**The Official Shoe Care Thread: Tutorials, Photos, etc.**



Lear said:

I dare you to tell your friends how much that lot cost. Actually, forget that... if you're into this kind of thing, then you have no friends

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So very true...well said.

JonathanCWalker said:

Can anyone recommend a good cleaning kit / trunk? 

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patrickBOOTH said:

I found an old antique doctor's bag that I keep all of my supplies in. Makes a nice decoration and it is totally functional.
Yep, I put Obaneuf's Leather Oil on it when I bought it too.

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What a surprise

I've been looking for something as well. I currently store all my shoe care items in a shoe box (RMW boot box is just big enough). I've been considering a vintage Griffin shoeshine box, regularly available at ebay but I don't think it's large enough to hold all my stuff.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...=1&_trksid=m194&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSRCHX:SRCH

Another option is a old wooden crate. I see them all the time at flea markets and also available on ebay. I always thought the vintage wooden 'explosives crates' looked cool. I like that they are built w/dovetailed corners and tongue and groove construction. However, I want something with a lid and many of these don't have a cover.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...den+explosive+crate&_sacat=See-All-Categories



chogall said:

Who manufactures wax/creams for these Northhempton manufacturers?  Specifically Trickers, C&J and other mid/high tier shoemakers.

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patrickBOOTH said:

Saphir

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C&J polish is certainly not manufactured by Saphir.



patrick_b said:

So very true...well said.
What a surprise
I've been looking for something as well. I currently store all my shoe care items in a shoe box (RMW boot box is just big enough). I've been considering a vintage Griffin shoeshine box, regularly available at ebay but I don't think it's large enough to hold all my stuff.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...=1&_trksid=m194&ssPageName=STRK:MEFSRCHX:SRCH
Another option is a old wooden crate. I see them all the time at flea markets and also available on ebay. I always thought the vintage wooden 'explosives crates' looked cool. I like that they are built w/dovetailed corners and tongue and groove construction. However, I want something with a lid and many of these don't have a cover.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...den+explosive+crate&_sacat=See-All-Categories

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Yeah those Griffin boxes look sweet until you read the dimensions. Very small. I used to have a box with a 'shoe holder' on top such as on the Griffin and personally could never make use of it very well. I sold it on teh bay.

Many of those boxes come with the polisher as well. I have attached a buffing attachment to my dremel drill and used a lambswool buffing pad to remove old polish however. Worked pretty well. But I'm not much into mechanical aids for shoe polishing these days.

As for other sorts of crates I once owned a giant oaken trunk with a big brass plate on it labeled 'US NAVY DIVING APPARATUS' . God I would have loved to have had the contents of that trunk! Keep on looking there's plenty of cool vintage stuff out there. I'm wondering if an old tool box or fishing tackle box might be cool too.

First post here. I bought a pair of Paul Smith Kasmin boots, but being a complete shoe care novice I'm unsure what products to use on them. I intend to read all the valuable info posted, skimmed to page 22 so far, but I want to get wearing them very soon.

I've only wore them once and was unfortunate to lightly scuff the right toe as you can see in photos. They're are a casual to smart casual boot, and I don't think they would look right polished. I afraid of messing them up so any advice would be appreciated so any advice would be appreciated.

RyanMc said:

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First post here. I bought a pair of Paul Smith Kasmin boots, but being a complete shoe care novice I'm unsure what products to use on them. I intend to read all the valuable info posted, skimmed to page 22 so far, but I want to get wearing them very soon.

I've only wore them once and was unfortunate to lightly scuff the right toe as you can see in photos. They're are a casual to smart casual boot, and I don't think they would look right polished. I afraid of messing them up so any advice would be appreciated.

Welcome to SF Ryan.

For some reason I can't get your photos to load, but fortunately I am familiar with the boot in question.

I would advocate using a good quality shoe cream rather than a wax, as you point out they would not suit looking highly polished so a soft shine is what you are after. The shoe cream will help to cover up the scuff too.

I would try Woly or Saphir shoe cream.

Hi, was having problems with photobucket, so I just uploaded them from my pc. Will they be ok to wear in the rain using only a cream ? I suppose I can't have it both ways.

Those boots are pretty dressy, I like.

I offer the following thoughts:

Care: I would condition with Saphir Renovateur and use a cream polish. The cream polishes contain pigment, conditioner and some wax (not as much wax as 'wax polishes') so you will get a nice mellow shine. This would provide adequate protection for wearing in damp weather.

Wearing in the rain: These are single leather soled, I wouldn't wear them for walking several blocks when the weather is really wet. They just aren't made for that sort of wear. For that you want a boot with at least a double leather sole or dianite, etc. etc.

Really appreciate the advice, I'm pretty sure they're rubber soled, what made you think they were leather soled, Gdot ? Also if you you really wanted a pair they're regularly on ebay UK for half of RRP or less.

FWIW these shoes are blake mounted so more likely to let water in from the sides rather than upper.

Perhaps they are rubber soled. They just look like a single leather sole in the pics. I could be totally mistaken. But you should be able to tell just by looking at them from the bottom.

In any case, the thin sole doesn't get the welt very high up off the ground. I would still be suspect of wearing these when it's really raining.

I thought the reason why you belived they were leather soled was because on a few online stores they're described as having a leather sole. But no, they're rubber soled, yeah I agree, was thinking only of chancing them in light rain.



glenjay said:

Bulling is another term for spit-shining a shoe/boot.
Even though the heel counter and the toe puff, in the boots you are referring to, would keep those areas of the boot rigid enough to hold a spit-shine, I doubt the leather on those boots would allow for it.
A nice glossy brush shine should look just fine however.

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Ah, now we're getting down to brass tacks. I didn't think the CXL could either but that was what I came in here to find out. So, if not a wax shine, what can I do to keep these bastards looking as polished, and scuff free, as possible? I don't want to use obenauf's because then I'll have the same dull, dried out look that I had with the Montana Pitch Blend.



RyanMc said:

I thought the reason why you belived they were leather soled was because on a few online stores they're described as having a leather sole. But no, they're rubber soled, yeah I agree, was thinking only of chancing them in light rain.

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cool. then you are good to go my man......conditioner, shoe cream, and shoe trees. Put those trees in immediately after taking them off. It's the most important step. And let them rest at least 48 hours between wearings.

Brush well before and after every wearing and you will find they will age beautifully. The brushing keeps the oils in the conditioners well distributed.

Because the finish will be less polished the leather surface will tend to show scuffs a bit easily. They can often often be eliminated by licking your finger and rubbing a bit.

Condition and cream about once a month or sooner if they still look dry after brushing. Skip the cream entirely if they start getting too shiny for your taste.

If they get wet let them dry on the trees then condition and polish before the next wearing.

Will do Gdot, thanks very much for the advice.

Rambo,

This from the makers of Chromexcel (CXL).

http://horween.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/chromexcel®-2/.

The treatment regime I just gave to RyanMC should also work perfectly with CXL.