This should help you out.Here you go, you'll need a Hat-Jack though.
A hat jack or stretcher will only give you a long oval if it is shaped into a long oval. If you are a bit handy, you might reshape one to a long oval profile or the best answer is you might get someone to custom make one after you are fitted with a conformitor.
Here you go, you'll need a Hat-Jack though.
I watched that one, but was hopping for some first person commentary.
Did I hear him correctly to go with a hat jack for a smaller size hat? I suppose that makes sense as it wouldn't push the sides out as well.
Agreed.Yeah , LO means your noggin is Longer , and More Narrow . I have several stretchers , 2 Hat Jacks that are Medium , but need to be Small , and I'm 7 3/8 LO , I also have 1 Millinery 6 3/4 Stretcher , and 1 Millinery 6 7/8 . The 6 3/4 is Best . They all get as long (front to back) as you need them , its the width that is the problem . If you can't do it , a Hatter can , but often they'll go back to Reg Oval over time . It can take multiple attempts . The Best (of course) is being Blocked Long Oval . ... I'm like 8 1/4" front to back , then a tad less an 6 1/2" side to side . Something like that .
Akubra Hats are just made to shrink to fit , they take it into account . BUT one of mine shrunk too much , but it will stretch back for a while . Many times overstitching will help , the Hat will seem too big for maybe an hour , then shrink to fit . A good Rain has really helped most , but 1 Stetson 6X didn't do so well with the rain . Just wear it until its dry , or close to it (turn the sweat out to dry slowly out of the heat , if its not dry totally) , and it will be like a custom fitted Hat , normally .
That should work pretty well.I'm a 7 1/4 LO, I still need a little stretch in the front of some of my LO hats. I am thinking of reshaping my cheap-o stretcher by taking a sander to it this afternoon. I'll try to match it to my bespoke NW Hat configuration, it fits like a dream!
I recently received a custom made hat, and it fits wondrously (hope to get good pics soon), but I was hoping for way to be able to go less costly and less wait for an everyday hat. I tried on some Akubras a while back, but they just didn't fit well at all.
The idea is to reshape the existing size into a long oval shape, so you are not aggressively pushing it larger. Most Akubras shrink a bit with wear and dampness so they will do well in a jack that has been reshaped to a long oval shape to fit your head. As to the cost or effort, this is a one-time thing which will work on several hats. On the other hand, a custom hat is surely a joy to own in its own right. There is no wrong answer here.
Fed