Just bought an green eggs and ham cap off eBay for a deal but it was a lil bigger than my usual size. Will be using this technique for sure once it comes in! Thanks man
Hey man! Up until a couple days ago, I knew nothing about fitted hats, specifically the 59Fifty hats and how they were shaped. I ordered a couple of minor league hats, and was so disappointed with the way they looked. I found your channel right before I was about to send them back, and you changed everything. Thank you so much for your easy to follow instructions. If I could post images here I would show you just how nice you made my new caps look. You rock!
@@dreinthe616 Any advice on how to smooth out a brim? When attempting to give it some curve, I creased it a bit and now there is a flat spot in the brim.
My Fitteds dropped a Tennessee Smokies hat last week that I really, REALLY wanted. (Big Cubs fan, they’re an affiliate.) But it dropped with 7 already sold out, so I had to reach for a 7 1/8. This mole foam technique of yours worked absolutely perfectly. That was a big deal for me man, and I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated it. You made my week!! Thanks Doug, your the man.
Thanks so much! I just got a new fitted hat for a really cool minor league team (they have some of the best team logos I've ever seen) in a size or two too big. Thanks so much!
As always, excellent and helpful video! Say, could use your 2 cents on this one. . . my dad (who's not used to it) has to wear caps to block the sun and swears they all bother him to the extent where he gets headaches -even if they have straps or snapback. That said, do you have any ideas as to padding/cushioning to make's more comfortable?
I'd actually suggest a fitted cap that is about 1/8 to 1/4 of a size too big - then find some of the gray "open-cell" foam strips (hat sizing) that I showed briefly in this video. They compress very easily and should give a soft cushion around the sweatband. Something to try anyway - I don't like snap or strapbacks because of the way they "cut" into the back of the head at certain points.
Yes, that's a good call - I actually covered use of weatherstrip in a video to solve what I called the "Haircut Problem" when a fitted gets a little too large after a fresh cut.
I use steam a lot for shaping of course, but never specifically for shrinking. I think it is probable that you'll get some shrinking if you steam the crown and let it dry, but I prefer the continuous dry heat from the hair dryer, which is removing the moisture as it's being heated. Maybe I'll try the comparison as an experiment, thanks for the question!
As in my FAQ ( th-cam.com/video/pvWdhpJ7Rg0/w-d-xo.html ) I usually only expect 1/8 of a size change either way, otherwise I won't be happy with how the cap looks, thanks.
So just curious, I’ve been doing this method for years on fitted and adjustable hats, but I’ve always submerged the back of the cap (not the Bill and front) in hot water and let it soak, then I use a hairdryer to dry. Is the spray bottle and better method, and why? Thanks.
There's no functional difference there - you are just wetting the cap a lot faster than using the spray bottle. You're still using the same general method of heated drying to shrink, so thanks for the question!
@@dreinthe616 Welp, I think I answered my on question... yesterday I played around with the spray bottle and hairdryer method you suggest. I compared the results afterwards with a hat that soaked in water and there was a difference in how the material looked. Not much, but some. The soaking method hat showed just a bit of a fuzziness, kind of like wool does. But not much. And the spray method looked cleaner. That’s just between 2 hats though. I think I’ll start using the spray bottle more. Thanks for your content and videos.
Tough to tell, I’m not sure how much of a size range your hair went through - but you can definitely get 1/8+ out of the cap if you use both techniques, thanks
Do you think it’s possible to go from a 7 3/8 to closer to a 7 1/4, was forced to buy a size up and as the chart said it was only 1 CM difference I didn’t think it would do much but 3/8 is definitely too big
Do you think it's possible to shrink a vintage 100% wool cap size 7 3/4 down to a 7 5/8? Does a 1989-90 new era Diamond Collection cap have the plastic ring you mentioned in the sweat? Thanks for any help you can offer. I really enjoy your vids as they're very helpful and your collection of course! Edit: Near the end of your video you answered my question. That's what I get for asking too soon lol
Hey, cool that you found the answer and noted it... I was just about to start on the reply then I saw that. Also, thank you for the comments, I'm always glad to hear when I've helped someone out with their caps!
So a 7 3/4 that’s a little oversized should shrink well I’m imagining? I usually wear a 3/4 and they fit is good but this one is just a tad bigger than my liking
New Era sizes vary widely, so it's not surprising to hear the different fits you've got. The spray-heat method might get the slight change you'd like, the filler comes in handy if you're trying to shrink a bit more than 1/8 of a size, thanks.
