Chippewa Boots

Has anyone used a hairdryer with lp? I usually just it on by hand and go. The toothbrush is a good idea though usually I just try to get a pinkie in there.

surefire1017 said:

Has anyone used a hairdryer with lp? I usually just it on by hand and go. The toothbrush is a good idea though usually I just try to get a pinkie in there.

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When I'm doing a full-coat of LP, I hit it with a hair dryer to work it in... If it's just a touch-up, I typically don't bother with it. Lacking heat, I think you end up with wax-coated leather instead of wax-infused (which is likely more water-resistant). Heating it also lets you get a few more coats onto the leather without it getting tacky or gummy.

I used a toothbrush to work shoe cream into the boots (see my earlier posts) and it definitely helped to get it around the welt -- LP is a bit thicker though, so I haven't bothered to try to apply it with a toothbrush.

Cheers,

mxp

Thanks, I just applied a full coat last night. I'll try to hit the boots with a hair dryer and see how it goes.

Thanks Macready for opening the thread, mixProtocol for shedding so much light, and metitmatt for sharing that inspiring shot in post #37.

I ordered a pair of 65s over the weekend, and it was Christmas morning for me when I received them Monday evening. I immediately applied two coats of Obenauf's, and gave them about 10 minutes at around 170°F in the oven. I've been wearing them for two days now, the first day with normal socks, the second with thick Woolrich socks (temp has been dropping close to zero in Detroit for the past week). I love the boots, but they seem a bit tighter than expected. Perhaps my next pair will have to be EE width.

At any rate, I've got Meltonian Cordovan 078 that I plan to apply on Friday, after I've worn them in just a little. I'll post back, but since I like seeing pictures, here are a couple for anyone considering Chippewas. I'll be sure to post again on Friday pre and post polish.

theretroshave said:

Thanks Macready for opening the thread, mixProtocol for shedding so much light, and metitmatt for sharing that inspiring shot in post #37.

I ordered a pair of 65s over the weekend, and it was Christmas morning for me when I received them Monday evening. I immediately applied two coats of Obenauf's, and gave them about 10 minutes at around 170°F in the oven. I've been wearing them for two days now, the first day with normal socks, the second with thick Woolrich socks (temp has been dropping close to zero in Detroit for the past week). I love the boots, but they seem a bit tighter than expected. Perhaps my next pair will have to be EE width.

At any rate, I've got Meltonian Cordovan 078 that I plan to apply on Friday, after I've worn them in just a little. I'll post back, but since I like seeing pictures, here are a couple for anyone considering Chippewas. I'll be sure to post again on Friday pre and post polish.

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Looking good, your boots will age beautifully over time. I've been using meltonian brown shoe cream on the toe box, which, in the sunlight, gives a really cool contrast to the reddish tinge of the leather of my boots. I'll be reapplying obenauf's leather conditioner and LP over the weekend, it's been about 3 months since I last did so. Here is my humble contribution to this thread:

What caused the darkening of your welt- wear, or did you apply Obenauf's to the welt also? Polish? It looks good.

The welt darkened over time, it was originally a much brighter shade of orange, almost hunter orange, and through the application of obenauf's, constant wear, and, shoe polish, it has turned whatever color you could currently classify it as. I achieved that look through use and abuse. I put on a LOT of obenauf's when I did the first coats, focusing my attention on the seams, where the boots meet the welt, and the toe box. When shoe polish got on the welt I would simply wipe it throughout the stitching because I rather liked the fact it turned the stitching a brown color.

I wear mine every day, more or less, and only perform minimal maintenance. I wipe off the road salt with a damp cloth, and buff them quickly with a horsehair brush each night. Shoe cream once a week is good for my use, focusing on the front of the toe box, and working it into any creases (on the toe box and vamp, I avoid the quarter because brown shoe polish and pants generally don't mix).

Enjoy your boots, excited to see your results with the cordovan shoe cream! Please post more pictures, and, welcome to the forums!

I ended up polishing my boots on Saturday using Meltonian 078 Cordovan. I'm very pleased with the result. The picture just doesn't do the finish justice. The boots have a subtle reddish hue that's starting to show in the wrinkles. I actually accidentally ordered this color. I also decided to order the mahogany red, which I originally intended to order, but I will save that for another project. Looking forward to seeing how these boots age. I'm hoping gracefully, over many years. Thanks again to everyone here for the info, and inspiration.

So, I live in Detroit, MI, and there's been some very slushy/salty snow lately. Last night, I noticed a salt mark about the size of a quarter on the outer edge of the toe, just behind my small toe on one of my boots. After two coats of Obenauf's and two coats of Meltonian, should this happen? I mean, obviously it happens, but how should I proceed, aside from just wiping the salt away? Should I apply more Obenauf's, a fresh layer of polish? Can I apply Obenauf's without first stripping away polish? Is there anything short of rubber covers that will protect my leather from salt stains? Any help would be very much appreciated...

theretroshave said:

So, I live in Detroit, MI, and there's been some very slushy/salty snow lately. Last night, I noticed a salt mark about the size of a quarter on the outer edge of the toe, just behind my small toe on one of my boots. After two coats of Obenauf's and two coats of Meltonian, should this happen? I mean, obviously it happens, but how should I proceed, aside from just wiping the salt away? Should I apply more Obenauf's, a fresh layer of polish? Can I apply Obenauf's without first stripping away polish? Is there anything short of rubber covers that will protect my leather from salt stains? Any help would be very much appreciated...

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You can try saddle soap to remove the salt stain. and then start re-conditioning from scratch. It is a PITA but your shoes will thank you in the long run.