Scotch Guard? Scout Felt Hat Protector?

deadlyhandsome · Oct 24, 2018

Winston Carter said:
Most hats that are fur felt aren't 100% beaver. Actually no one can tell if the qauntity of beaver that is in a hat no matter what the hatter says. In my experiences with beaver blend hats such as royal deluxe quality Stetsons rain will change the shape of the brims.

Are current Royal Deluxe hats a beaver blend? I thought they were all bunny.

As as to hatters telling you the hat is 100% beaver, why wouldn’t you believe them? I have Stetson Excellent quality hats with “Pure Beaver” on the sweats. I’m sure that my customs from various hatters made with 100% Winchester beaver felts are 100% beaver. I’m curious as to why you think hatters can’t tell you the beaver content.

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Winston Carter · Oct 24, 2018

deadlyhandsome said:
Are current Royal Deluxe hats a beaver blend? I thought they were all bunny.

As as to hatters telling you the hat is 100% beaver, why wouldn’t you believe them? I have Stetson Excellent quality hats with “Pure Beaver” on the sweats. I’m sure that my customs from various hatters made with 100% Winchester beaver felts are 100% beaver. I’m curious as to why you think hatters can’t tell you the beaver content.

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Hatter's can tell you anything. It's like bottled water. There is no way of really knowing what is in it because there is no regulation. As far as Stetson Fedora's I don't know what kind of fur they use or quantity but when they get soaked it will change the brim making them curl. The western weight say they are beaver but does anyone really know the blend with other products?

Winston Carter · Oct 24, 2018

The only hat i'm sure is 100% beaver is the Stetson 100X. They are a reputable co. with no need to lie and the price is over $1000.

deadlyhandsome · Oct 24, 2018

Winston Carter said:
Hatter's can tell you anything. It's like bottled water. There is no way of really knowing what is in it because there is no regulation. As far as Stetson Fedora's I don't know what kind of fur they use or quantity but when they get soaked it will change the brim making them curl. The western weight say they are beaver but does anyone really know the blend with other products?

I agree that we don’t know the blend contents. What “7X beaver” means is anyone’s guess.

As for believing the hatters, I guess if you’re a cynic and don’t believe anything you can’t personally verify you might not believe them. I do believe them. I also believe the world isn’t flat and that we did actually land on the moon so I’m the trusting sort.

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Winston Carter · Oct 24, 2018

deadlyhandsome said:
I agree that we don’t know the blend contents. What “7X beaver” means is anyone’s guess.

As for believing the hatters, I guess if you’re a cynic and don’t believe anything you can’t personally verify you might not believe them. I do believe them. I also believe the world isn’t flat and that we did actually land on the moon so I’m the trusting sort.

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Winston Carter · Oct 24, 2018

All I know is for the price Stetson, Dobbs, Resistol, etc. Make good hats for the price.

Winston Carter · Oct 24, 2018

deadlyhandsome said:
I agree that we don’t know the blend contents. What “7X beaver” means is anyone’s guess.

As for believing the hatters, I guess if you’re a cynic and don’t believe anything you can’t personally verify you might not believe them. I do believe them. I also believe the world isn’t flat and that we did actually land on the moon so I’m the trusting sort.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

My Dad taught me to not believe anything I hear and only half of what I actually see with my eyes.

IsaacRN · Oct 24, 2018

Winston Carter said:
Most hats that are fur felt aren't 100% beaver. Actually no one can tell if the qauntity of beaver that is in a hat no matter what the hatter says. In my experiences with beaver blend hats such as royal deluxe quality Stetsons rain will change the shape of the brims.

I agree with you on that. When I sold western hats, the 50-100x were top of the line at that time. Sadly, they were the ones that seem to go limp after one session. I’ve been lucky with my Fawcett and Northwest hats. Of course I haven’t worn them in a downpour, but minimal rain without issue

Winston Carter · Oct 24, 2018

IsaacRN said:
I agree with you on that. When I sold western hats, the 50-100x were top of the line at that time. Sadly, they were the ones that seem to go limp after one session. I’ve been lucky with my Fawcett and Northwest hats. Of course I haven’t worn them in a downpour, but minimal rain without issue

Got out in the rain today with one of my Stetson fedora's and the brim is still flat with a little curl upwards just like before it got wet. So yes it works.

Winston Carter · Oct 24, 2018

IsaacRN said:
I agree with you on that. When I sold western hats, the 50-100x were top of the line at that time. Sadly, they were the ones that seem to go limp after one session. I’ve been lucky with my Fawcett and Northwest hats. Of course I haven’t worn them in a downpour, but minimal rain without issue

Give me a good ole 4X stiff beaver Resistol or Stetson Western. They will hold up to anything and they don't break the bank.

