Box storage stain

[Fredthecat]

I have an Open Road, camel color, that has a 1 ¾” high faded area on the exterior all around the base of the crown. Hat is like new, inside and out, except for this very uniform faded band. Almost exact size as sweatband. It appears it may be from long term contact with storage box inner cardboard. There is no stain, mark etc on liner under the sweatband.

I can’t find the threads that addressed this storage box cardboard contact stain removal. Brush/sponge/steam don’t seem to work on it.

I’m afraid to try Naptha, just because I never tried it before and this one is a keeper I don’t want to damage.

Any ideas or know where the cardboard contact/acid stain thread is?

Thanks, Fred

 

[Snrbfshn]

I'm sorry to tell you this...

But it's not a stain. It's bleaching from the acid in the cardboard. I've got a beautiful blue Dobbs Jolly Rounder that has the same problem:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/jtban1/album/576460762329105823/photo/294928803404085980/1

I know of nothing that will fix it.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Can you sew on a wider ribbon, to cover it up?

 

[Fredthecat]

Thanks, That's exactly what I figured...acid from cardboard storage box.

So much for storing old hats in original boxes to "protect" them.

Otherwise this is a real nice vintage Open Road...very soft felt. I have a nice Dobbs with similar acid mark.

I think the OR is now slated to be a wide ribbon rain hat.

I get to learn to build grosgrain hat ribbon and bows
Thanks, Fredthecat

 

[duggap]

Fredthecat, don't give up on your storage boxes just yet. There are some plastic wrap covers you can get that fit inside the crown holder and protects the brim. Some of our vendors here can sell you some for little of nothing.

 

[Fredthecat]

Great idea, thanks

I wouldn't know what else to do. They are stacked floor to ceiling

 

[Fast]

The bleach mark treatment

I believe this can be addresed with the powder hatmakers use to even out dye jobs. The hatmaking members would know better than I. I got one of those little plastic hatstands. I wil be getting more of them.

Whenever you store any garment in a container, wrap it in good, acid free tissue. I drape suits in the closet in it when they'll be ther more than a couple of weeks, keeps the demon dust off the shoulders.

When I have recieved a hat in a box, it has the box, some flat plastic retainer, a cardboard or foam "crown" and a hat shaped piece of plastic. I put the plastic oover the crown, make sure I flip the brim up if it;s a snap, flip it over onto the "cwown," then tissue over the top. No plastic? Wrap the crown and brim in tissue.

Tissue is good.

Carpe Diem
Fast

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Fredthecat, If you haven't worked with grossgrain ribbon, yet, you're in for a surprise. It's easiest done when you pirate a ribbon and bow from another hat. If you use a new piece of ribbon, it almost has to be cotton and rayon. This is so it will shrink properly, to fit the crown at the top edge. This process is called "swirling." You can do it with a steam iron, before sewing it on. What you want is a curved length of ribbon, rather than a straight one. If it needs to be snugged up a bit, after being attached, you can dip your finger tips in water and soak the entire ribbon, all the way around. When it dries, the top edge will shrink (hopefully) eliminating any remaining gaps. 100% POLYESTER WILL NOT DO THIS, and will make you exceedingly angry! Have fun.