I shopped two states and four counties today looking for a new hat. Nobody sells a real cowboy hat between Ontario Or and Boise Id, or anything I would call cowboy boots either for that matter.
Last week I got one dealer to order in a pair of Lamas in my size 10 EE. Still waiting on them to arrive, only available in chocolate. But back to the hat.
After checking every store I could think of today, all they carried were wool hats. I finally remembered Idaho Hat Co in Nampa Id. It is a Mexican guy who sells hats and a few boots out of his little home on a residential street on the less prosperous side of town.
So, I googled him up and called the number. Yes, still in business. I drive over and he checks inventory for a 7 1/8. He comes back with an American Hat Co in Pecan. The 7 1/8 is a bit tight, but 7 1/4 fits perfect, so they must run a bit smaller than Stetson and Resistol.
The box says 7X beaver, but that means nothing between brands because there is no standard for X vs %beaver. It seems to be a decent hat. Made in America. Cloth lined. And I guess the color will match the new boots. Just a typical wide brim hat with a crease in the crown.
Now if I can find a felt safe solvent to take the tractor grease stains out of my silver belly Resistol.
I know people I wouldn't recognize without a hat. In my opinion, people who wear them as part of their job look uncomfortable without one and downright miserable if forced to wear a necktie too.
I have had several hats rebuilt at Catalina Hatters in Bryan,Texas. If the silver belly is a good quality hat might be worth looking into. They do get kinda dirty wearing them every day.
Went to grade school and roomed at Texas A&M with Tom, one of the grandsons of the company's founder. His dad Bubba became an amazing competitive saltwater fisherman in retirement. All ancient history to me now but the Silver family was the best of stock. I'll bet the hats are still solid too.
Thanks guys. The Resistol has some burn scars from campfire embers encountered elk hunting about ten years ago, other wise I would not have been wearing it while handling hydraulic hoses on the 4020. So it really probably is not a prospect for "rebuilding".
But I would like to remove the worst of the oil and grease stains so it is presentable for trips to the grocery or gas station.
I had considered washing it with Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber, or brake cleaner, but did not know if the felt would survive.
Fast Orange might lift the grease, but how would you get rid of the Fast Orange? Run it through the dishwasher?
Thanks guys. The Resistol has some burn scars from campfire embers encountered elk hunting about ten years ago, other wise I would not have been wearing it while handling hydraulic hoses on the 4020. So it really probably is not a prospect for "rebuilding".
But I would like to remove the worst of the oil and grease stains so it is presentable for trips to the grocery or gas station.
I had considered washing it with Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber, or brake cleaner, but did not know if the felt would survive.
Fast Orange might lift the grease, but how would you get rid of the Fast Orange? Run it through the dishwasher?
Thanks guys. The Resistol has some burn scars from campfire embers encountered elk hunting about ten years ago, other wise I would not have been wearing it while handling hydraulic hoses on the 4020. So it really probably is not a prospect for "rebuilding".
But I would like to remove the worst of the oil and grease stains so it is presentable for trips to the grocery or gas station.
I had considered washing it with Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber, or brake cleaner, but did not know if the felt would survive.
Fast Orange might lift the grease, but how would you get rid of the Fast Orange? Run it through the dishwasher?
I know people I wouldn't recognize without a hat. In my opinion, people who wear them as part of their job look uncomfortable without one and downright miserable if forced to wear a necktie too.
I have a friend in Idaho who is never without his cowboy hat on or boots. At his wedding a few years ago in his back yard the temp was 107 degrees. He wore a light short sleeve shirt and shorts with sandals. Never seen him like that before. Looked out of place. One of his guests ( a friend of ours) is from TX, but lives in Washington now. He had his cowboy hat on and Whites packers, long sleeve shirt over a T-shirt, and Wranglers. All dark blue. He looked very comfortable while the rest of us were sweating.
Rand Hats in Billing, MT make a pretty good hat too, although expensive.
Thanks guys. The Resistol has some burn scars from campfire embers encountered elk hunting about ten years ago, other wise I would not have been wearing it while handling hydraulic hoses on the 4020. So it really probably is not a prospect for "rebuilding".
But I would like to remove the worst of the oil and grease stains so it is presentable for trips to the grocery or gas station.
I had considered washing it with Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber, or brake cleaner, but did not know if the felt would survive.
Fast Orange might lift the grease, but how would you get rid of the Fast Orange? Run it through the dishwasher?
