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darkening the leather on redwings?

post #1 of 32
8/17/10 at 4:10pm
Thread Starter 
hi. i have a pair of red wings 9012s. i like them a lot, but i think i'd prefer that they were just a little darker. here's what they look like.





i am curious about the possibility of getting a richer brown creme polish and slowly working it into the boots? nothing drastic of course, but i wonder if i couldn't add a few shades of darkness to them without it looking weird or like i dyed them.

does anyone have any experience or insight on this? or maybe there is a product with a higher pigment count that you could recommend? thanks.
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post #2 of 32
8/17/10 at 4:35pm
You should give O'bernauf oil a try. It darkened mine.
Colored shoe cream should work as well.
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post #3 of 32
8/17/10 at 4:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Omega Man View Post
You should give O'bernauf oil a try.

thanks. i will look into this.
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post #4 of 32
8/17/10 at 5:25pm
Seconding the Obernaufs. Works fantastic.
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post #5 of 32
8/17/10 at 6:01pm
Thread Starter 
thanks! looking for it in chicago, but i may have to order it online.

will give it a go.
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post #6 of 32
8/17/10 at 6:15pm
Tandy's leather sells some excellent professional leather dying products.
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post #7 of 32
8/17/10 at 6:18pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JustinW View Post
Tandy's leather sells some excellent professional leather dying products.


i wanna stay away from dyes because they can look uneven and streaky. i want an oil or a cream polish that evenly and gradually darkens the leather or gives it a richer look.

thanks though.
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post #8 of 32
8/17/10 at 6:28pm
You don't need to get a colored shoe creme to darken your boots unless you're looking for a much darker shade. Something like mink oil will do the trick. Heard great things about Obenaufs, but have never used it.
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post #9 of 32
8/17/10 at 10:48pm
Obenauf's isn't applied regularly, i think. Lincoln's products might be what you're looking for, especially if you get creams/conditioners in dark brown.
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post #10 of 32
8/17/10 at 11:47pm
From my experience, Obenauf's does darken the leather, but with time they will also gradually lighten. I'm not sure what product actually gradually darkens the leather.
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post #11 of 32
8/18/10 at 12:05am
Thread Starter 
would obenauf's have a marked difference in darkening the leather than using a mink oil?
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post #12 of 32
8/18/10 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 
i ordered 16 ounces of the obenauf's leather oil. in my searching i also noticed they have the heavy duty leather oil. i'm not planning on fighting forest fires in my beckman's...but i wonder if anyone here has tried it and what sort of experiences they have had with it.
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post #13 of 32
8/18/10 at 4:03pm
why you'd want to darken those beauties is beyond me, they look great as is

Was debating buying these as opposed to the cheaper, classic white soled.

Review? Comparison?
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post #14 of 32
8/18/10 at 4:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by flipsilk View Post
why you'd want to darken those beauties is beyond me, they look great as is

Was debating buying these as opposed to the cheaper, classic white soled.

Review? Comparison?


i vastly prefer the sole on these, they are dressier and just look a bit more in line with how i feel the sole on such a boot should look. they took a fair bit of time to break in, but now they are really comfy. it's not really much darker that i'd like to go, just a bit more depth and patina is what i am after. i agree they are attractive as is, but with the things i am usually wearing these with, i'd prefer them just being a bit richer.

i live in chicago and wear these in the winter, usually with a smartwool hiking sock. were i to live in a cooler climate andbeing wearing less sock, i'd probably size down 1/2 a size.
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post #15 of 32
8/18/10 at 4:21pm
Well actually from my experience, the Heavy Duty LP is what I use on my Clark's. I believe it was stated somewhere that the Oil was used for dressier shoes. Though I have very limited experience with Red Wings, so I'm not sure which would be proper for them. There's an Obenauf's thread somewhere in here, I'd look for it, but I'm kind of swamped at work. Hope this helps.
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