** Quintessential Crockett & Jones Thread ** - Page 103

Santa,Ronald McDonald,Russian Oligarchs,Disney employees, the possibilities are endless.

May I ask you afficianados your opinions on my recently purchased Edgwares.  I have worn them about 6 times in as many weeks.  I have put a coat of conditioner in that time and a few layers of wax in one session; and I use trees.  What I'm concerned about is this light-coloured surface "cracking" in the creases and also along the outer edge of the vamp, and it began to appear almost immediately. I have seen pics of other, older Edgwares and brown C&Js which do not have this flaw.  The photos below were taken with a few different lightings in order to give a balanced impression of how they appear to me during the day.  Today in the office I looked down and basically saw whitish bands traversing my brand new beautiful C&J Edgwares... 

Am I being too precious?  At this point I don't think so: after spending the bones of $500AU getting these to me from the UK I think I am entitled to expect a shoe where the integrity and appearance of the leather is not compromised after such a short time.  The final image shows the surface most clearly.  I don't think it is wax build-up as they have only been waxed by me once, and sparingly to that part of the shoe.  

When I received them I noticed they already had creases.  Of course we can't expect every shoe to be brand new and unworn, but I wonder whether this has contributed?

If I am being a chocolate cheesepuff about this, tell me.  Or is this past the pale of what should be tolerated from a top-drawer bottier?

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian B 


You're using too much wax, it's cracking everywhere. Get some Saphir Renomat and strip them down, then only use wax on the toe and heel area while you use cream on the rest of the uppers.

It does resemble wax build up, but this is very unlikely after just a couple of coats. Renomat is totally the wrong product for this issue whatever the cause.

Condition the shoes & apply a single light coat of shoe cream. After this don't apply any products whatsoever for at least 6 wears, but importantly brush your shoes vigorously after each wear; this will ensure a more even distribution of waxes & mitigate the lighter appearance of the creases.

Also the following threads (there are many others) discuss this particular onset of premature lighter coloured creases which has affected c&j shoes, so I guess wesos you are not alone in your experiences.

http://www.styleforum.net/t/118911/c-j-handgrade-leather-quality/30

http://www.styleforum.net/t/186494/dye-c-j-weymouth-black-who

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian B 


What? Renomat is just what he needs if it's wax build up, it all depends on how much wax he has used. I've seen people freakin' bath their shoes in wax, and this is always the result.

Renomat is far, far too strong and is plain overkill for removing wax build up unless it has been accumulated over several years. Using Renomat on a pair of nearly new shoes is more than likely to damage the leather. 

Thanks for the replies.

As I said in the first post, I have only applied one coat of wax to the creased area of the shoe, so I would be surprised if excess wax were the cause.

I am going to err on the side of caution for the time being and stay away from the Renomat.  By shoe cream do you mean something like Dark Brown Saphir Pommadier?  And if this is the right stuff, in future should I be leaving the wax for the toe box and the cream for the vamp?  

I apologise for all the Qs.  This has been my first foray into fine shoe-ing and it has left me despairing somewhat and scratching my head.