Try a dry cleaner.
Thanks, I had not considered that.
I wouldn't send a hat I cared about much to the dry cleaners.
Makes me a little sad you can’t buy a hat or boots in Idaho without a safari. Even here in Oklahoma it’s harder than it used to be to find good western boots. If you want a decent hat, you generally are headed to a bigger town. A good fur felt hat can be rebuilt and even tough grease stains can usually be powdered out.
Thanks guys. The Resistol has some burn scars from campfire embers encountered elk hunting about ten years ago, other wise I would not have been wearing it while handling hydraulic hoses on the 4020. So it really probably is not a prospect for "rebuilding".
But I would like to remove the worst of the oil and grease stains so it is presentable for trips to the grocery or gas station.
I had considered washing it with Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber, or brake cleaner, but did not know if the felt would survive.
Fast Orange might lift the grease, but how would you get rid of the Fast Orange? Run it through the dishwasher?
Are you afraid to wear it as is because it might scare those who don't know what a working person looks like in real life?
Has ID gotten that bad? Here in the Modoc it wouldn't trouble anyone I know of. Folks come right off the ranches to get their groceries and gas...................and look like it. Not only looking like it, some of them still smell like the ranch.
Oh, thanks for the info on the American Hat Co. I'll have to look into it. That custom maker in Potlandia Eugene too.
Send that beater to Roy Jackson at Jaxonbilt Hat Co. in Salmon, Id. You will be amazed. He also makes custom hats and has a great selection in the store. He's a damn good cowboy poet also.
Thanks guys. The Resistol has some burn scars from campfire embers encountered elk hunting about ten years ago, other wise I would not have been wearing it while handling hydraulic hoses on the 4020. So it really probably is not a prospect for "rebuilding".
But I would like to remove the worst of the oil and grease stains so it is presentable for trips to the grocery or gas station.
I had considered washing it with Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber, or brake cleaner, but did not know if the felt would survive.
Fast Orange might lift the grease, but how would you get rid of the Fast Orange? Run it through the dishwasher?
Try a dry cleaner.
Thanks, I had not considered that.
I wouldn't send a hat I cared about much to the dry cleaners.
I took them an old hat years ago that I'd put through the wringer.
They trimmed the brim by just a fraction to give it a crisp edge, took the leather sweatband and satin liner out and replaced them both, cleaned the felt, and renewed the felt, and re-blocked it.
I have had several hats rebuilt at Catalina Hatters in Bryan,Texas. If the silver belly is a good quality hat might be worth looking into. They do get kinda dirty wearing them every day.
Just got off the phone with an old working cowboy friend here. He uses Catalina hatters too. Been very impressed with their hole repair, cleaning and reblocking.
The Resistol is 4X and twenty years old. It is relegated to chores and town trips. But it still holds its shape well. I would not mind putting fifty or 60 bucks into freshening it up. Any more than that and I will just put the money toward a replacement.
I wash the shirt before each trip to town. And I usually do not wear the shirt I spent all day in plowing and greasing the hay swather to town.
That is where the Resistol is today, covered in black greasy finger prints. Far too many days farming. Now that I am all citified, the wife and kids expect me to look the part.
The Resistol is 4X and twenty years old. It is relegated to chores and town trips. But it still holds its shape well. I would not mind putting fifty or 60 bucks into freshening it up. Any more than that and I will just put the money toward a replacement.
The guy I mentioned earlier in Salmon replaced the leather sweatband, put in a new satin liner, cleaned and blocked for $40.00 2 years ago. Almost like new and has held its' shape through snow and rain since then.
A second for Jaxonbilt hats in Salmon, he is a "good old boy", unfortunately shipping would probably cost too much but per is website a deep clean and reblock is only $40
The Resistol is 4X and twenty years old. It is relegated to chores and town trips. But it still holds its shape well. I would not mind putting fifty or 60 bucks into freshening it up. Any more than that and I will just put the money toward a replacement.
The guy I mentioned earlier in Salmon replaced the leather sweatband, put in a new satin liner, cleaned and blocked for $40.00 2 years ago. Almost like new and has held its' shape through snow and rain since then.
mike r
That is darned reasonable. We have never seen Salmon. I just asked Momma if she would like to go up and spend a night there. Maybe next July, when hiway 21 would be a pleasant drive.
His price on new hats is not bad either. $440 for 20X 50% beaver. Maybe I can get a custom built bought while there.
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