Can packable lite felt 100% wool hats really be reshaped ?

[TLW '90]

I have an older Eddy bros outback hat, I think it's the Cougar model.

I like the hat and wear it out shooting and just doing general things outdoors in the fall / winter, but I don't like how the sides of the brim curve up giving it a little too much of a western / cowboy hat sort of look.
It doesn't really show in that picture, but trust me it cures up at the sides.

What I want is for the brim to mostly lay flat and just naturally droop down a bit in the front and back.

I have tried steaming it, and I've tried ironing it with no success.
Today I decided to thoroughly saturate the brim in hot water and put it on a flat surface with weights around the brim.
This has done far more than anything else I tried, but it still wants to curve up just the slightest bit.

Is it impossible to truly reshape one of these hats ?

 

[TLW '90]

After fully saturating the brim with hot water and laying it on a flat surface with weights until it was completely dry I was actually able to get the brim flattened out.
That is until I put in on at which point it quickly went right back.


I guess I just have to learn to accept that this hat can't be reshaped and just wear it as I have been for the past 3 years.

 

[moehawk]

A little dewaxed shellac (sanding sealer or mix your own) diluted with some high proof alcohol like everclear to about 5:1. Put in a spray bottle and lightly spray the brim and place it flat. Go light, you can spray more on, but its a pain to get it out if you overdo it. Once it dries you can shape it with steam.