Kevin M Winters · Apr 21, 2019

I have a new SunDay Afternoons Havana hat. It is a 90/10 paper/polyester blend "straw" sun hat. 50+ UPF rating. Instructions are to avoid moisture/water. Does anyone have a suggestion on waterproofing? I've written to Scotchgard and they have no product they'd recommend, though their answer may be a CYA thing. Thanks!

Genuine Classic Gangster · Sep 10, 2019

I have an Akubra Stylemaster in which the waterproofing treatment has broken down and now it can't hold up to rainfall any more.

What is the best way for me to re-waterproof it?

I've noticed that the Akubra company itself says to use "Scotchguard®" , but I have no idea what product that is referring to.

If I search Amazon for that product, I find products named with a different spelling, and many different versions of it too.

So rather than roll the dice, I want know the one precise product which the Akubra company is referring to, the one that won't wreck my hat. What would be an example of a link to that product?

Or if "Scotchguard®" is not the best way to re-waterproof my hat, then what would be the best way?

EDIT: Originally I made this post as its own thread, then a mod moved it into this thread, which I didn't know existed prior to my post having been moved into it.

I have subsequently read the posts in this thread, and based on my experience of 20+ years wearing fur felt hats, the assertions that many members are putting forward, that fur felts naturally stand up to rain just fine, are not accurate at all.

I've seen many different versions of my modern Biltmore hats get wrecked over the years due to rain. I used to have a buy a new one every 2 or 3 years for that reason. Having the hat cleaned and reblocked couldn't help, because they'd still look like trash even after I had that work done on them.

When I bought a modern Borsalino, it became wrecked beyond repair after just one season's worth of rain. And the vendor I bought it from even told me before I bought it that I shouldn't wear it in the rain because it's not going to hold up to rain at all. He sure was right about that! That Borsalino was even worse than my Biltmores.

Those kind of experiences made me get fed up with having to buy a new hat all the time, because rain kept wrecking them.

So I upgraded to a long-hair beaver felt Melusine from Optimo Hat Company. Yet I've still had rain soak it all the way through, to the degree that I could see green drops of water (from the rain washing some dye out of the hat) dripping off of it before I got home. When I got home, I set it down to dry on some paper towels, after which the green dye had stained them profusely. In addition, the green dye had also leaked into the liner of the hat.

And Optimo is considered among the best of the best, right? So if their hats can't stand up to rain in all circumstances, then IMO it stands to reason that no hat can.

I bought Akubra Stylemaster as a beater hat, based on the strong recommendations for that brand on this forum. It stood up to rain very well for about 2 years. But now that its waterproof treatment has broken down, it doesn't any more. It now performs similar to how my Biltmores did (i.e it gets soaked and loses its shape easily). I have no doubt that if I don't re-waterproof my Akubra, then it too will be wrecked beyond repair with another season or two of it taking rainfall, just like my Biltmores used to.

Kinsho · Sep 10, 2019

I've had a few of my hats 'soaked' in heavy rain.

Both Akubra, but one FF Fed4 DL and one Hemp Balmoral.

I can't say they liked it at the time but no long term damage to the Fed4.
However, it may, just may have had the band shrink a touch but I can't see it.

The leather band on the Balmoral has shrunk a little and is now warped just a fraction where it is stitched to the actual hat. Not the inner band, the outer, thin band.

Other than that, if you allow the hats to air dry and you don't force it, or place it down where it can get outta shape I haven't had too many problems. I would 'expect' less problems with beaver or beaver mixes.

Lean'n'mean · Sep 10, 2019

Genuine Classic Gangster said:
I have an Akubra Stylemaster in which the waterproofing treatment has broken down and now it can't hold up to rainfall any more.

What is the best way for me to re-waterproof it?

I've noticed that the Akubra company itself says to use "Scotchguard®" , but I have no idea what product that is referring to.

If I search Amazon for that product, I find products named with a different spelling, and many different versions of it too.

So rather than roll the dice, I want know the one precise product which the Akubra company is referring to, the one that won't wreck my hat. What would be an example of a link to that product?

Or if "Scotchguard®" is not the best way to re-waterproof my hat, then what would be the best way?

EDIT: Originally I made this post as its own thread, then a mod moved it into this thread, which I didn't know existed prior to my post having been moved into it.

I have subsequently read the posts in this thread, and based on my experience of 20+ years wearing fur felt hats, the assertions that many members are putting forward, that fur felts naturally stand up to rain just fine, are not accurate at all.

