Author Topic: Cutting down a felt hat (Read 1458 times)

Cheyenne Ranger · « **on:** July 09, 2003, 04:43:07 PM »

Anyone ever cut down a felt hat? Got one last year for all of $15 and wanted to see if a smaller brim would work. Thinking of scissors for the job.
Any thoughts???
CR

Roy Cobb · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2003, 12:14:53 PM »

Trace around the hat as is on some posterboard
then draw a line parallel to the original edge
cut this out to make a template,
cut a hole in the middle of the template to go over the crown of the hat
then take a SHARP knife like an exacto with a NEW blade
and carefully follow the patternonce you have it cut use a cleaning sponge
to clean up and slightly bevel the edge.
The guy at the Stetson factory used a tool rather like an edge marker when he trimmed down a Tom Mix brim for me to take off the binding and pencil roll. had a piece that followed the outside edge and a blade and he steamed and pressed the brim flat before cutting it.
then used a template made from what amounted to 1/4" Plywood.
to mark the hat then the aforementioned tool to cut it down.
and a Hat sponge to bevel and taper the edge.

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2003, 05:13:38 AM »

Thank you Roy; will give it a try this week-end
CR

Gatofeo · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2003, 08:25:38 AM »

Don't throw that hat felt away. If made of stiff, wool felt it makes the best lubricated wads for muzzleloaders and cap and ball sixguns. Punch them out and soak them in a mixture of:

1 part paraffin (canning paraffin is best)
1 part mutton tallow (available from Dixie Gun Works)
1/2 part beeswax
All parts are by weight, not volume.
I typically use a kitchen scale to weigh 200/200/100 grams and place the ingredients in a quart Mason jar. Place the jar in three or four inches of boiling water, for a double-boiler effect.
When all ingredients are melted, stir well with a clean stick or a disposable chopstick. Allow to cool at room temperature. Hastening cooling by placing in the fridge may cause the ingredients to separate.
This lubricant recipe came from a 1943 American Rifleman magazine. It's what the factories used for outside lubricated bullets, such as the .22 rimfires and .32, 38 and .41 Long Colt.
It's an excellent lubricant for any black powder use. I even lubricate patches for my muzzleloading rifle with it.
Finding an old felt hat to punch out wads is very difficult. I've searched for years without success. However, now I use the felt weatherseal sold in hardware stores for windows.
Anyway, that's my two-cent piece.