Polishing shoes

[soccerguy83]

Couple of questions, I apologize if I missed these in the previous thread. I'm assuming you want to use a different brush for black and brown? Also, are there different shades of brown for the different shades of your shoes, do you have to buy a shade that matches your shoe?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[brooks_bro]

Couple of questions, I apologize if I missed these in the previous thread. I'm assuming you want to use a different brush for black and brown? Also, are there different shades of brown for the different shades of your shoes, do you have to buy a shade that matches your shoe?

Thanks,
Brian

I have 3 horsehair brushes for the 3 colors of cream I use. That may be over kill, but I would definitely stay away from using a brush used to buff black shoe polish on say a light brown shoe.

I always match the polish to the shoe color.

 

[johnniegold]

Lately, I have been obsessing (I know, shocking. ) about shining my shoes.

At a minimum I would get two brushes, an old toothbrush for the outsole, an old t-shirt to apply your polish ( or a dauber if you would rather not use a t-shirt). I would also get some chamois (which you get at any shoe repair shop for about 2 buck a piece.) I would also get some Fiebings Edge dressing in black and brown.

Isaac, did I leave anything out?

As for polish, start with the Kiwi wax polish which you can get for about 4 bucks a tin. Definitely black, probably cordovan, maybe neutral and then try to match any shade of brown you may have.

Then, find yourself a nice quite place and begin to meditate.

 

[brooks_bro]

If we're throwing product names out there, I really get great results out of the allen edmonds premium shoe polish

http://www.allenedmonds.com/aeonline/producti_SF549_1_40000000001_-1

 

[johnniegold]

If we're throwing product names out there

For the record, I am not affiliated with any of the above-mentioned shoe products.

All the best,

Bob Fiebing

 

[professorchaos]

What Mr. Gold wrote. I'd add the following.

Creams usually have more dyes than pastes. I too can be a little obsessive so I have three brushes - one for brown calf, one for black calf and one for brown cordovan. If/when I get black cordovan, I'll get a brush for it too.

Lately I've been steering clear of creams and their dyes on brown shoes. Instead I'll brush the shoes to clean them then apply Saphir Renovateur. Brush them again then apply a coat of neutral Saphir Glacage. Repeat up to three times. This allows the shoes to develop a nice patina and remain well maintained.

 

[whavens]

Don't listen to Henry, he only wears one pair of old Chuck Taylor Converse. Seriously, Henry has one of the nicest collections of shoes I have ever seen. I would pay attention to his shoe care opinions.

 

[johnniegold]

I too can be a little obsessive

You?

No.

Saphir Renovateur.

The good stuff.

This allows the shoes to develop a nice patina and remain well maintained.

Watching the patina develop on a beautiful shoe is like watching a beautiful sunset.

(OK, maybe not that beautiful but pretty damn cool. )

Btw Henry, I just quoted you three times.

 

[mark the shoeshine boy]

I have more shoes than brushes....I actually have four....two black and two brown....but i am not counting some of my antique brushes that i have collected...and don't ask me about tins of polish...

 

[soccerguy83]

Henry, I am aware of your collection from the shoe of the day thread, your's always stand out. Do you by chance have a pair that you have three pictures of, one new, one in need of polish, and one polished? That way I can see the difference that the neutral saphire glacage makes on the shine and the patina? Thank you very much for chiming in everyone!

Looking forward to steping up my clothing game one more step!

 

[professorchaos]

You?

No.



The good stuff.



Watching the patina develop on a beautiful shoe is like watching a beautiful sunset.

(OK, maybe not that beautiful but pretty damn cool. )

Definitely pretty damn cool. It is a great pay off and well worth the effort.

Btw Henry, I just quoted you three times.

I've been fortunate to have learned from the best. I'll be bulling a pair of C&J black balmorals soon.

Henry, I am aware of your collection from the shoe of the day thread, your's always stand out. Do you by chance have a pair that you have three pictures of, one new, one in need of polish, and one polished? That way I can see the difference that the neutral saphire glacage makes on the shine and the patina? Thank you very much for chiming in everyone!

Looking forward to steping up my clothing game one more step!

I don't have those pictures but next time I am polishing a brown pair I will take them. Primarily, it allows you to keep the shoe's original color and let it age gracefully. Saphir products are fantastic but when it comes to the creams, the colors can be hard to match.

 

[soccerguy83]

Henry, that would be wonderful, thank you for taking the time to do that!

Happy Friday everyone!

 

[soccerguy83]

Henry,

Where do you find Saphir Glacage? I can find Renovator, but not Glacage.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Rocinante]

Where do you find Saphir Glacage? I can find Renovator, but not Glacage.

I believe he is referring to Saphir Medaille D'Or Pate de Luxe wax. Great shoe polish. Use it after the Renovateur or conditioner of your choice.

I bought mine from Kirby Allison's Hanger Project. There are not many US distributors, unfortunately.

 

[Basil]

Howdy all,

I was reading the forums trying to figure out the best way to polish up my shoes. I have a question for anyone here that has the alden indy boots.
I have pecards and obenaufs that i used previously on my other shoes and i was given a bottle of the Venetian shoe cream with my indys. Would these products be ok to use or should i splurge on the saphir products such as the renovateur?

Just wanting to keep these beauties looking good for as long as i can.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

You fellows are way ahead of me here but one thing I did pick up from a fellow in the service. Once I get all done with polishing, I go over them with an old nylon stocking. It raises the sheen noticeably.

 

[musicman1951]

I read about a polishing process I've done a few times with good results:

Clean the shoes with the flammable liquid of your choice (I used Kerosene because it's what I had - but you could probably accomplish the cleaning without exposing yourself to deadly chemicals). Buff.

You need a small piece of cloth, Kiwi wax and a bottle for misting water.

Wrap the cloth around your index and middle finger and put the excess in your palm. Spray the tin of wax with some water and load the cloth. Rub. Rub some more. Re-spray the wax and load as necessary. Rub for 10-20 minutes until you can see the shine trying to peek through the wax. Don't skimp on the water.

Let dry and buff. Then spend the next 10 minutes trying to clean off those two fingers.

It did work great - but it's usually more trouble than I have time for.

 

[professorchaos]

I believe that process is called Bulling. Our own JohnnieGold has a post in this forum about it. While it brings out an excellent shine, I seem to recall it is also bad for the leather. If not bad, not good anyway.

 

[soccerguy83]

So what then is the difference in bulling vs polishing...the amount of water used?

 

[musicman1951]

http://putthison.com/post/18905258646/bulling-shoes-every-once-in-a-while-i-like-to