Can you SHRINK the Crown of a Fitted in a Clothes Dryer?

Sometimes we get a 59Fifty cap that is just too tall or square, and would like to lower the profile. Is it actually possible to shrink the height or volume by running the cap through a clothes dryer? My answer has usually been NO, but I decided to run the experiment once again.
The BEST OF dre in the 616:
Compact Classics 05 - Quick Steam Shaping - • Fitted Cap Classic Edi...
Compact Classics 04 - Finding the Right Fitted - • Fitted Cap Classics 04...
Compact Classics 03 - Shrinking a Cap - • Fitted Cap Classic Edi...
Compact Classics 01 - Curve/Smooth/Stretch - • Fitted Cap Classic Edi...
Compact Classics 02 - Fix Creases and Dents - • Fitted Cap Classic Edi...
Fitted Cap FAQ - • Fitted Cap FAQ - the T...
Stretching and Shaping Tutorial - • Stretching and Shaping...
Four-Step Cap Break-In - • Four Steps to Break in...
Bump Cap Inserts - • A Brilliant Tool for S...
The Haircut Problem - • Fitted Cap Sizes and t...
Shaping the Crown - • Shaping the Crown of y...
Rounding the Crown with a Skills Ball - • Rounding the Crown of ...
Smoothing your Caps - • Smoothing the Wrinkles...
Curving the Visor - • Curving your Baseball ...
Repairing Dents & Creases - • Fixing Dents and Creas...
Four-Way Hat Stretcher - • Four-Way Hat Stretcher...
Cleaning Caps Pt. 1 Maintenance - • Cleaning Baseball Caps...
Cleaning Caps Pt. 2 Deep Clean - • Cleaning Baseball Caps...
Sizes Vary: Fitted Caps - • Sizes Vary! A Universa...
Why So Much Shrinking? - • Baseball Caps: Why So ...
Shrinking 1-2 Combination - • Shrinking Fitted Caps:...
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Wool vs Polyester - • Wool vs Polyester Base...
0:40 - The Too-Tall Cap
2:01 - The Dryer Experiment
5:29 - The Results

[@badsmac]

I bought several Texas Ranger caps with the World Series patches and used the plastic insert and steam for all of them and they are exactly like I want them. The plastic insert that Doug shows in this video is a game changer for me and I’ve been a collector for 32 years.

[@dreinthe616]

Glad this worked out so well for you, thanks for the comments!

[@felix72634]

Hi Dre, thanks for your videos on NE 5950 caps. They've helped me get more out of my caps and improve the fit and comfort of my 5950 cap collection, which has grown along with my interest in baseball. I have analyzed the crown height of my 5950 caps and found my preference is towards lower crown caps, based on my head shape and hairstyle. Higher crown caps tend to create a less structured profile and back panel on me resulting in wrinkles. Lower crown caps have a more rounded and consistently fitting look for me. I follow your advise and I now pay close attention to the crown height before buying a NE cap and I've been using your techniques to slightly lower the crown of my caps to the height I find most comfortable. Thanks again and keep up the good work!

[@devackroyd]

That's a really interesting experiment! I am curious though, would you recommend this for shrinking a cap if you aren't too interested in molding it to your head perfectly with a process that takes more effort?

[@dreinthe616]

It's probably the fastest way to shrink a cap by the maximum amount... I just have not used it often in the past because it can sometimes weaken the visor from all the tumbling. If that's not critical for you, then this method will probably work fine.

[@DavidFWTX]

Thanks for all your videos. I've been trying to get 59Fifty sizing worked out. I'm pretty sure I'm a natural 7 3/8. However, all the ones I try on look really too big. I did get a 7 1/4 and stretched it quite a bit. I'm now going to try to use some of your techniques to work the back panels and round the front two panels. Question: Do you think it is better to go w/a smaller size and stretch it or get a larger size and try to shrink it? Thanks again.

[@dreinthe616]

The variation between caps is so much (see my video kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5a9YaKie7aEr8U ) that I'd recommend sticking with your normal size, in this case sounds like 7-3/8, and just be prepared to do either one. I used to think it was easier to stretch, but then I ran into a few caps where I just couldn't get them where I wanted. And with the foam or weatherstrip that can be used as sizing, shrinking a bit is actually pretty easy too, thanks.

[@DavidFWTX]

@@dreinthe616 Awesome - thanks for the help.

[@joeg4707]

I have a bunch of hats like this and most of them are from the Laos factory. They have a real problem with too much volume in the crown and the bulging front panels. I have one from Laos, a custom Padres, with a "fielding Friar" side patch, that makes your Omaha Storm Chasers hat look like a low profile 59fifty. It's a really cool hat that I simply cannot wear.

[@dreinthe616]

I am impressed - referencing that Storm Chasers cap is a "deep cut" from my library - but now I know EXACTLY how you are describing that Padres cap. It's unfortunate when you get stuck with one like that... and I'll have to check my collection for any made in Laos.

[@elliotspencer1384]

Doug this isn’t related to your (terrific) video but I felt it was worthy to state. If you haven’t seen it yet New Era released a collection called the “Moon” collection. I’m not familiar with the company they’ve teamed up with but the collection features caps w/ an apparently exceptional class of wool. Caps are selling at $100. $100!!!! Yes it’s only one collection but still. $100!

