How can I stretch a 100 year old cowboy hat to fit my fat head?
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Go to your local gun show, rodeo, or any expo/convention/event where rednecks congregate. I guarantee you'll find a vendor selling hats who is willing to adjust yours for a fee. As others have pointed out, you need a specialized machine and a shitload of steam.
Hat blocking, because they use wooden blocks to shape the hats.
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nothing a belt grinder can't fix
You have to be careful, most heads are covered by only a veneer of hard outer shell before you hit the gooey center. Find someone with experience. Head resizing is very much a "you just have to have a feel for it" kind of art, not an exact science.
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What's the worst that could happen, do you think?
I've actually widened a hat much like this one by heavily wetting it, fitting it on a larger, head-shaped object, then letting it dry. Even permanently turned up one of the side-brims to create a "slouch hat" / "digger hat" look.
Worked great and no complaints, but I'm also curious what might have gone wrong...
The worst that can happen is the felt falls apart where there are signs of mould and the hat is now two useless pieces or maybe there's just a bunch of tears above the sweat. The main concern is not the type of hat, but how old it is and mostly how much damage the mould has done.
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This joke is made all the better by the character's name being Dr. Kalgary.
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Go to your local gun show, rodeo, or any expo/convention/event where rednecks congregate. I guarantee you'll find a vendor selling hats who is willing to adjust yours for a fee. As others have pointed out, you need a specialized machine and a shitload of steam.
Or on a budget, just wear it into the sauna at your local gym.
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my greatest fear is being in Victoria Australia with no hat to stretch
Now at least you'll know Liza Steadman has what it takes if you're ever hard up for a good stretching. I like the sound of this gal.
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Take it to a western wear store that has a hat section. One of the guys there would probably do it for the story
"So this guy came in and I stretched his hat."
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From my great uncle, this hat was made in calgary around 100 years ago and it's done the chilkoot trail, paddled to dawson city, has surely been stomped into cow shit before, etc
Yes my uncle killed that bear with his bare fists
How much of a stretch? With steam you might be able to add a few(!) centimeters to the hat size, but no miracles. Overstretching will rip it.
This is a job for professionals with the right equipment, BTW.
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From my great uncle, this hat was made in calgary around 100 years ago and it's done the chilkoot trail, paddled to dawson city, has surely been stomped into cow shit before, etc
Yes my uncle killed that bear with his bare fists
I'm usually the diy sort, sometimes when it's not even worth it economically just because I enjoy the satisfaction and experience. I admit that I've never fit a hat before, but given this one's history I have to agree with the other commenters: If this hat really is that special to you, take it to a pro. You don't want the guilt of accidently destroying something that valuable to you and your family.
If you must do this yourself, find some old shitty hats that you don't give a fuck about to practice on first, and research the hell out of it, learn and experience everything you can before you even touch that hat
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"So this guy came in and I stretched his hat."
"I've had enough of your innuendos, Bill"
