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resizing to long oval?
- Thread starter jlw
- Start date
Corky
Practically Family
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- West Los Angeles
Any felt hat with a decent amount of rabbit or beaver can be stretched with a hat jack. The process tends to distort the hat, so be careful not to try to stretch it too much at one time.
Here are a few threads on this topic:
Here are a few threads on this topic:
Fed in a Fedora
Practically Family
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- Dixie, USA
A hat jack or stretcher will only give you a long oval if it is shaped into a long oval. If you are a bit handy, you might reshape one to a long oval profile or the best answer is you might get someone to custom make one after you are fitted with a conformitor.
Lean'n'mean
I'll Lock Up
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Here you go, you'll need a Hat-Jack though.
This should help you out.
I recently received a custom made hat, and it fits wondrously (hope to get good pics soon), but I was hoping for way to be able to go less costly and less wait for an everyday hat. I tried on some Akubras a while back, but they just didn't fit well at all.
I watched that one, but was hopping for some first person commentary.
Did I hear him correctly to go with a hat jack for a smaller size hat? I suppose that makes sense as it wouldn't push the sides out as well.
Michael R.
Call Me a Cab
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Yeah , LO means your noggin is Longer , and More Narrow . I have several stretchers , 2 Hat Jacks that are Medium , but need to be Small , and I'm 7 3/8 LO , I also have 1 Millinery 6 3/4 Stretcher , and 1 Millinery 6 7/8 . The 6 3/4 is Best . They all get as long (front to back) as you need them , its the width that is the problem . If you can't do it , a Hatter can , but often they'll go back to Reg Oval over time . It can take multiple attempts . The Best (of course) is being Blocked Long Oval . ... I'm like 8 1/4" front to back , then a tad less an 6 1/2" side to side . Something like that .
Akubra Hats are just made to shrink to fit , they take it into account . BUT one of mine shrunk too much , but it will stretch back for a while . Many times overstitching will help , the Hat will seem too big for maybe an hour , then shrink to fit . A good Rain has really helped most , but 1 Stetson 6X didn't do so well with the rain . Just wear it until its dry , or close to it (turn the sweat out to dry slowly out of the heat , if its not dry totally) , and it will be like a custom fitted Hat , normally .
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Agreed.
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- 12,384
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- Albany Oregon
I'm a 7 1/4 LO, I still need a little stretch in the front of some of my LO hats. I am thinking of reshaping my cheap-o stretcher by taking a sander to it this afternoon. I'll try to match it to my bespoke NW Hat configuration, it fits like a dream!
That should work pretty well.
I've never had any issue with just using a standard hat jack on any LO stretch...I tend to spend a lot of time with the steam.
ONE tip is take it slow...the stretchers will move a lot of hat out without you really taking note of it, so be slow and careful or you can over stretch the hat. Steam the brim all the way around and when the jack is in the hat steam some more and SLOWLY open the jack wider....steam some more and let the hat sit with the jack still in the hat for about 5 minutes...then check for how it fits.
ONE tip is take it slow...the stretchers will move a lot of hat out without you really taking note of it, so be slow and careful or you can over stretch the hat. Steam the brim all the way around and when the jack is in the hat steam some more and SLOWLY open the jack wider....steam some more and let the hat sit with the jack still in the hat for about 5 minutes...then check for how it fits.
Michael R.
Call Me a Cab
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- West Tennessee USA
I know my Akubras all fit fine , it takes some a shorter time than others to shrink to size , but as I think I said one shrunk a little too much , no biggie , just stretch it back out . But custom Fitted are nice , but the rain did the best custom fit of all for me .
Fed in a Fedora
Practically Family
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The idea is to reshape the existing size into a long oval shape, so you are not aggressively pushing it larger. Most Akubras shrink a bit with wear and dampness so they will do well in a jack that has been reshaped to a long oval shape to fit your head. As to the cost or effort, this is a one-time thing which will work on several hats. On the other hand, a custom hat is surely a joy to own in its own right. There is no wrong answer here.
Fed
Thanks for the info. I placed an order for a duplicate of my custom hat in a different color, but I am strongly considering also ordering an Akubra and stretching reshaping it.
Michael R.
Call Me a Cab
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- 2,889
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- West Tennessee USA
I only have 3 Akubra Hats , and only one seemed to have any trouble with the Oval , the Bushman , but I padded the sweat as needed and they are taking time and wear to shrink to size . The Bushman , though my size seemed small from the start , maybe it shrink on the trip over , but it shrunk more . But it stretches back out . Retaining helps , too .
