Adjustments to Hat Shape?

[Custom79]

Evenin' folks.

As I've been reading through the forum I have noticed lots of talk about members doing different "bashes" to their hats.

This got me wondering if most who have a hat or two - I have three custom made cowboy hats - simply buy a hat steamer of their own.

Chime in when you have a moment.

Regards.

C79

 

[Spellflower]

Most of us use this specialized piece of equipment.

Some hats can be shaped without steam, however, and some of us suspect steam may have led to the premature tapering of a favorite hat and are a bit bitter about it, and will stick to distilled water from now on.:rage:

 

[Custom79]

Spellflower

I find the picture of the equipment you posted strangely familiar, but distilled water?

I'm all ears.

Thanks.

C79

Most of us use this specialized piece of equipment.

Some hats can be shaped without steam, however, and some of us suspect steam may have led to the premature tapering of a favorite hat and are a bit bitter about it, and will stick to distilled water from now on.:rage:

 

[Spellflower]

Steam is not really necessary, just moisture. Steam is good if you can't wait for the hat to dry, but simply wetting the hat will make the felt pliable, and it will keep its shape when it dries. Distilled water eliminates the (small) possibility of staining a hat with the minerals present in other (tap) water.

All my vintage hats seem to hold their shape easily when dry shaped. It's only my modern hats that require H2O.