• Home
    • Recent
    • Calendar
    • Register
    • Login
    Iron Heart Forum
    Iron Heart Forum

    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Soaking and Stretching Denim

    The Resource Centre
    44
    148
    133.0k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • GilesG
      Giles
      IHUK Crew
      Joined:

      Yep, really depends how much pain you want to go with up front!

      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        stever
        Joined:

        heheheh excellent. thanks again giles! i think i'll be going with the 30w for 634S and 3230FI

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • GilesG
          Giles
          IHUK Crew
          Joined:

          30 in the 3230FI is out of stock at the moment.  Have PI, or getting a restock in about 5 weeks.  G

          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • S
            stever
            Joined:

            that's ok - it'll give me a chance to really break in the 634Ss!

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • hecticH
              hectic
              Joined:

              IME, stretching on the 634S is fairly easy and ample, i.e.: I got 38s and they did not wear tight (I like em loose), now (admittedly a lot of wear down the line) they measure 40 inches.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • S
                stever
                Joined:

                too late now simon! the die has been cast…
                thankfully i have all winter to stretch em out. i'll be looking to get some 3x works come summer though; it gets pretty hot around here

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • S
                  stever
                  Joined:

                  hmmm, i am beginning to see the merits of your argument simon

                  these are gonna take a long time to break in proper

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • GilesG
                    Giles
                    IHUK Crew
                    Joined:

                    Yes, Stever.  That would be very useful.  This is actually one of the most uesful threads on the Forum - the more data the better.  G

                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • hecticH
                      hectic
                      Joined:

                      Agreed, good data.

                      Quick question of my own - I have a pir of flatheads that have been very sparingly washed (always cold soaked), and they have not nearly shrunk as much in the leg as my other FHs (which were warm washed).

                      Is there a point a which, due to the age of the jeans, a subsequent (first) hot wash would not shrink them at all?

                      Kinda of the opposite of shrinking but it seemed the right thread.

                      Ta
                      H

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • BeatleB
                        Beatle
                        Joined:

                        nope..jeans actually shrink their whole life / but they also stretch..

                        fibers get thinner with wear - and every time you wash them they shrink in order to fill the "gaps"…weird to explain

                        We can do anything

                        http://bybeatle.com

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • hecticH
                          hectic
                          Joined:

                          ok, ta, Beats, cool wash still then i think.

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • S
                            stever
                            Joined:

                            oh best believe i ain't giving up that easy.
                            worn them every day so far; normally take them on a hourish walk around the neighbourhood in the evening. walked to and from work a couple of times instead of cycling to get some more wear. had to leave the top button undone on the 2nd day because my hips were a bit shredded.
                            going for another walk now…

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • BeatleB
                              Beatle
                              Joined:

                              the 21oz selvage denim is so comfty - even when worn tight. I am currently doing a stretching experiment on a certain sample jeans - so that we'll be able to give you exact size advice on a new fit. My impression - you will be able to get away with a really really tight fit to begin with…

                              We can do anything

                              http://bybeatle.com

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • S
                                stever
                                Joined:

                                hi all,
                                i was wondering if anyone has advice or instructions with regard to soaking. i've never soaked my jeans before, and i'm not too sure if i need to (or even what it does)… i just normally buy them and wear them and leave it at that. does it help with the aging or the durability or help them break in?
                                thanks guys

                                stever

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • BeatleB
                                  Beatle
                                  Joined:

                                  Simple

                                  If jeans are raw you need to soak in order to shrink and get rid of some of the starch.

                                  If jeans are sanforized, no need to soak.

                                  Fill tub with warm water(hot if you need to shrink a lot, cold if you're afraid they may end up being too tight).
                                  Insert jeans - leave in the water for at least 1 hour - but anything up to 5 or 6 hours is fine.

                                  Take out, hang dry and wear.

                                  We can do anything

                                  http://bybeatle.com

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • D
                                    DrPat
                                    Iron Heart Deity
                                    Joined:

                                    @Beatle:

                                    Simple

                                    If jeans are raw you need to soak in order to shrink and get rid of some of the starch.

                                    If jeans are sanforized, no need to soak.

                                    Fill tub with warm water(hot if you need to shrink a lot, cold if you're afraid they may end up being too tight).
                                    Insert jeans - leave in the water for at least 1 hour - but anything up to 5 or 6 hours is fine.

                                    Take out, hang dry and wear.

                                    Although sanforization does include the use of water or steam, it seems that what you refer to as sanforized is popularly referred to as raw+sanforized and what you refer to as raw is referred to as raw+unsanforized.

                                    I believe the only IH jeans that need a soak are the 634SR and SEXIH07.  Both are unsanforized.  Somewhere on this forum there is a discussion about threads bursting when you don't soften up the 634SR with a soak.

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • SimonS
                                      Simon
                                      Joined:

                                      Personally I pre soak everything before wearing the first time. It may not be necessary but at least removes most of the starch and other chemicals used in production.

                                      I had a nasty experience with some LVC's a few years back when at the start of the raw denim learning curve. Put a year in to them before washing, you can guess the rest; great fades but no chance of ever fitting me again!

                                      Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities - Frank Lloyd Wright

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • deadendproD
                                        deadendpro
                                        啓蒙家
                                        Joined:

                                        The kiya way works best for me:

                                        Anything more than 45 mins won't do anything to the denim.

                                        Soak hot or cold, either way the shrinkage will occur (though it will happen a lot faster with warmer water)

                                        Air dry or dry in the sun.

                                        –---------------------------

                                        Maybe it is just me but I find soaking to be the most difficult thing in regards to denim. Not that I don't know how to do it, but because the only thing left to do is wash or wear. Soaking is the only even remotely "complicated" process. Still totally fuckin easy, but it can be intimidating to those who haven't done it very much if at all before.

                                        Currently Wearing:
                                        SExSx3s 27-01
                                        15.4oz 3sixteen Type 3
                                        25oz Samurai Type 1

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • GilesG
                                          Giles
                                          IHUK Crew
                                          Joined:

                                          My method.  Measure.  Chuck in sink of hot water.  Leave in there until I remember that they're there.  Dry (for max shrinkage in the hottest place I can find, for min shrinkage coolest place I can find). Re-measure…G

                                          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • L
                                            LandoCal126 0
                                            Banned
                                            Joined:

                                            Just soaked my new TW HR01 the G way in the Denim Dungeon Shrink Sink. Just like G said, I left them in the sink until I remembered and then they hung outside. Measured before and after. The less you worry, the better they will turn out…

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Copyright Iron Heart 2025.