Hat Stretcher 55 - 68cm Wood

Hat extender for head widths 55 - 68cm - perfect for making hats more comfortable ✔︎ 4-piece hat extender ❤︎ more

€26.95 *

Content: 1 Piece

Available, delivery time: 1-3 days

Make it fit!

Hats that are too tight will give you a headache in no time and with this hat expander you can easily make hats bigger. This practical tool should not be missing in any costume department or costume stash.
A hat expander (also known as a hat stretcher, hat jack or hat maker's wood) is the ideal tool for widening hats made of felt, fabric or straw by a few millimeters up to one size if they are too tight.
You can use it to obtain hat sizes between 55 cm and 68 cm (S - XXL).
Enlarging is child's play, but requires a little patience so as not to damage the material.

How do I widen hats?

1. Preparation (optional, but recommended): Lightly spray the inside of the hatband (sweatband) with water or hold the hat carefully over steam (e.g. from a kettle). Moisture makes felt hats in particular more supple and stretchy.
2. Inserting: Pull the hat further together and insert it into the hat. It should sit exactly in the area of the sweatband, not too high up in the crown.
3. Expand: Turn the handle of the hat expander so that the wooden shells move apart and press the sweatband against the hat wall.
4. Build up tension: Turn the hat expander until a clear resistance can be felt. The hat should be firmly clamped, but not stretched excessively. You can now carefully moisten the hat again in the area of the hatband with water vapour.
5. Give it time: Leave the hatband in the hat for at least 24 to 48 hours. During this time, the material adapts to the new shape.
6. Check: Remove the hat expander and test the fit of the hat. If necessary, repeat the process.

Please follow the instructions and tips:

• Caution with overstretching: Hats should never be widened by more than approx. 1 cm (or one hat size), as otherwise the shape of the hat will be dented or the material (especially the felt) may tear.
Use a 14 mm spanner if you cannot turn the centre screw by hand.
• Positioning the sweatband: The hatband must press directly against the sweatband, not over it, otherwise the crown of the hat will be deformed.
• No heat: Do not use a hairdryer, as this can make the hat (especially leather bands) brittle. Steam is the better choice (e.g. bring water to the boil in a saucepan and open the lid only a small gap).
• Use for care: A hat widener is also ideal for maintaining the shape of the hat during storage, as felt hats can shrink due to humidity.
• Straw hats: These can also be widened with moisture and a hat widener, but require a gentler approach than robust felt.

Why 4-piece and not 2-piece?

The advantage over the usual 2-part hat expanders is that the 4-part hat expander also expands the sides of the hat.
This gives you a harmonious enlargement of the hat crown.

The hat expander is sold without the hat (decoration).

Sales unit: 1 piece