Hat brim wire recommendations.

[Ogri the trog]

Being a generally inventive sort of chap, I can improvise my way around most problems, but this one has me stumped....

I have an Australian Geographic leather hat - nothing special but it holds a number of memories and I want to keep it in good nick.
The wire brim has never been particularly good at keeping its shape, getting easily knocked or bent out of the shape that I regularly have to mold it into to duct the rain and wind off my head, ears and face.

So what I'm trying to do is replace the brim wire - however, I'm lost as to what to replace it with; I've thought about thick strimmer cord, which isn't going to take a set and fencing wire which seems just too overkill for the job. I think I need something kind of springy but bendable to a degree......

What would be your ideas for a replacement brim wire?

Thanks all

Ogri the trog

 

[Dogoak]

Would electrical single core copper wire be any good?

Good luck with the quest.

 

[mountainm]

Sounds like you need some sort of carbon fibre or fibre glass rod - like a kite spar or quiver tip type thing, but that wouldn't take a set. How about a memory metal?

 

[blacktimberwolf]

I use fencing wire as I like the brim to keep it's shape & not wobble about when I walk or it's windy

There is an alternative which may work but I'll PM you as I don't want everyone to know about it

 

[Biker]

I used both copper and plain old 2mm galvanised fencing wire for both my hats. It worked fine, Bit fiddly feeding it through the seam roll but once done it's done. I did file the end of the wire to a rounded dome shape so it wouldn't snag , failing that just shape a tight bend at the end.

Curious about this method Blacktimberwolf wants to keep so secret.

 

[Ogri the trog]

I use fencing wire as I like the brim to keep it's shape & not wobble about when I walk or it's windy

There is an alternative which may work but I'll PM you as I don't want everyone to know about it

Intriguing, I'm guessing pure "unobtainium", distilled from horse-feathers -
The secret will be safe with me BTW, safely ensconced in the brim of my hat!

Cheers all

Ogri the trog

 

[Crowe]

Try 120 lb commercial monofil fishing line or a weight of line that suits the brim. Join with a crimp splice. I use this on my sun hats on the boat and it works well and holds a regular shape. It will crush and still return.
Hope this helps
Crowe

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Bit fiddly feeding it through the seam roll but once done it's done. I did file the end of the wire to a rounded dome shape so it wouldn't snag , failing that just shape a tight bend at the end..

I think it's better just to cut & remove the stitching, put in the wire then sew it up again..

 

[mountainm]

Fishing trace wire may work....or brake cable.

 

[The Lord Poncho]

I think jacket hoods use fairly thick copper wire- if you could get some of that. If you have one of the new(ish) issue DPM hooded smocks with the zip chest pockets there will be plenty of wire you could rob out of the hood brim of that.

 

[Teepee]

I just wired a Parka brim with 2mm copper welding rod, seems to be doing the trick.

 

[Elines]

Try 120 lb commercial monofil fishing line or a weight of line that suits the brim. Join with a crimp splice. I use this on my sun hats on the boat and it works well and holds a regular shape. It will crush and still return.
Hope this helps
Crowe

This sounds like the right stuff and I guess most of us know someone who fishes to get it off (would be a waste to buy 500m).

Has anybody fitted a brim suport to a Tilley - ?any special problems?

Tilleys are good but the brim does flap up in strongish wind

 

[Ogri the trog]

Thanks for the ideas guys, not sure yet which one will be utilised but it will certainly be an improvement over its current guise.

Ogri the trog

 

[Stew]

I had a similar problem a few years back and I think it was Eric that suggested a guitar string - I took the suggestion and it was perfect!