Cutting down hat brim

[Jeremiah Jones]

I got a good deal on a cowboy hat at the local Tractor Supply.  However, the brim is larger than I like.  The hat is nice enough I don't want to butcher it.  I am thinking of using a leather cutter and a steady hand.  Any better suggestions?

[Major 2]

PM Delmonico,  he was a professional western Hat shaper.

[Silver Creek Slim]

BTW, how large is the brim?

Slim

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[Professor Marvel]

I have cut brims with both "very sharp scissors" and a sewing cutting wheel, with a template.
I highly recommend the cutting wheel and template, but you will probably need to make your own template.

hope this helps
prof mumbles
 

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy Jer,

It's kind of hard to imagine a hat brim that is too large.

Rev. Chase

[Coffinmaker]

   Un, Ah, Well, Chainsaw.  Really Really SHARP Chainsaw.     Maybe.  Sorta.

[Hair Trigger Jim]

  Un, Ah, Well, Chainsaw.  Really Really SHARP Chainsaw.     Maybe.  Sorta.

I can't believe you didn't say...hacksaw!

[Jeremiah Jones]

Thanks. The brim is ~5" and I prefer them around 3.5".  I think I'll try the sewing cutting wheel with a template.

[Abilene]

If the edge is a little rough, you could always cover it with some pop-pom trim. 

[RRio]

If the edge is a little rough, you could always cover it with some pop-pom trim. 

Got some used ones from my C'evy, man!

[1961MJS]

Hi

I looked at your profile and you're a Floridian.  That makes me wonder if your hat is a Straw hat or a Felt hat.  There is a guy in Tampa, which is a LONG drive from the Panhandle.  If you try to cut down the brim on a Straw hat, you're either have to sew a ribbon around the edge or it will unravel quickly.  You have some chance with a Felt hat. 

https://www.tildeathhatco.com/about

I'm a Do It Yourself type on belts and holsters, but not on hats.

Good luck.

[Baltimore Ed]

If I were doing it to my hat I would get a very large piece of cardboard with a hole cut out for the center of the hat. Lay that over the existing brim so you cant see it then make another piece of tagboard with the center removed and keep trying different cuts on multiple pieces of tagboard until you find one you like. Then use that one for your pattern. Of course trace the original brim on your tagboard so you know what you’re starting with. You could even do several and slowly shrink your cuts. Of course if you go to far there’s always the Bowler but nobody liked the Pinkertons.

[Jeremiah Jones]

Thanks everyone.  It is a felt hat.  I made a template and used a circular cutter (kind of like a pizza wheel/cutter).  It is much better now.