jiffy hat steamer – Clothes Steamer

Do you wear a cowboy hat? You might be surprised to find out that the sweat and dirt from your head can cause the brim of your hat to become misshapen. This causes it to lose its shape, which in turn makes it hard for you to keep it on your head. The solution is simple, a hat steamer. A good hat steamer will take just minutes per day to make sure that your cowboy hat stays looking new, while also giving you some peace of mind knowing that there's no chance for bugs or other critters hiding between the fabric layers. Also, if you have a collection of hats, using a hat steamer can help shape the crown and brim into your preferred style. What are the Best Hat Steamers to Buy? Jiffy is the only brand that makes professional hat steamers. If you are a collector of hats, in particular fur felt hats, or want the absolute best, there are three models available: [amazon box="B0007VBTUM,B00IIV132M,B002NR8LKY" grid="3"] A Jiffy hat steamer is an investment, with pricing starting around $150 USD. However, as one buyer justifies it, at paying $25 per cowboy hat for professional steaming (and a collection of hats) the investment quickly pays for itself. There are three models - the J-1, J-2000H and J-4000H (the H being for hat steamer). J 1 jiffy is the original model of hat steamer, J-2 has a different water tank design and pre-heat function, and the J-4000 is the commercial version of the jiffy steamer. This one will cost you around $100 more than the J1 and J2 steamers. The Jiffy steamers are tabletop steamers. They operate via a switch on the back of the unit. For home use, most people prefer the J 1 steamer which heats up the fastest ready to use. The J 2 and J 4 models have preheat functions which will allow the water to be heated ready to steam, but the steamer will remain in standby mode. This is great for more commercial use. All Jiffy hat steamers are made in the USA (in Union City, Tennessee) and include a 3 year warranty. Key Features of Each Jiffy Hat Steamer J1 Jiffy Steamer's Classic Personal Hat Steamer was the first product the company ever produced and continues to satisfy our customers to this day. The J-1 is used to block, stretch, crease, shrink or shape straw and felt hats. Ideal applications include removing nesting rings in seconds, freshening felt to a velvet texture and shaping the hat to the preference of the owner. 1300 watt steamerBrass hat nozzleHeats in 1 minute for fast steamingDurable aluminum outer housingAutomatic shut off for safetyMade in the USA J-2000H The heavy duty Model J-2000H Commercial hat steamer is equipped with 1300 watts of steaming power. It has a brass hat nozzle for steaming and shaping hats. It contains a 1 gallon self-contained water tank with preheat and steam settings. It also has a sight gauge on the side of the steamer to view water level and sediment build-up at a glance. The J-2000H heats up within 15 minutes to preheat temperature and produces steam within 2 minutes once at the preheat temperature. 1300 watt steamerBrass hat nozzlePreheat setting - preheats in 15 minutesStarts steaming within 2 minutes of preheatingSteams for 1 hour 45 minutes in totalGauge on side for water visibilityAutomatic safety shut offMade in the USA J-4000H The J-4000H produces purified steam that contains the exact amount of moisture to remove packing marks, nesting rings, hat bands wrinkles and other imperfections. This is the commercial variety of the Jiffy steamer, normally used by milliners and hat shops. The heat up time is slightly longer than the other Jiffy steamers, but this professional steamer has 1500 watts of power. 1500 watt steamerBrass Hat Nozzle and all brass couplingsSolid die cast aluminum bodyAutomatic safety shut offSteams for up to 2 hours in total1 gallon stainless steel boiler tankPreheats in 15 minutes, starts steaming within 2 minutes of preheatingMade in the USA Other Options for Steaming Hats The other option to steam a hat is to use a garment steamer. This gives you the versatility of steaming your clothes as well. The problem with a garment steamer however, is you don't get the concentrated shot of steam like you do from a hat steamer. When you consider the design of the head of either an upright or handheld garment steamer, you have steam flowing out multiple holes across the wider head, rather than the concentrated nozzle on the hat steamer. It will be easier to crease, shrink or shape a particular area of your hat with a more concentrated shot of steam. If you are considering a garment steamer, the beauty of the Jiffy brand is the versatility and added attachments. For example, the Jiffy J-4000I comes with various attachments to help with steam cleaning, carpet installation or wallpaper removal as well as a general clothes steamer. You would then simply purchase the hat nozzle for around $15 extra. This isn't the most economical way to buy a hat steamer, but if you are interested in multipurpose use for your steamer, the Jiffy models are the way to go. The other option for shaping a hat without buying a steaming unit is using the teapot method. Using a kettle or teapot, boil water inside until steam is produced out the spout and use this for your hat. Make sure you wear gloves, remember steam is hot and will cause scalding or burns if it comes in contact with your skin. Also, make sure not to concentrate on the internal band, this could cause irreversible shrinkage inside your hat. Shaping a Hat Using Steam The first step in shaping a hat with steam is figuring out the material of the hat and if you can work with it. Fur felt cowboy hats, palm leaf hats or straw hats are the most popular types of materials. Straw hats can be a little difficult because they have little room for error. Palm leaf hats, wool hats and leather hats should not be steamed. You can use heated steam to shape, block, stretch, or even tighten up a felt hat. You can also use it as part of a refreshing cleaning process for hats that need to be cleaned. The next step is deciding on the desired crease and brim shape of the hat. Can You Steam and Form a Straw Cowboy Hat? A straw cowboy hat brim is either pre-shaped or made with a shaping wire. The wire may be woven into the straw, or it may have a decorative edging. For pre-shaped hats, you won't be able to mold them without a shaping wire; this will damage the straw. If you have a straw cowboy hat (or any straw hat) with a wire in the brim, gently bend the wire until it forms the shape of hat you prefer. Be careful not to fold over the straw too much, as this could cause damage. There is generally no wire in the crown of a straw hat and it is not recommended to try and reshape this area. Can You Steam a Palm Cowboy Hat? It is best to soak a palm hat in lukewarm water for a minute or so, before using your hands to gently maneuver the brim and crown of the hat. Soaking a palm hat in lukewarm water also works well for older palm hats that may have lost their shape. Simply immerse the whole palm hat in lukewarm water for up to 1 minute. Shape the hat, then place on a hat stand to dry. Can I use a Hair Dryer or Heat Gun to Shape My Felt Hat? Using a hair dryer or heat gun isn't ideal for felt hats. Targeted heat in one area can quickly cause the sweatband on the inside to shrink, and your hat may no longer fit on your head at all. Should I Buy a Hat Steamer? Hats are a staple for many people’s everyday attire and if you wear one on a regular basis, investing in a hat steamer is definitely worth it. A good quality hat steamer will not only allow you to reshape your hats but also keep them in top condition by killing odors and germs as well as refreshing the felt material. If you have any doubts about how worthwhile an investment this could be, I recommend considering that there is no better way to clean delicate fabric than with water vapor (i.e. steam). Buying a hat steamer will help you get back that new hat look and professional looking results in the comfort of your own home. You can quickly remove nests and shape your felt hats with ease using a hat steamer at home.