Shoe Damage Report & Shoe P0rn Central - Part II

Originally Posted by upnorth

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I don't understand why the need to wear suede to clubs. I've always worn **** beater shoes and I don't think people really care about the footwear when its so dark.

Agreed, I have a deticated pair of Paul Smith shoes I wear to bars and to see bands play. I don't want my good stuff ruined by dickheads spilling drinks and walking on my feet with sneakers. My friend has some horror stories about shoes and bars...

Originally Posted by clintonf

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Some pairs that have benefited from the "Wes Bourne" school of finishing.

Thanks Wes!!!



Clint

I STILL can't get it to work. I tried this last night on a pair of my crockett and jones and I ended up with a dull dry toe that I had to deglaze and refinish because I couldn't get them to shine at all after I did what he said. I guess I used too much wax and caused buildup?

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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I STILL can't get it to work. I tried this last night on a pair of my crockett and jones and I ended up with a dull dry toe that I had to deglaze and refinish because I couldn't get them to shine at all after I did what he said. I guess I used too much wax and caused buildup?

The trick is to use very little wax and very little water and lightly polish in circles.

I wouldn't say that I'm an expert, but I've tried this many MANY times before and I think the above is the key.

I would start by putting a fair bit of polish on the shoe, then leave to dry for 5 or so mins (poorly simulating the dryer mentioned by Wes). Then a little water (or the other stuff, if you're so inclined) and small circular movement. However, don't press too hard; just enough to move the wax around.

If you press too hard, you'll be likely to smuge and disturb the previous layers of wax.

I hope this helps.

Post photos if it does.

Clint

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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I STILL can't get it to work. I tried this last night on a pair of my crockett and jones and I ended up with a dull dry toe that I had to deglaze and refinish because I couldn't get them to shine at all after I did what he said. I guess I used too much wax and caused buildup?

1- Did you get a base coat, i.e. 'regular' allover polish/shine going before attempting to mirror shine?
2- Did you apply more wax over the areas to be mirror shined?
3- Did you apply a bit of wax on the polishing cloth wrapped around your fingers?
4- A couple of droplets of water?

If you did all this and still didn't get the expected results, try it again. Remember to work in small circles at a time, always rubbing the wax in the same direction, i.e. counter-clockwise. You might also have applied too much pressure. Go easy; just enough that you feel the friction between the wax on the shoe and the wax on the cloth. The friction gradually disappears as the wax melds together.

***^ Just to make sure there's no confusion, I only use a hair dryer when applying/treating with Sno Seal. For polishing and mirror shines, by the time I'm done just applying wax to the second shoe, the 1st is ready to be worked on. No need for more drying time imo.

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Originally Posted by upnorth

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I don't understand why the need to wear suede to clubs. I've always worn **** beater shoes and I don't think people really care about the footwear when its so dark.

Yeah I only packed two pairs...these and my beater CP Italian Armys. Didn't think the Chicago scence was such a shitshow. Planned on dinner then what I thought would be a table at a nice lounge...turned out to be drink fight a la Zoolander's gasoline fight.

Oh well...they still look good after a thorough cleaning last night.

Originally Posted by Wes Bourne

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1- Did you get a base coat, i.e. 'regular' allover polish/shine going before attempting to mirror shine?
2- Did you apply more wax over the areas to be mirror shined?
3- Did you apply a bit of wax on the polishing cloth wrapped around your fingers?
4- A couple of droplets of water?

If you did all this and still didn't get the expected results, try it again. Remember to work in small circles at a time, always rubbing the wax in the same direction, i.e. counter-clockwise. You might also have applied too much pressure. Go easy; just enough that you feel the friction between the wax on the shoe and the wax on the cloth. The friction gradually disappears as the wax melds together.

***^ Just to make sure there's no confusion, I only use a hair dryer when applying/treating with Sno Seal. For polishing and mirror shines, by the time I'm done just applying wax to the second shoe, the 1st is ready to be worked on. No need for more drying time imo.


I have many pairs of shoes that need this treatment but I am too lazy to shine them. I need to get my **** together and give it a try this weekend.
By the way,video would be much appreciated

Originally Posted by forex

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video would be much appreciated

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^ I'm sure that was very helpful for the French speakers among us.

Originally Posted by imatlas

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^ I'm sure that was very helpful for the French speakers among us.

My bad. At around the 1min. mark, you see the guy alternately dipping the cloth in some polish and water. Instead of this, I (re)dab a bit of polish and add 1-2 droplets of water directly on the area to be mirrored as I've found it works better that way. Also, I polish in smaller circles first. You can use bigger/lighter polishing motions to even out everything once the whole area is mirrored.

Originally Posted by grimslade

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I refuse to submit. Today I'm wearing cordovan wingtips--and a brown tweed jacket. In town. Screw 'em, I say.

+1.

Originally Posted by Wes Bourne

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+1, very well done! I'm glad my advice worked. Now, let's see you give all your AS the same well-deserved TLC!

Thanks, I've got so many shoes to do this with, I'd spend most of the month doing it!!!

I do have a general question though, is it suggested by this forum that all shoes are polished in this way?

I think that the captoes are natural candidates, but what about the other types of shoes.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by clintonf

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I do have a general question though, is it suggested by this forum that all shoes are polished in this way?

I think that the captoes are natural candidates, but what about the other types of shoes.


It often looks better when there is a more subtle transition from very shiny from not so shiny. Plus, the heel should be done as well.

Originally Posted by clintonf

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Thanks, I've got so many shoes to do this with, I'd spend most of the month doing it!!!

I do have a general question though, is it suggested by this forum that all shoes are polished in this way?

I think that the captoes are natural candidates, but what about the other types of shoes.

Thanks again.

I think it's a matter of personal preference really; some seem to prefer a duller allover shine. I've only taken to mirror shines rather recently myself as I like the way it looks. I don't really have any plaintoes so that sorta takes care of that. While it's easy to use the cap(toe) to delineate(?) the area to be mirrored, some apply this finish only to the very tip of the toe area, whether on caps, wingtips or plaintoes.

Originally Posted by jefferyd

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It often looks better when there is a more subtle transition from very shiny from not so shiny. Plus, the heel should be done as well.

Agreed.

How's the video of the mirror shine on those Monmouths coming along?