sometimes trapping debris between the liner and the tip), paper tags or sweatbands.

This 1949s/early-1950s Stetson Open Road had a plastic liner tip directly glued to the liner. A 10 minute soak was all it took to separate it (which I didn’t notice when I hung it up to dry — the wind took the little oval of plastic sheet across the yard, but I finally found it.

 

[RickP]

I have had good success with vintage ribbon by dyeing it. Sometimes the sun damage or stains or both are just too much and cannot be washed away. I either replace it with vintage ribbon or dye it. You have to be cautious as the ribbon can be either polyester or cotton/rayon depending on age and you have to use a RIT dye on poly and an Acid dye like jacquard on natural fibres. But a further caution; the ribbon can shrink if cotton and leave you short.

Since Im retired and dont have THAT many years left, time is valuable. Ive dyed old ribbon before and it works pretty well, but since my hats are not generally the highest tier hats, I usually opt to just install some new/old stock cotton /rayon grosgrain. Ive got one really nice Open Roadish shaped 3x stetson in a beautiful fern green color. Ribbon and binding are kind of a rose color thats a beautiful color combo, but the ribbon has several splotchy areas, As soon as I can find the right rose colored ribbon, Im just going to dissassemble and install a new ribbon and binding

 

[belfastboy]

Since Im retired and dont have THAT many years left, time is valuable. Ive dyed old ribbon before and it works pretty well, but since my hats are not generally the highest tier hats, I usually opt to just install some new/old stock cotton /rayon grosgrain. Ive got one really nice Open Roadish shaped 3x stetson in a beautiful fern green color. Ribbon and binding are kind of a rose color thats a beautiful color combo, but the ribbon has several splotchy areas, As soon as I can find the right rose colored ribbon, Im just going to dissassemble and install a new ribbon and binding

The difficult part is finding good ribbon in the matching colour in the two different widths you need for this.

 

[jeffgarf]

Wondering if a naptha bath is right for your hat? It is if you won this at auction . . .



See next post for results.

 

[jeffgarf]

Prior to a serious steaming and blocking, I present


The second to last shot is the 5th of 5 coffee filters I used to pour the naptha (camp fuel) back into the original containers. Yikes!

 

[belfastboy]

Prior to a serious steaming and blocking, I present
View attachment 708827 View attachment 708828 View attachment 708829 View attachment 708830 View attachment 708826 View attachment 708831

The second to last shot is the 5th of 5 coffee filters I used to pour the naptha (camp fuel) back into the original containers. Yikes!

great work. Often old silverbelly coloured hats stained like that don't clean up as well.

 

[jeffgarf]

great work. Often old silverbelly coloured hats stained like that don't clean up as well.

Thank you. After a proper steam bath and a bashing, it came out even better. I took a chance with a beater at an auction just to see how well the bath would work. Looks like I got both the experience and a great hat.

 

[belfastboy]

Thank you. After a proper steam bath and a bashing, it came out even better. I took a chance with a beater at an auction just to see how well the bath would work. Looks like I got both the experience and a great hat.

Some of my favourite hats are beaters picked up for cheap. They were one step from the garbage bin. Clean them up, new sweat, new ribbon and I have close to a brand new hat. I learned to be a hat maker by reverse engineering beater hats, tearing them down and building them up.

 

[BobHufford]

Hat bath day in the Ozarks.

Even a good soak and light scrub can’t always get all the “apparent” funk.

Maybe the fly was confused by the ****-crease hat shaping. This hat arrived with one “poor man’s crease clip” still attached.

Don’t think that is gonna steam out easily (a before picture).

Had a panic moment during yesterday’s bath-day. A relatively clean O’Farrell had this one spot that I thought I would try to remove with the little bit of clean camp fuel I still had on hand. It wasn’t enough to give it a good full soak, so I tried to concentrate on the affected area. The felt did soak up throughout and after I hung it out to dry, I see this.

I guess there was still some circa-1988 dirt in there despite a vacuuming and a brushing beforehand.

I freaked thinking I just lost any value I could get out of this hat (my wife declared it not long-oval enough for her noggin). So I was off on the 30-minute drive to Walmart for another can-o-gas in the hopes that another soak with more volume would remedy it.

Thankfully it was a success.

Lesson learned.

 

[belfastboy]

If I was driving by and saw a clothesline filled with hats I would have to slam on the breaks and snap a few pictures.