Hey Doug, recently discovered your channel. Really great content. Anyway, I wear a 7 1/4 poly and have no problems. I'm a flat bill hat wearer btw. Anyway, I bought a couple of wool hats in a 7 1/8 and one fits great the other fits snug but I'm using a hat jack to stretch it along with steam. 7 1/4 in wool just feels so big. I saw that you mentioned before that you should stick to your size in wool as in poly but I fit much closer to a 7 1/8 in general (57cm head). The 7 1/8, I curve the brim a little since it feels and looks better that way. Should I keep the 7 1/8 wool and just keep stretching them? Or should I go to 7 1/4 wool and let it shrink? And if I should stick to 7 1/8, are they going to shrink over time as I wear it, and I have to keep stretching? Or will it expand and stay with the size of my head after I've stretched it? Much appreciated!
Appreciate the questions - I would actually recommend that you check out a couple other vids at my channel if you’ve not seen them… one is all about the size variation in caps, and another is basically about Wool vs Poly. In either case, I always suggest to stick to your normal size, and just be ready to shrink or stretch as needed. Thanks!
@@dreinthe616 thank you Doug. I figured out I'm a 7 1/8 and it's easier to stretch caps than shrink them but I did watch your videos on how to stretch, shape, and shrink, and I'll have the necessary tools. You the man!
@@dreinthe616 Thanks a lot Doug, after a lot of research I've decided that 7 1/8 is my true size for any cap. While I do own a lot of 7 1/4 caps, the best fitting ones happen to be the poly ones made in the US. Stretching the cap is a much easier process than shrinking. Thanks for the reply. You really saved my collection and got me back into grabbing more!
Love new era fitteds. Sometimes u get a hat where the crown is too tall. Most of the time they look just right tho. Anyway to shrink just the crown a little bit without ruining it? Have one were the crown is too tall. Thanks
Height of the crown is the one thing that's hard to manipulate after the cap has been made. During the panel assembly there's a step where the panel height is set and folded, and it becomes a factor in the overall height. For all the things I've been able to do with caps (see my channel for more if interested) - this is one where I don't think much can be done to edit - thanks for the question.
Hey man! Love your knowledge and videos about 59/50’s. I wear hats at work when I bartend, and after a few weeks they start to smell (worse than my baseball hats did from playing, my guess is it’s a “stress sweat” instead of game sweat). I can tell they need to be washed because they start to form a rash on my forehead after sweating in it. Is there a product you would recommend to get rid of smelly stains, specifically around the forehead? Thank you so much!
I’ve got a couple of cleaning videos on the channel, but mostly I just use the Clorox or Lysol wipes and let them dry out before wearing again. Many cap fans swear by Crown Wipes for keeping the sweatband clean. Thanks!
The Captician makes great cleaning products but what Doug said about Clorox or Lysol wipes, those also work. Crown kleen wipes are also a good product.
Hey! What if I need to shorten/shrink the front part of the cap (from where the bill meets the cap to the top button)? The circumference isn't the problem. There's too much material in the front of the cap, and it gives me a cone head. I have a small head, and it's impossible to find ball caps that work. I recently bought a New Era Youth hat and a 47 Brand kids hat. Both fit circumference-wise, but both have too much length/are too tall (about 15 cm) from bill to button. I have a one-size no-brand hat that fits better that's 14 cm from bill to button (but comes down over my ears, because it's one-size). Any ideas?
In Fitted caps and many other related styles, you've got buckram that is bonded to the front two panels in that area. The buckram gives structure to the crown, and it's nearly impossible to shrink, so I wouldn't advise a structured crown. And unfortunately I think the 'dad cap' silhouettes probably won't work for you either - the 47 Brand "Clean Up" is a low-silhouette, unstructured model - but I just measured one in my collection and it's also about 15cm in the same dimension. However, the Clean Up and New Era 9Twenty often come in cotton, which combined with the unstructured crown may make them more shrinkable with water/heat. I don't have any ideas outside of that, but good luck with the search!
Because those are designed to stretch upon wearing, the fabric might already be in it's "smallest" state when it is used to make the cap. You could try the spray-heat to shrink it - it won't hurt the cap, but it might not make any difference either. Can certainly add filler behind the sweatband of course.
Yes, some people go to a flat steam iron, but make sure you use a thin layer of fabric over it so that you don't singe the fibers and make it "shiny". The only risk with this is that you are creating 'fatigue' in the visor, and after some cycles of bending it won't be as stiff as when you bought it, and therefore might not hold the shape quite as well. I always recommend steaming the visor right before curving, because it makes it exceptionally formable - th-cam.com/video/r5i3ZlAIMG8/w-d-xo.html - thanks.
There’s this hat I really wanna buy but they ran out of my size 7 1/8 but they still have some in 7 3/8 is it even worth buying and trying this technique thank in advance
Two sizes down? No, I don't think you will be happy with it, even if you get it close to fitting. I've got a FAQ video, btw - th-cam.com/video/pvWdhpJ7Rg0/w-d-xo.html - thx.
Does it apply also on a Polyster type? Just bought an LA Lakers fitted in a 7 1/2 but to my surprise it was too big for me. Fitted Mlb is different from basketball typez
Wool shrinks more than poly, of course, but it will still shrink a little bit - you'll have to do more of technique #2 (filler strips) with a poly cap to get the right fit. And the variation is across all New Era fitted caps, not just between MLB and NBA caps - I've made a video about the variation, as well as some specific manufacturing locations that produce different results, thanks.
Hey Doug, just found your channel and tried this method and it workout good. I did have an issue after. A wrinkle appeared on the sweatband and now it hurts my forehead. I assumed it's because of the shrinking process. Would there be a way to fix that? Thanks
Folds and wrinkles in sweatband are pretty tricky, but sometimes I'll just stretch the cap to get a little less pressure in those areas. You could try the very front of a flat iron to smooth it out, but I've never done that personally. Thanks for the question.
Might be, but you'll have to see with that particular cap - sizes vary a lot. But 1/4 bigger than normal will probably feel loose... unless you keep growing the hair, thanks.
Regarding the spray and hair dryer method would dropping it in the washing machine on a quick wash setting and putting it in a dryer on a low heat setting. Be the same?
I did use a clothes dryer in my most recent video experiment - th-cam.com/video/eA_NI5839ho/w-d-xo.html - watch to see the results with sizing. But I can't recommend the washing machine, thanks.
Maybe that's a typo and you meant 7-1/4, and in that case it is too far to go - that is 3 size increments down from 7-5/8, and you would have to stuff so much filler inside the sweatband that I don't think you will be happy with the end result. I typically only expect to get 1/8 of a size down, maybe just a bit more in some cases, thanks.
I don't like putting caps in the dryer because of the way it abuses the visor... and sometimes the level of heat is too much over a long period of time.
Is there anyway to just shrink the crown of a 59fifty hat? The hat sits to tall on my head and if I pull it down it pushed in my ears. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
No, all you can really do is push the front two panels back after heating with steam. I've covered it in a couple of videos (one is th-cam.com/video/EJLFmKbHDX4/w-d-xo.html ), which you can find at my channel, but the basic premise is that you steam those panels and once they are warm put it on your head (or similar form) and hold the panels back until cool.
It won’t have as much effect without the heat... some people get a slight shrink by wearing it until dry, but in my experience the heat makes the biggest difference, thanks.
I tried the spray and blow dry technique on the back panels but now above the batterman logo (at the seam in the back of the hat) there are some dimples from shrinking the hat, do you know how i can get rid of these? They look like dents in the hat and look kind of weird from a profile view, thanks!
Yes, sometimes those happen even with caps I don't shrink at all. The irony is that if you smooth those out, you're stretching/expanding the fabric, which means that you are reversing the shrinking. Just remember that those happen in the "soft" back panels of the cap (no buckram), and when the cap goes on your head, they mostly go away visually as the back of your head fills the cap. Thanks for the question, hope that helps.
I find that caps usually only go one direction with wearing - they get incrementally smaller. I have to refresh a 'stretch' that I put on a cap far more often than I ever have to re-shrink, thanks.
How much size are you trying to remove? Also, there are two techniques in the video, which one are you talking about? You can't expect more than 1/8 to 1/4 of a size, even going to the extremes on both techniques here. Make sure the cap is pretty wet before you use the hairdryer.
You'll never get to a point where that size difference looks and feels good. Too far to go, I'd suggest buying a cap in your actual size - get to a store to try on several if you can.
In my experience that's too far to go - you'll end up using a ton of filler material to reduce by three sizes, and unfortunately the cap could end up looking really strange on your head.
Using water + heat to shrink will generally work with wool, poly, or cotton. But the results will vary with the material - wool will likely shrink the most, then cotton, and polyester is the most shrink-resistant. That's why the other technique of using filler can be helpful with polyester caps.
No, not at all... New Era's color saturation and durability is the best of any cap manufacturer. Cotton is more likely to fade, but it takes a lot of moisture and UV exposure.
Where did you get the red scorpion cap ? 🤯🤯🤯 that’s a very unique scorpion hat . Never seen something like it . All the other scorpion hats have cheap small scorpion logo on a dad hat 😂. Please answer
That’s basically a tonal version of the Scottsdale Scorpions… I think they’ve updated their main design, but it’s still a large scorpion and you can probably find current versions at their online fan shop, or MiLB online shops, thanks.
It’s just a narrative style that I keep through most of my videos, which include more than tutorials… the short and transactional style was not for me, but I do provide chapter markers in more recent vids. As for “you guys”… puzzling, as I’m not part of some content collective.
![[안방1열 직캠4K] 베이비몬스터 치키타 'FOREVER' (BABYMONSTER CHIQUITA FanCam) @SBS Inkigayo 2404707](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tn3bGHiBWkg/mqdefault.jpg)
![[안방1열 직캠4K] 베이비몬스터 치키타 'FOREVER' (BABYMONSTER CHIQUITA FanCam) @SBS Inkigayo 2404707](/img/tr.png)
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 69 | คู่เอก "กุหลาบดำ vs นาบิล"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PNM6U8e_HMo/mqdefault.jpg)
Doug got me looking like a champ thanks bro
Just an update, I did it and it is effective. my cap was polyester. just be patient with the process. Thank you!
wow this whole time I always rolled up my paper towels to stuff my hat but this is simpler thank you!
Big Thanks, from Germany!
Your vids have helped me save so many hats over the years. You’re doing the Lord’s work 🙌🏾
Man, that is high praise!! Honored to hear it, seems that you value caps the same way I do - glad I could help out!
Just bought an green eggs and ham cap off eBay for a deal but it was a lil bigger than my usual size. Will be using this technique for sure once it comes in! Thanks man
Cool, good luck and thank you!
That's was super helpful... And I certainly can use the foam techniques. 🙏🏻
Thank you, glad I could help!
Thanks man I’ve seen a hat I wanted but was a size bigger and I think what you said can make it work
Cool, you are welcome, hope it works out for you.
Thank you! 🙏🏼
Great video!
Thank you. I used the moleskin and it worked.
god bless you and your family dre. wish u the best.
Appreciate it, same to you!
Hey man! Up until a couple days ago, I knew nothing about fitted hats, specifically the 59Fifty hats and how they were shaped. I ordered a couple of minor league hats, and was so disappointed with the way they looked. I found your channel right before I was about to send them back, and you changed everything. Thank you so much for your easy to follow instructions. If I could post images here I would show you just how nice you made my new caps look. You rock!
Really cool to hear, that's the main reason I started doing this whole channel - thanks for posting!
@@dreinthe616 Absolutely! Keep up the good work!
@@dreinthe616 Any advice on how to smooth out a brim? When attempting to give it some curve, I creased it a bit and now there is a flat spot in the brim.
Finally!! Been waiting for this video, I had heard about this technique or similar ones, but i had to hear from you to make sure it was true.
Awesome, thanks Professor H, good to hear from you as always!
My Fitteds dropped a Tennessee Smokies hat last week that I really, REALLY wanted. (Big Cubs fan, they’re an affiliate.) But it dropped with 7 already sold out, so I had to reach for a 7 1/8. This mole foam technique of yours worked absolutely perfectly. That was a big deal for me man, and I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated it. You made my week!! Thanks Doug, your the man.
Really cool to hear, thanks for the comments!
Thanks for video , I bought a new era hat to big for my head. Trying this tomorrow. Great video.
did it work gonna have to try tomorrow bought a 7 3/4 instead of a 7 3/8
Thanks so much! I just got a new fitted hat for a really cool minor league team (they have some of the best team logos I've ever seen) in a size or two too big. Thanks so much!
Sure thing, man - you are welcome... glad to help out!
Thank u so much!!!❤
As always, excellent and helpful video! Say, could use your 2 cents on this one. . . my dad (who's not used to it) has to wear caps to block the sun and swears they all bother him to the extent where he gets headaches -even if they have straps or snapback. That said, do you have any ideas as to padding/cushioning to make's more comfortable?
I'd actually suggest a fitted cap that is about 1/8 to 1/4 of a size too big - then find some of the gray "open-cell" foam strips (hat sizing) that I showed briefly in this video. They compress very easily and should give a soft cushion around the sweatband. Something to try anyway - I don't like snap or strapbacks because of the way they "cut" into the back of the head at certain points.
Dudes a legend just made my money worth it
You could always use weather stripping and a steamer. That’s what I use and it works like a charm.
Yes, that's a good call - I actually covered use of weatherstrip in a video to solve what I called the "Haircut Problem" when a fitted gets a little too large after a fresh cut.
Love that black St. Louis Cardinal’s cap. I need one between 71/2-75/8. 🥲wishful thinking 💭
Thanks, that's a favorite of mine too, got it about 6-7 years ago, haven't seen it in the exact same combo since then.
Great video as always. Does anyone know the name of the Red Scorpion Hat in the thumbnail?
Scottsdale Scorpions, MiLB - this was a "tonal" cap that Hat Heaven did with their logo.
Great videos as usual here. Have you tried a steamer vs the hair dryer?
I use steam a lot for shaping of course, but never specifically for shrinking. I think it is probable that you'll get some shrinking if you steam the crown and let it dry, but I prefer the continuous dry heat from the hair dryer, which is removing the moisture as it's being heated. Maybe I'll try the comparison as an experiment, thanks for the question!
Could I go from a 5/8 to a 3/8? I wear 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 can fit me.I would use the spray method and I have hat adjusters aswell.
As in my FAQ ( th-cam.com/video/pvWdhpJ7Rg0/w-d-xo.html ) I usually only expect 1/8 of a size change either way, otherwise I won't be happy with how the cap looks, thanks.
Can the water and heat technique work with the batting practice hats as the material is different from on field 59fifty hats ?
Yes, it's still polyester, and it will work - but there is some variation in just how much to expect because the construction/weave is different.
So just curious, I’ve been doing this method for years on fitted and adjustable hats, but I’ve always submerged the back of the cap (not the Bill and front) in hot water and let it soak, then I use a hairdryer to dry. Is the spray bottle and better method, and why?
Thanks.
There's no functional difference there - you are just wetting the cap a lot faster than using the spray bottle. You're still using the same general method of heated drying to shrink, so thanks for the question!
@@dreinthe616 Welp, I think I answered my on question... yesterday I played around with the spray bottle and hairdryer method you suggest. I compared the results afterwards with a hat that soaked in water and there was a difference in how the material looked. Not much, but some. The soaking method hat showed just a bit of a fuzziness, kind of like wool does. But not much. And the spray method looked cleaner. That’s just between 2 hats though.
I think I’ll start using the spray bottle more.
Thanks for your content and videos.
Will this method work or are methods work if he has one full size up
i got a 7 1/2 and it’s an okay fit, i want it jst a little tighter, if i do this what size do you think i can shrink it to?
prob a 7 3/8
I got a 7 3/8 hat Doug which was my normal size. But I cut my hair so it fits very loose. Will this shrinking technique help my case at all?
Tough to tell, I’m not sure how much of a size range your hair went through - but you can definitely get 1/8+ out of the cap if you use both techniques, thanks
Do you think it’s possible to go from a 7 3/8 to closer to a 7 1/4, was forced to buy a size up and as the chart said it was only 1 CM difference I didn’t think it would do much but 3/8 is definitely too big
Yes, I mentioned that 1/8 of a size down is a perfectly reasonable expectation with the methods here, thanks.
So the water I sprayed should dry a bit, and then do it with the hair dryer??
Just wet the cap with the sprayer as I suggested, then go immediately to using the hair dryer - there is no need to wait, thanks.
I have a super small head you think i can get a 6 7/8 go down to 6 3/4 ?
Yes
Do you think it's possible to shrink a vintage 100% wool cap size 7 3/4 down to a 7 5/8? Does a 1989-90 new era Diamond Collection cap have the plastic ring you mentioned in the sweat? Thanks for any help you can offer. I really enjoy your vids as they're very helpful and your collection of course!
Edit: Near the end of your video you answered my question. That's what I get for asking too soon lol
Hey, cool that you found the answer and noted it... I was just about to start on the reply then I saw that. Also, thank you for the comments, I'm always glad to hear when I've helped someone out with their caps!
So a 7 3/4 that’s a little oversized should shrink well I’m imagining? I usually wear a 3/4 and they fit is good but this one is just a tad bigger than my liking
New Era sizes vary widely, so it's not surprising to hear the different fits you've got. The spray-heat method might get the slight change you'd like, the filler comes in handy if you're trying to shrink a bit more than 1/8 of a size, thanks.
Hey Doug, recently discovered your channel. Really great content. Anyway, I wear a 7 1/4 poly and have no problems. I'm a flat bill hat wearer btw. Anyway, I bought a couple of wool hats in a 7 1/8 and one fits great the other fits snug but I'm using a hat jack to stretch it along with steam. 7 1/4 in wool just feels so big. I saw that you mentioned before that you should stick to your size in wool as in poly but I fit much closer to a 7 1/8 in general (57cm head). The 7 1/8, I curve the brim a little since it feels and looks better that way. Should I keep the 7 1/8 wool and just keep stretching them? Or should I go to 7 1/4 wool and let it shrink?
And if I should stick to 7 1/8, are they going to shrink over time as I wear it, and I have to keep stretching? Or will it expand and stay with the size of my head after I've stretched it? Much appreciated!
Appreciate the questions - I would actually recommend that you check out a couple other vids at my channel if you’ve not seen them… one is all about the size variation in caps, and another is basically about Wool vs Poly. In either case, I always suggest to stick to your normal size, and just be ready to shrink or stretch as needed. Thanks!
@@dreinthe616 thank you Doug. I figured out I'm a 7 1/8 and it's easier to stretch caps than shrink them but I did watch your videos on how to stretch, shape, and shrink, and I'll have the necessary tools. You the man!
@@dreinthe616 Thanks a lot Doug, after a lot of research I've decided that 7 1/8 is my true size for any cap. While I do own a lot of 7 1/4 caps, the best fitting ones happen to be the poly ones made in the US. Stretching the cap is a much easier process than shrinking. Thanks for the reply. You really saved my collection and got me back into grabbing more!
Bro I have I have a small head 😂 the 6 7/8 fits me a tiny bit big so ima try this 👌🏽👌🏽
Love new era fitteds. Sometimes u get a hat where the crown is too tall. Most of the time they look just right tho. Anyway to shrink just the crown a little bit without ruining it? Have one were the crown is too tall. Thanks
Height of the crown is the one thing that's hard to manipulate after the cap has been made. During the panel assembly there's a step where the panel height is set and folded, and it becomes a factor in the overall height. For all the things I've been able to do with caps (see my channel for more if interested) - this is one where I don't think much can be done to edit - thanks for the question.
@@dreinthe616 thanks for your response. Love you’re channel. Subscribed!
Hey man! Love your knowledge and videos about 59/50’s. I wear hats at work when I bartend, and after a few weeks they start to smell (worse than my baseball hats did from playing, my guess is it’s a “stress sweat” instead of game sweat). I can tell they need to be washed because they start to form a rash on my forehead after sweating in it. Is there a product you would recommend to get rid of smelly stains, specifically around the forehead? Thank you so much!
I’ve got a couple of cleaning videos on the channel, but mostly I just use the Clorox or Lysol wipes and let them dry out before wearing again. Many cap fans swear by Crown Wipes for keeping the sweatband clean. Thanks!
The Captician makes great cleaning products but what Doug said about Clorox or Lysol wipes, those also work. Crown kleen wipes are also a good product.
Hey! What if I need to shorten/shrink the front part of the cap (from where the bill meets the cap to the top button)? The circumference isn't the problem. There's too much material in the front of the cap, and it gives me a cone head. I have a small head, and it's impossible to find ball caps that work. I recently bought a New Era Youth hat and a 47 Brand kids hat. Both fit circumference-wise, but both have too much length/are too tall (about 15 cm) from bill to button. I have a one-size no-brand hat that fits better that's 14 cm from bill to button (but comes down over my ears, because it's one-size). Any ideas?
In Fitted caps and many other related styles, you've got buckram that is bonded to the front two panels in that area. The buckram gives structure to the crown, and it's nearly impossible to shrink, so I wouldn't advise a structured crown. And unfortunately I think the 'dad cap' silhouettes probably won't work for you either - the 47 Brand "Clean Up" is a low-silhouette, unstructured model - but I just measured one in my collection and it's also about 15cm in the same dimension. However, the Clean Up and New Era 9Twenty often come in cotton, which combined with the unstructured crown may make them more shrinkable with water/heat. I don't have any ideas outside of that, but good luck with the search!
If I wanted to shrink a cap and change the shape of the front of it using a blow dryer, which would you recommend doing first?
Shrink first, then do the shaping, thanks.
Would honestly pay you to shrink my hat but will try this method my friend thank you!
Cool, thanks man - good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine!
Don't mean to go off topic but do you have an adjustable cap collection too?
Not too many adjustables for me - two strap/snapbacks and a few stretch fit 39Thirtys... but thanks for the question
Can this work with stretch fit caps?
Because those are designed to stretch upon wearing, the fabric might already be in it's "smallest" state when it is used to make the cap. You could try the spray-heat to shrink it - it won't hurt the cap, but it might not make any difference either. Can certainly add filler behind the sweatband of course.
is there a way to flatten your brim and try to re curve it. or will that mess it up
Yes, some people go to a flat steam iron, but make sure you use a thin layer of fabric over it so that you don't singe the fibers and make it "shiny". The only risk with this is that you are creating 'fatigue' in the visor, and after some cycles of bending it won't be as stiff as when you bought it, and therefore might not hold the shape quite as well. I always recommend steaming the visor right before curving, because it makes it exceptionally formable - th-cam.com/video/r5i3ZlAIMG8/w-d-xo.html - thanks.
@@dreinthe616 prct it
There’s this hat I really wanna buy but they ran out of my size 7 1/8 but they still have some in 7 3/8 is it even worth buying and trying this technique thank in advance
Two sizes down? No, I don't think you will be happy with it, even if you get it close to fitting. I've got a FAQ video, btw - th-cam.com/video/pvWdhpJ7Rg0/w-d-xo.html - thx.
Hey Doug, love your channel. Helped me a lot with my fitted collection. Do you think I would be able to shrink a hat from 7 1/2 TO 7 1/4?
No, that’s too far to go, I don’t think you will be happy with the result, thanks.
Does it apply also on a Polyster type?
Just bought an LA Lakers fitted in a 7 1/2 but to my surprise it was too big for me.
Fitted Mlb is different from basketball typez
Wool shrinks more than poly, of course, but it will still shrink a little bit - you'll have to do more of technique #2 (filler strips) with a poly cap to get the right fit. And the variation is across all New Era fitted caps, not just between MLB and NBA caps - I've made a video about the variation, as well as some specific manufacturing locations that produce different results, thanks.
If you wet it and put it on your head at the same time for the last minute drying it does the best.
Hey Doug, just found your channel and tried this method and it workout good. I did have an issue after. A wrinkle appeared on the sweatband and now it hurts my forehead. I assumed it's because of the shrinking process. Would there be a way to fix that? Thanks
It's actually on the edge seam where the sweatband is attanch to the visor
Folds and wrinkles in sweatband are pretty tricky, but sometimes I'll just stretch the cap to get a little less pressure in those areas. You could try the very front of a flat iron to smooth it out, but I've never done that personally. Thanks for the question.
@@dreinthe616 Ok thanks. I will try one of these.
Nice hat collection bud
is it possible to shrink from 7 1/8 to 7?
yes
My hat size is 7 3/8 & since I got long curly hair, I decided to get a 7 5/8 is that too big for me?
Might be, but you'll have to see with that particular cap - sizes vary a lot. But 1/4 bigger than normal will probably feel loose... unless you keep growing the hair, thanks.
Does this work for a 7 3/4 to a 6 3/4 ?
Not a chance, don't even try it.
Regarding the spray and hair dryer method would dropping it in the washing machine on a quick wash setting and putting it in a dryer on a low heat setting. Be the same?
I did use a clothes dryer in my most recent video experiment - th-cam.com/video/eA_NI5839ho/w-d-xo.html - watch to see the results with sizing. But I can't recommend the washing machine, thanks.
@@dreinthe616 I sprayed the rim of the cap, in n out, and put it in the dryer by itself. That process seemed to shrink the cap a little
Would this help from a 1/4 to a 1/8??
1/8 of a size, yes.
does it matter if its cold or hot water?
For this, does not matter at all, thanks.
this guy has 10000000 hats and soo bored of what to do, so he shrinks them!!
Naah jk doug love ur page! newera for life
I got a new era hat 7 1/2 that’s my size fits big
And say I were to try this method on a black Where it discolored it at all?
No, New Era’s color saturation and durability is very good - no worries with this.
is it possible to shrink a 7 1/4 to a 7 1/8
Yes
I'm a size 1 and 1/4 can I shrink a hat that's 7 and 5/8 to fit???
Maybe that's a typo and you meant 7-1/4, and in that case it is too far to go - that is 3 size increments down from 7-5/8, and you would have to stuff so much filler inside the sweatband that I don't think you will be happy with the end result. I typically only expect to get 1/8 of a size down, maybe just a bit more in some cases, thanks.
Hi Doug 7 3/8 to 7 1/4 possible?
That's 1/8 of a size, so yes, of course
Will 7 3/4 go down to 7 5/8
Yes, 1/8 of a size should be achievable for sure, thanks
can you do a steam fresh run in the dryer
I don't like putting caps in the dryer because of the way it abuses the visor... and sometimes the level of heat is too much over a long period of time.
@@dreinthe616 thanks for the help my other one is a “size bigger” but the small one i just got fits around it😂
Is there anyway to just shrink the crown of a 59fifty hat? The hat sits to tall on my head and if I pull it down it pushed in my ears. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
No, all you can really do is push the front two panels back after heating with steam. I've covered it in a couple of videos (one is th-cam.com/video/EJLFmKbHDX4/w-d-xo.html ), which you can find at my channel, but the basic premise is that you steam those panels and once they are warm put it on your head (or similar form) and hold the panels back until cool.
can i do it without a hair dryer and let it wait
It won’t have as much effect without the heat... some people get a slight shrink by wearing it until dry, but in my experience the heat makes the biggest difference, thanks.
I tried the spray and blow dry technique on the back panels but now above the batterman logo (at the seam in the back of the hat) there are some dimples from shrinking the hat, do you know how i can get rid of these? They look like dents in the hat and look kind of weird from a profile view, thanks!
Yes, sometimes those happen even with caps I don't shrink at all. The irony is that if you smooth those out, you're stretching/expanding the fabric, which means that you are reversing the shrinking. Just remember that those happen in the "soft" back panels of the cap (no buckram), and when the cap goes on your head, they mostly go away visually as the back of your head fills the cap. Thanks for the question, hope that helps.
Also is this a permanent fix or does it go back to original size after so many wears?
I find that caps usually only go one direction with wearing - they get incrementally smaller. I have to refresh a 'stretch' that I put on a cap far more often than I ever have to re-shrink, thanks.
@@dreinthe616 appreciate the responses! Thank you very much
I keep trying but nothings happening how do I know if I’m doing it wrong
How much size are you trying to remove? Also, there are two techniques in the video, which one are you talking about? You can't expect more than 1/8 to 1/4 of a size, even going to the extremes on both techniques here. Make sure the cap is pretty wet before you use the hairdryer.
Is it possible to shrink a hat one full size down?
Yes, if you're treating 1/8 as "one full size", then you can get there with one or both of these techniques.
Thx for the reply
Hi, i have a 7 1/2 hat but i wear a 7... What can i do??
You'll never get to a point where that size difference looks and feels good. Too far to go, I'd suggest buying a cap in your actual size - get to a store to try on several if you can.
Imma a 71/2 and bought a 7 7/8 will any of the techniques work
In my experience that's too far to go - you'll end up using a ton of filler material to reduce by three sizes, and unfortunately the cap could end up looking really strange on your head.
@@dreinthe616 imma try to tailor it
polyester or wool which is better
I did a whole video on that topic, it’s visible on my channel ICYI, just search wool vs. polyester, thanks
Is this spraying method for cotton or polyester caps?
Using water + heat to shrink will generally work with wool, poly, or cotton. But the results will vary with the material - wool will likely shrink the most, then cotton, and polyester is the most shrink-resistant. That's why the other technique of using filler can be helpful with polyester caps.
@@dreinthe616 thank you for detailed explanation
The water won’t fade the cap?
No, not at all... New Era's color saturation and durability is the best of any cap manufacturer. Cotton is more likely to fade, but it takes a lot of moisture and UV exposure.
Can you shrink a 7 1/2 to a 7 3/8?
Yes, 1/8 size reduction is easily achieved, and you may also want to watch this one: th-cam.com/video/6z4atFY3M9E/w-d-xo.html
Where did you get the red scorpion cap ? 🤯🤯🤯 that’s a very unique scorpion hat . Never seen something like it . All the other scorpion hats have cheap small scorpion logo on a dad hat 😂. Please answer
That’s basically a tonal version of the Scottsdale Scorpions… I think they’ve updated their main design, but it’s still a large scorpion and you can probably find current versions at their online fan shop, or MiLB online shops, thanks.
@@dreinthe616 Thanks You so much for your reply man . I’m just not getting notifications .
Yo bro I bought 3 caps from lids.com but I cant track my package, is it an eror or is lids a scam?
lids is not a scam, maybe contact customer service?
Whattup Fam, I'm a Maldonado from jersey, where you out of?
@@SlayALLDay1979 im from puerto rico bro
What are your thoughts on polyester hats nowadays
I posted a video this fall that should have plenty - th-cam.com/video/Rpxwkrp3uF8/w-d-xo.html - thanks!
@@dreinthe616 thanks I’ll watch it
Hey i have a 7-3/4 will it shrink to a 7-3/8??
That is way too far to try and shrink - you will not be happy with any results on that range, sorry but thanks for the question.
I’m big for a 7 and small for a 7-1/8 fml 🤦🏻♂️. Why cant anything ever be EZ ??
I hear you - I'm right between 7-1/2 and 7-5/8 and have to go either direction depending on the cap.
Should i blow dry the hat on my head?
No need to do that unless you want to, but it's probably harder to target the back four panels, which is where you want the heat.
@@dreinthe616 ok thank you, i actually did it your way last night and it worked great even for polyester
my goodness, why do you guys make 10 min videos to do 45 seconds of tutorials...
It’s just a narrative style that I keep through most of my videos, which include more than tutorials… the short and transactional style was not for me, but I do provide chapter markers in more recent vids. As for “you guys”… puzzling, as I’m not part of some content collective.