[@dreinthe616]

Yep, I just saw that this week too, and was quite shocked... even when they did a crossover with Swarovski crystal in some side patches, I think those topped out around $75-80. I guess we're in a whole new era of fitted prices!

[@lomo1014]

Dre - I heard you have a video to remove the white inside part of a cap. I used to do this all the time in the old Game hats. It's much harder these days. Which video would you recommend?

[@dreinthe616]

I think you're talking about the buckram that gives structure to the front two panels... Unfortunately I don't have a video on removing that, but I think there may be some out there. You're right about it being tougher now - the bond between the buckram and fabric is strong, and apparently a "trade secret" for New Era.

[@chungocquang]

Hi Doug, can you make a tutorial on how to form a square (blocky) crown? I have 2 different LA 9/50 caps from China. But I prefer the look of the square crown more on my head. Thank you!

[@dreinthe616]

I get this question a lot, so maybe. In the meantime, it's all about the form you find... I've shown how to steam a cap and shape it on something round - all you'd need to do is find a form of your intended scale and shape and use that to block the cap/crown. Maybe a medium saucepan in your kitchen would get the job done?

[@fiddywithdariz5339]

hey dre in the 616 i really hope you can help me out. recently was my caps but im facing an obsticle. my brim is lose is wobbly and no longer stiff. they're are dry but the brim can no longer retain its structure. i usually have a curved brim. now it looks weird i literally all 10 of my caps that day. did i f up my caps. could you please help me or link me to a video what you've spoken on this topic please

[@dreinthe616]

I actually get this question a lot, and unfortunately there is no good answer. Once the visor has been fatigued by flexing/curving repeatedly, and worn and or cleaned frequently, the visor will lose its rigidity and resilience over time. This is the main reason why I recommend steaming the visor to curve, and setting the shape you like only once if possible... age and constant flexing will just wear them out. Even in this video I used a cap that wasn't that important to me, because I knew it would take some abuse.

[@dccelly1615]

Chefs hat! Hahaha! Yeah, I have a few in my collection that just will not fix. Shelf candy is all they are now.

[@dreinthe616]

Shelf candy... that's a new term for me as well!

[@shawnhewitt306]

My inside brim of my cap has wrinkles in it how do I flatten them back out ?

[@dreinthe616]

If you prefer a curved visor, those are pretty much going to be unavoidable because the fabric has to go somewhere when the visor is flexed... but they do become less pronounced over time. If you keep your visor flat, then a flat iron would take care of them, thanks.

[@rizkifadhil95]

im thinking of buying a thrifted fitted but it has a sticker mark where the rest of the brim is either dirty or has faded, how can i get rid of the mark??

[@dreinthe616]

If it's faded, then there's not much you can do... the color won't ever match again if there's a big difference. If it's just dirty, I'd recommend a light cleaning with a cap brush and then wiping/blotting with a washcloth soaked in mild detergent. I've got a couple of cleaning vids, but also collaborate with the Captician, who makes a lot of serious cap cleaning gear.

[@demontongue9893]

imo the low profile 59fifty cap is the perfect crown shape there is, and for some reason they're not making them but people want them so much it's not just me, I hear time and time again people saying " the crowns far too high"

[@dreinthe616]

Are they not making them, or is it that stores near you are not stocking them? I see lots of LPs online - even a search online at neweracap.com shows they've got 528 styles available. On-fields for all 30 teams are always available, and they release lots of collections (e.g. City Connect) in LP format as well. I've noticed that LP sales tend to go in cycles - they were rising just before the pandemic, and then the whole cap world went crazy for standard fitteds with side patches. Maybe it will turn toward lower-silhouette caps again.

[@demontongue9893]

You might be right I'm in Scotland so I think it might be a bit of a ballache to get american gear here, we've never had a problem much as Scotland especially the west of Scotland Glasgow city is heavily Americanized if that's a word.

[@dreinthe616]

@@demontongue9893 Aha, got it... if you can tolerate a stretch fit rather than fitted, the 39Thirty has a similar silhouette to the LP, and might be easier to find, thanks.

[@meech607]

Hats made in Bangladesh have a smaller more box shaped crown ! I noticed the ones made in china have a tall rounded crown & they don’t fit my head. I specifically only buy hats made in Bangladesh for that reason.

[@gategervais5382]

Where do you found them?

[@JBCarrera54]

I have a real tree LA dodgers fitted that i love but it fits terrible. The rear panels of the hat are too big making the crown taller and round. When i shape the crown like a regular fitted, the rear panels bunch up at the grommet. Do you know of any place that may be able to fix this ???

[@dreinthe616]

Unfortunately what you're describing tells me that there's just too much fabric in the crown... when you shape it, the excess has to go somewhere, and when there's too much there is no good way to hide it.

[@JBCarrera54]

@@dreinthe616exactly what is occuring. Do something along the line of hat tailors exist that can modify the hat?

[@dreinthe616]

@@JBCarrera54 If there are, I do not know of any... but it seems possible to do with the right skills and equipment.