Panama Hat Help

[epr25]

Hi I stuck this in another thread and thought that I might get more suggestions out in the open. My husband recently purchased a panama that is slightly crunchy. He doesn't want it to increase. So is there some type of something that could be applied to the hat to keep the dryness to a minimum. We have tried the moisture from the shower suggestion by another lounger. Didn't quite do what we needed.

 

[HungaryTom]

Not quite good news

epr,

I did not want to leave your Q without an A;
check out for the thread called Panamas http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=9320&highlight=Panamas.
Members discussed on pp7. the issue of crunchy hats.

If it is an dried out old hat with brittle straw, OR if the hat was left too long below the rear window behind the backseats during summertime...The outcome can be summarized like this:


Repair: Pls search for http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=2810&highlight=repair/pp1. Check out the post of Panamabob there. "The last I priced out a repair it was about 60% price of the hat."

Tom

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

I have a few old straws like that - and shower steam is just water, therefore any help it provides evaporates away and the hat is back to where it was prior. I know this is an oft-suggested technique but it really doesn't make sense or provide the results I have looked for either.

It is as though the plant fiber has lost it's natural lubricants which were originally, probably a form of oil. It's affected my more golden colored Cuencas but not my more light colored toquillo palm Panamas.

Anyway, in order to arrest the problem - and as a last resort on a vintage hat that you actually want to wear - I have strengthened and supported the crease at the top front with silicone glue inside the hat's crown.

Sorry for lack of photo (I do intend to add this to a 'few tips/tricks I've come up with' thread someday). But envision the hat inverted and the "V" at the front top where you most often grab the hat is pinched close and cracking. Then with a longish tapered applicator on a squeeze tube of silicone, I apply a generous 'bead' of glue into the "V". After several hours of drying time that area of the hat has form-fitted material inside which will not allow the crown to pinch any more and the cracking can progress no more.

Not something one would want to do to some real vintage museum piece which is being held for investment purposes or something.

Gene