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

[fritzl]



if you start using Saphir on all your shoes, as it has a tendency to build up on brushes and the need to wash them increases.

on a buffing brush? amazing.

well, i know, why i am a kiwi man.

 

[patrickBOOTH]



on a buffing brush? amazing.
well, i know, why i am a kiwi man.

You married a woman from New Zealand?

 

[Northampton Novice]



on a buffing brush? amazing.
well, i know, why i am a kiwi man.

It's almost ridiculous how little Saphir it takes per pair...any more and your brush is going to show it!

 

[fritzl]



You married a woman from New Zealand?

it's the sechs...

 

[Coldsnap]

Thanks for the info.

How can I treat these to keep them nice lookin, decrease the wrinkles in te leather, and reduce shine? I was thinking hitting them with a warm damp cloth when they are dirty, hitting it with a brush, then some product every 30 days or so. Not sure what product, it's gIoat leather if that helps

 

[patrickBOOTH]



Thanks for the info.
How can I treat these to keep them nice lookin, decrease the wrinkles in te leather, and reduce shine? I was thinking hitting them with a warm damp cloth when they are dirty, hitting it with a brush, then some product every 30 days or so. Not sure what product, it's gIoat leather if that helps

This is funny. My girlfriend walked these same boots up to me in a shop a few weeks ago and asked me what I thought. I told her they were slightly corrected and have some sort of weird plasticy coating on them. You could give a very light treatment of Obaneuf's Heavy Duty LP, or Montana pitch blend, which is conditioning and will make them a bit more matte, but I don't know how much will absorb into the leather because of the coating. Try a light application, let dry overnight and them buff with horsehair.

FWIW, I told her if she liked them and wanted them I would just get her Wolverine 1000 Mile boots, which is thisx100 in quality.

 

[Coldsnap]

Ah thanks. I will try the obenauf. Yea they are a different pair of boots, lower quality than why is around here, but for the price and some of its interesting features I sorta dig them. They are super super slim, really sharp last.

 

[patrickBOOTH]



Ah thanks. I will try the obenauf. Yea they are a different pair of boots, lower quality than why is around here, but for the price and some of its interesting features I sorta dig them. They are super super slim, really sharp last.

They are a very tasteful boot, indeed. I was surprised that they were Stacy Adams. Wear them well.

 

[Coldsnap]

Thanks!

 

[ducatisteve]

Wow, thanks to everyone that has contributed to this thread, it has been a great read and very informative. I had a couple questions regarding some leathers in my collection. I have a pair of Alden Indy AF64s (very similar to the 404) with the heavily oiled Kudu leather. I also have a pair of Alden McTavishes in waxy black leather (from their Rough Collection). Of course I'm not looking to have either of these be pristine or shiny, but is there anything I should do in the name of general upkeep besides keeping the in shoe trees and in rotation? I have the AE saddle soap, which they recommend, but I'm wondering if I should just wear them and let Alden/AE take care of them during recrafting.

Also, quick PSA, I know that some guys here are into microfibers for their shoes, and if you're looking for some nice ones I just got an email from Detailer's Domain saying they have their Uber Microfibers on sale. The 16"x16" all purpose towels for $1.99 are about as good of a deal as I've seen. (I have no relation to the company except as a customer).

https://detailersdomain.com/Uber-Microfibers_c_95.html?referer=mailid:19

 

[chogall]

Thanks for the info.
How can I treat these to keep them nice lookin, decrease the wrinkles in te leather, and reduce shine? I was thinking hitting them with a warm damp cloth when they are dirty, hitting it with a brush, then some product every 30 days or so. Not sure what product, it's gIoat leather if that helps

is it me or these boots are too narrow for you? your pinky toe outline is showing and has stretched the leather right after the cap-toe seam.

 

[Coldsnap]

Is there a place where I can get Obenaufs Heavy Duty LP and a shoe brush? Don't way to pay shipping for two different places.

Hmm the shoe doesn't feel tight, I actually sized up 1/2 size because the last was slim.

 

[patrickBOOTH]



Is there a place where I can get Obenaufs Heavy Duty LP and a shoe brush? Don't way to pay shipping for two different places.
Hmm the shoe doesn't feel tight, I actually sized up 1/2 size because the last was slim.

You can get a Kiwi shoe brush at almost any cobbler, even most drugstores, or convenient stores have them. I have never seen Obaneuf's sold at a store.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Has anybody ever experienced shoe upper cracking where they meet the welt? It seems like there is an extraordinary amount of tension and pressure here. Anybody have this experience?

 

[kirbya]



Yeah - got caught in one of those rainstorms where the cabs were all taken with 20 blocks to go. Thought the nutmeg colored PS/GMP Fitzwilliams were trashed on their maiden voyage. Came home, let them dry for a few days on one of those Hamilton Beach clothes drying racks that blows air. They had dark stains from the expected crap that was on the NYC streets mixed with the rain.
Did some research here and tried the water vinegar mixture with cotton balls (Thanks again SF!). Amazingly, the stains went away after three tries of the following:
- Slightly (don't soak the cotton) dipped one cotton ball to get just enough of the solution and rubbed it into the stains,
- Then used two to three clean cotton balls to rub the stain and "soak it up".
- Let dry overnight - again on that HB clothes dryer
- Repeat as necessary (3x for me)
Over the course of the next week put two heavy coats of Lexol (let each application soak for about two hours, brushed off the residue then let them dry for a day and again brushed off the residue), followed by two light coats of light brown Saphir creme that I let soak in for a half a day before brushing off, followed by three light coats of light brown Saphir MD'o wax. They are once again kick ass. Should have taken before and after pics, but was pissed off before and doubtful it was gonna work. So the afters would be kinda useless.

Saphir has a cleaner called "Winter" that we'll be receiving that is great for salt and water stains... coming mid-February.