For a more permanent stiffener, dilute some clear shellac in alcohol, and spray it on with a spray bottle. I then run a few tablespoons of alcohol through the sprayer to clean it. Hairspray is soluble in water, which means rain will soften it, but also perspiration, and humidity.
Olav, Thanks for the tip. We are actually filming a video here soon about using shellac at home so I’ll be sure to mention some of your tips in there. Thanks, S^C
@polarbear0218 I'm currently using a spray can of minwax shellac as that is what was on my shelf. You can dilute shellac with denatured alcohol. Brush it on with a clean, animal hair paint brush. (Maybe try adding a few spoonfuls of Kahl stiffner to the mix)
If it's already in the shape I want, but it folds and warps because of the heat in the country I live in, what can be done and does deodorant work to harden it? 2:01
I enjoy the enthusiam and drive to support hat culture in our modern times. But still, The squeaky wheel approaches. Just dont use hairspray. Dont build a bad habbit by starting with one. Go to the gome depot, either get a spray can of clear sry shellac, or better yet, fiddle around with making your own shellac and practice brushing it on! Always flick yer bic 🔥 firing the hat results in the kinda stiffness that allowed for cowboys to take a bullet to the hat and keep riding.
It depends on what the composition of the stain is. I think a safe choice would be to try to put quite a bit of steam all over the hat, and then brush off or use a sponge to remove the residue.
Just use a napping sponge 🧽 then use a clean hat brush, brushing down then out from crown to rim. Also... use shellac and not hairspray. Then light the bugger on fire, and theeeen use the napping sponge followed by brush. Don't over do it. Little bits at a time. Don't press hard with the napping sponge, just use the weight of the hand.
Often I find most hats can be brought back to life with a good ironing on the brim as well as stiffener. Crowns may need to be reblocked in order to be revived, which is difficult to do without specific equipment.
Okay, I used hairspray on my fur felt hat. It was raining one day, and I noticed that a lot of dark coloring was coming out of the hat. Now, that hat is misshapen, and discolored from the band to the entire fur felt hat. The hat is not wool, it IS FUR FELT. I have to state, recommending hairspray for a fur felt hat, not a good thing at all. If someone thinks I'm wrong, tell me and show me that they had a good experience and the hat survived it.
Steve, We have had luck using all sorts of stiffeners on felts including official hat stiffeners. This video was made for ordinary folks who may not have access to hat stiffener at home. We have used hairspray for years on many different felt hats and have had great luck with it, even though it sometimes has the potential of leaving a residue. When applied correctly hairspray works great. We have plans in the future to make a video discussing the pros and cons of Stiffening hats, and which stiffeners might be the best choice for you depending on the quality of your hat.
For a more permanent stiffener, dilute some clear shellac in alcohol, and spray it on with a spray bottle. I then run a few tablespoons of alcohol through the sprayer to clean it. Hairspray is soluble in water, which means rain will soften it, but also perspiration, and humidity.
Olav,
Thanks for the tip. We are actually filming a video here soon about using shellac at home so I’ll be sure to mention some of your tips in there.
Thanks,
S^C
what kind of shellac. im very confused on which kind to use
@polarbear0218 I'm currently using a spray can of minwax shellac as that is what was on my shelf. You can dilute shellac with denatured alcohol. Brush it on with a clean, animal hair paint brush. (Maybe try adding a few spoonfuls of Kahl stiffner to the mix)
If it's already in the shape I want, but it folds and warps because of the heat in the country I live in, what can be done and does deodorant work to harden it? 2:01
I enjoy the enthusiam and drive to support hat culture in our modern times. But still, The squeaky wheel approaches.
Just dont use hairspray. Dont build a bad habbit by starting with one. Go to the gome depot, either get a spray can of clear sry shellac, or better yet, fiddle around with making your own shellac and practice brushing it on!
Always flick yer bic 🔥 firing the hat results in the kinda stiffness that allowed for cowboys to take a bullet to the hat and keep riding.
Excellent video hoss!
I used hairspray on my fedora to stiffen it and all I got white residue stains on it. How do I get rid of these stains?
It depends on what the composition of the stain is. I think a safe choice would be to try to put quite a bit of steam all over the hat, and then brush off or use a sponge to remove the residue.
@@StartupCowboy Thank you!
What is your opinion regarding dry cleaning your fedora as another option?
I haven’t tried it. But they would know if it would be safe or not.
Let me know if it works!
Just use a napping sponge 🧽 then use a clean hat brush, brushing down then out from crown to rim.
Also... use shellac and not hairspray. Then light the bugger on fire, and theeeen use the napping sponge followed by brush.
Don't over do it. Little bits at a time. Don't press hard with the napping sponge, just use the weight of the hand.
what if my hat has lost all stiffness and body in the hat completely?
Often I find most hats can be brought back to life with a good ironing on the brim as well as stiffener. Crowns may need to be reblocked in order to be revived, which is difficult to do without specific equipment.
Okay, I used hairspray on my fur felt hat. It was raining one day, and I noticed that a lot of dark coloring was coming out of the hat. Now, that hat is misshapen, and discolored from the band to the entire fur felt hat. The hat is not wool, it IS FUR FELT.
I have to state, recommending hairspray for a fur felt hat, not a good thing at all. If someone thinks I'm wrong, tell me and show me that they had a good experience and the hat survived it.
Might want to tell ppl with gas stoves not to spray 3 feet away champ
If you must tell people not to spray flammable near flame… well… They’ll learn.
No No No!!!! You never want to use hair spray on a hat. They have hat stiffener for that. And you want to use alcohol on a wool hat.
Steve,
We have had luck using all sorts of stiffeners on felts including official hat stiffeners.
This video was made for ordinary folks who may not have access to hat stiffener at home.
We have used hairspray for years on many different felt hats and have had great luck with it, even though it sometimes has the potential of leaving a residue. When applied correctly hairspray works great.
We have plans in the future to make a video discussing the pros and cons of Stiffening hats, and which stiffeners might be the best choice for you depending on the quality of your hat.
Commercial hat stiffeners are just shellac.
Just use plain alcohol
Hairspray, on a cowboy hat? Son, are you sure about that?
Yeah. We all know you’re supposed to use hair gel for that washed up 40 year old “I used to be cool in 2001” used car salesman look. NOT hair spray.
@@Starch-Wreck What drug are you on?
@@theequalizer9154 found the gel user
@@Starch-Wreckare you slow?
@@TheArchighves Says the guy that doesn’t get it.
Dude it takes a lot of starch to stiffen a cowboy hat or a straw hat