I've seen many different versions of my modern Biltmore hats get wrecked over the years due to rain. I used to have a buy a new one every 2 or 3 years for that reason. Having the hat cleaned and reblocked couldn't help, because they'd still look like trash even after I had that work done on them.

When I bought a modern Borsalino, it became wrecked beyond repair after just one season's worth of rain. And the vendor I bought it from even told me before I bought it that I shouldn't wear it in the rain because it's not going to hold up to rain at all. He sure was right about that! That Borsalino was even worse than my Biltmores.

Those kind of experiences made me get fed up with having to buy a new hat all the time, because rain kept wrecking them.

So I upgraded to a long-hair beaver felt Melusine from Optimo Hat Company. Yet I've still had rain soak it all the way through, to the degree that I could see green drops of water (from the rain washing some dye out of the hat) dripping off of it before I got home. When I got home, I set it down to dry on some paper towels, after which the green dye had stained them profusely. In addition, the green dye had also leaked into the liner of the hat.

And Optimo is considered among the best of the best, right? So if their hats can't stand up to rain in all circumstances, then IMO it stands to reason that no hat can.

I bought Akubra Stylemaster as a beater hat, based on the strong recommendations for that brand on this forum. It stood up to rain very well for about 2 years. But now that its waterproof treatment has broken down, it doesn't any more. It now performs similar to how my Biltmores did (i.e it gets soaked and loses its shape easily). I have no doubt that if I don't re-waterproof my Akubra, then it too will be wrecked beyond repair with another season or two of it taking rainfall, just like my Biltmores used to.

I'm not sure what you mean by "waterproofing treatment" because as far as I know, Akubra doesn't apply any kind of surface treatment to their hats. Some new hats will shed rain better than older ones due the stiffener residues on the surface but once this has broken down, all felt hats absorb water since felt, or rather the hairs that comprise felt, are hydrophile.
Spraying you hat with Scotchguard may help but it isn't something I would use other than on a wool felt hat & that hat was my only hat. Prolonged & frequent exposure to rain shortens a felt hat's life expectancy, there's no doubt about it, so if you are obliged to wear it regularly under rain & refuse to use an umbrella, then 'Scotchguarding' it might extend your hat's usable life but don't expect miracles, it isn't as effective as a real DWR.
In my experience, no felt hat does well when it's p...p...p...persistantly raining, they get soaked, heavy, mis-shapen & then you have to handle them with extreme care whilst they dry & then one usually ends up having to completely re-shape them when they do finally dry. You can read comments on this forum such as; 'my Akubra loves rain' or 'my Akubra laughs off rain' ....one can only summize that they are walking from their front door to their car in a light shower as if they spent a few hours under heavy rain, their drooping & dripping Akubras wouldn't look too happy. If anyone lives in a region of high rainfall I certainly wouldn't recommend felt hats.

Genuine Classic Gangster · Sep 10, 2019

Lean'n'mean said:
I'm not sure what you mean by "waterproofing treatment" because as far as I know, Akubra doesn't apply any kind of surface treatment to their hats..

Then what is this talking about:
http://www.akubra-usa.com/ak_akubra_faqs.html

Are Akubra hats waterproof?

All Akubra hats are waterproofed as part of the finishing. If over the course of years your hat loses its ability to keep out the rain, you can have it re-proofed as part of the cleaning and renovation process by a hat renovator, or alternatively you can usually re-proof the hat successfully with Scotchguard®.

...?

and this too:
https://akubra.com.au/pages/caring-for-your-akubra

Akubra hats are shower-proof and include a waterproofing solution. As the hat ages, the waterproofing during manufacture may break down and the felt will absorb water.

And I can personally notice the very distinct difference between my Akubra in its previous waterproofed state, and its current waterproof-removed state. It used to be able to take rainfall like a champ. But now it can't any more.

johnnycanuck · Sep 10, 2019

When my hats get wet I do what has already been stated. If it’s lost it’s shape (or if I want to change its shape) I fix it and set it down to dry naturally. This may mean more than overnight sometimes.
Now as for waterproofing this is what Akubra is referring to
https://www.amazon.ca/Scotchgard-Fa...ocphy=1001808&hvtargid=pla-434810572449&psc=1
You can buy it at Wal-mart or Canadian tire. It’s what Tilley hats recommends to keep their cotton hats water resistant. Keep in mind it works great as long as you reapply it every 3-6 months.
Hope that helps some.
Johnny

Genuine Classic Gangster said:
I have an Akubra Stylemaster in which the waterproofing treatment has broken down and now it can't hold up to rainfall any more.

What is the best way for me to re-waterproof it?

