Leather hat shrunk. Now what?

[bhofmann]

Hi all

I have a lovely leather hat I bought last year and I left it in the car on the dash. It's dried up somewhat and has shrunk! Now it's too small to get on my head properly.

Is there anything I can do besides sell it or give it away? I'd hate to see it go but it's just too small now.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Pcwizme]

see if you can get some Mink oil, this may give it some life back. As it will replace some of the oils that have been lost.

 

[livefast999]

Hi,

Shoeshops sell a spray for stretching leather shoes, that are too tight, it may work on your hat.

http://www.timpson.co.uk/shop/c/20/...32/stretcher-spray/p/976/shoe-stretcher-spray

I would get a football, let some air out so it fits inside your hat, spray your hat, insert football, and pump the ball up. Hopefully this will stretch your hat enough so you can start wearing it again.

HTH

 

[maddave]

Hi,

Shoeshops sell a spray for stretching leather shoes, that are too tight, it may work on your hat.

http://www.timpson.co.uk/shop/c/20/...32/stretcher-spray/p/976/shoe-stretcher-spray

I would get a football, let some air out so it fits inside your hat, spray your hat, insert football, and pump the ball up. Hopefully this will stretch your hat enough so you can start wearing it again.

HTH

What if his melon's bigger than a football??

 

[livefast999]

He will have to use a space hopper instead !

 

[Mike Harlos]

Perhaps something such as this would help?

 

[Chinkapin]

rewet it and stretch it back to where you want it. Leave the stretcher (football) in and let it dry.

 

[Ex Member - Sidney Bounty]

find a head shrinker! think their are a few tribes that still know how to do it...LOL.....

 

[John Fenna]

Wet it, stretch it and wear it until it is dry - then oil it or wax it,
Custom fit

 

[Steve27752]

Buy a hat stretcher off of ebay, and leave it in your hat when you are not wearing it............................Job done.

 

[Cap'n Badger]

Wet it, stretch it and wear it until it is dry - then oil it or wax it,
Custom fit

Aye...that's the way.....have t' redo me tricorn every now-an'-then......just stick it in the bath an' wear it. Then oil it when it's dry.

 

[bhofmann]

Thank you all for the advice. I had thought of turning up a fake head and stretching it on, but the football idea sounds like a really simple idea. I'll try the wet-and-wear method first and prey it doesn't shrink so much that I can't get it off. I'll give these a go and post photos as usual.

 

[Chinkapin]

bhofmann, if you are out for a nice long walk and you begin to notice that you are getting a terrific migraine, and the pain is excruciating, it is probably not a brain tumor -- just that wet hat drying and shrinking, and shrinking, and shrinking....

 

[Mike Harlos]

Thank you all for the advice. I had thought of turning up a fake head and stretching it on, but the football idea sounds like a really simple idea. I'll try the wet-and-wear method first and prey it doesn't shrink so much that I can't get it off. I'll give these a go and post photos as usual.

Just make sure it's not a North American football, or you'll end up with a head shaped like this: