Using Steam to Reshape a Felt Helmet

pickelhauben

pickelhauben

Well-known member
Hey Guys,

As stated before in Chris's post I have taken possession of his felt.
I contacted several hatters here in New Orleans , everyone turned me down do to it's age.
So I will give it a go.
I got a wooden form off of eBay for a start and purchased a hand held steamer as well.
Here are before pictures taken off of Chris's post

 
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Great! I will follow this restoration project, but, knowing and seeing your other post about felt helmet resto-projects, I'm sure it will work out fine.
 
I did not think of taking step by step pictures.
Here are a couple pics showing the reshaping of the rear visor.
I used the steam then reshaped by hand.
Next I used an original rear visor covered with blue tape to clamp on the felt rear visor to hold the shape as it dried .
 
Question: Are you using hot steam or the cool vapour used by clothing retailers to remove wrinkles from their fabric items before putting them up for sale?
 
b.loree said:
Question: Are you using hot steam or the cool vapour used by clothing retailers to remove wrinkles from their fabric items before putting them up for sale?
Click to expand...
I am using hot steam.
The shell is real hard so the hot steam is better to soften up the rock hard felt.
This is what I used



I had to really tighten up the stretcher to get the over all shape then I steamed the whole circumference of the shell.
But this left a little ridge that I need to get out.





One more steam session and I think that I got it.
That will have to be next weekend.
 
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pickelhauben said:
I am using hot steam.
The shell is real hard so the hot steam is better to soften up the rock hard felt.
This is what I used



I had to really tighten up the stretcher to get the over all shape then I steamed the whole circumference of the shell.
But this left a little ridge that I need to get out.





One more steam session and I think that I got it.
That will have to be next weekend.
Click to expand...
That is quite a project , but you seem to have
the talent to get it done
Please post photos after the projet has been completed
thanks
Steve
 
Thanks guys , it means a lot

OK guys I will call this a wrap
I think it came out nice for my first steam rework.
I think I will refine my skills on the next one.
This helmet is huge once I got it reshaped.
It covers my eyes when I put it on my large Shultz sized head !!!!

I also had to work on the rear spine a bit along with the base of the spike.
The spike base flange was curved up so I had to manipulate it down to fit the top of the dome.
The Wurt plate fit like a glove !
I made the C/S with original hardware and an old horse bridle that I thinned down.







 
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