A professional who applies sizing solution, such as gelatin, glue, lacquer, paint, or shellac to hat or hat parts to stiffen, waterproof, or impart finish to hat. Respnsibilities include:

• Pours premixed solutions into container or thins solution, following work order specifications.
• Applies solution to hat or hat parts by any combination of following tasks.
• Brushes or sponges solution onto articles; dips articles into tub of solution; sprays solution onto article, using spray gun; inserts parts between solution-coated rollers of machine.
• Places articles on holder of machine that spins articles to remove surplus liquid.
• Hangs articles on pegs or on holders of conveyor belt that carries articles through drying room to complete drying and stiffening operation.
• May be designated according to hat or hat part stiffened as brim stiffener; panama-hat smearer; strawhat sizer; or according to solution used in sizing article as lacquer sizer; varnisher.
• When reapplying sizing solution to article to cover thin spots in original coating, may be known as retouching operator.