I've noticed that the Akubra company itself says to use "Scotchguard®" , but I have no idea what product that is referring to.

If I search Amazon for that product, I find products named with a different spelling, and many different versions of it too.

So rather than roll the dice, I want know the one precise product which the Akubra company is referring to, the one that won't wreck my hat. What would be an example of a link to that product?

Or if "Scotchguard®" is not the best way to re-waterproof my hat, then what would be the best way?

EDIT: Originally I made this post as its own thread, then a mod moved it into this thread, which I didn't know existed prior to my post having been moved into it.

I have subsequently read the posts in this thread, and based on my experience of 20+ years wearing fur felt hats, the assertions that many members are putting forward, that fur felts naturally stand up to rain just fine, are not accurate at all.

I've seen many different versions of my modern Biltmore hats get wrecked over the years due to rain. I used to have a buy a new one every 2 or 3 years for that reason. Having the hat cleaned and reblocked couldn't help, because they'd still look like trash even after I had that work done on them.

When I bought a modern Borsalino, it became wrecked beyond repair after just one season's worth of rain. And the vendor I bought it from even told me before I bought it that I shouldn't wear it in the rain because it's not going to hold up to rain at all. He sure was right about that! That Borsalino was even worse than my Biltmores.

Those kind of experiences made me get fed up with having to buy a new hat all the time, because rain kept wrecking them.

So I upgraded to a long-hair beaver felt Melusine from Optimo Hat Company. Yet I've still had rain soak it all the way through, to the degree that I could see green drops of water (from the rain washing some dye out of the hat) dripping off of it before I got home. When I got home, I set it down to dry on some paper towels, after which the green dye had stained them profusely. In addition, the green dye had also leaked into the liner of the hat.

And Optimo is considered among the best of the best, right? So if their hats can't stand up to rain in all circumstances, then IMO it stands to reason that no hat can.

I bought Akubra Stylemaster as a beater hat, based on the strong recommendations for that brand on this forum. It stood up to rain very well for about 2 years. But now that its waterproof treatment has broken down, it doesn't any more. It now performs similar to how my Biltmores did (i.e it gets soaked and loses its shape easily). I have no doubt that if I don't re-waterproof my Akubra, then it too will be wrecked beyond repair with another season or two of it taking rainfall, just like my Biltmores used to.[/QUOT

Genuine Classic Gangster · Sep 10, 2019

johnnycanuck said:
Now as for waterproofing this is what Akubra is referring to
https://www.amazon.ca/Scotchgard-Fa...ocphy=1001808&hvtargid=pla-434810572449&psc=1

Thanks for the info. But that product is spelled differently than the one that Akubra names. So is it 100% for sure the same exact identical product that Akubra had in mind when they wrote that recommendation?

And why does it have a poison warning label on the container? That's pretty disturbing.

Another question: what does Akubra mean when they says the waterproofing could be re-applied by a hat renovator? What exactly would what hat renovator do it in order to re-apply the waterproofing?

And, couldn't I just buy the same exact substance that Akubra uses, and then bring it to a hatter and tell him to apply it? But I don't know what substance Akubra uses?

Frunobulax · Sep 10, 2019

Genuine Classic Gangster said:
Thanks for the info. But that product is spelled differently than the one that Akubra names. So is it 100% for sure the same exact identical product that Akubra had in mind when they wrote that recommendation?

And why does it have a poison warning label on the container? That's pretty disturbing.

Another question: what does Akubra mean when they says the waterproofing could be re-applied by a hat renovator? What exactly would what hat renovator do it in order to re-apply the waterproofing?

And, couldn't I just buy the same exact substance that Akubra uses, and then bring it to a hatter and tell him to apply it? But I don't know what substance Akubra uses?

Scotchgard is a 3M product. Akubra must have spelled it incorrectly.

It says it's toxic because it contains acetone, urethanes, and naphtha. Don't breathe it.

You can apply it, too.

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dkstott · Sep 10, 2019

Hats by the hundred sells a kit for maintaining your Akubra hats.

https://www.hatsbythe100.com.au/hat-stand-full-dome-10204.html

M Brown · Sep 10, 2019

by it's very nature fur felt is water proof. That doesn't mean it will shed water like a waxed cotton slicker but water won't damage the fur felt.

Some of my fur felt hats have gotten a good soaking countless times and they always dry to their pre soaked state. They may need a little coaxing to insure the leather sweat band doesn't shrink, but that's easy enough with a wooden had block or a simple stretcher placed inside during the drying process. Better, yet, if you can wear it dry it will fit better than ever before.

Wool, on the other hand, will shrink to a baby's size if it's gotten soaked and not property dried.

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