riflegunbuilder
New in Town
- Messages
- 33
- Location
- Georgia
How much can you normaly stretch a hat? Can one be stretched one size and save the sweatband?
jimmy the lid said:I've moved to a more organic approach to hat stretching -- using my own noggin as the block! I've used a hat stretcher on some newer lids, but have not been pleased with some of the lines left in the hat (or, "bump out" as Mike in Seattle puts it). So, I've been unwilling to use a hat stretcher on a couple of vintage lids that have needed a slight stretch.
Instead, I use just enough steam around the base of the crown to relax the felt a bit, then I put the hat on with the front low down on my forehead, pushing the back of the hat down until I feel that it's stretching out as much as possible. The advantage is that you can really feel when the hat is stretched to capacity -- as opposed to using a more mechanical approach (and keeping your fingers crossed). Then I just leave the hat on while I go about my normal routine at home. As things tighten back up, there is definitely some pressure on the ol' noggin, but it's worth it in the end. After repeating this process a couple of times, the hat really does stretch out, and the stretching actually conforms to your head, instead of the shape provided by a stretcher. (It's like wearing those new boots in the creek and letting them dry!)
Anyway, I've gotten very good results using this method, and I feel much more comfortable doing it this way versus using a hat stretcher, particularly where vintage lids are concerned.
Cheers,
JtL