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

[hendrix]



What? No, I usually just do a light coating of reno, brush and off they go.

Interesting. Do your shoes often arrive in poor condition?

 

[fritzl]



If you can't afford Reno and are worried about the shipping costs, don't buy it.
I haven't found it to be any better than any other of the multitude of cleaner/conditioners out there. I have some Tarrago that works fine.
You'll only be using it every 6 months or so anyway.

truer words have never been spoken(in this fred). much appreciated

 

[patrickBOOTH]

No, but you never know how long the shoes are sitting somewhere before they reach your feet. I find it best to condition the leather before venturing out. A coat of wax on dry shoes can just make matters worse, imo.

 

[hendrix]



No, but you never know how long the shoes are sitting somewhere before they reach your feet. I find it best to condition the leather before venturing out. A coat of wax on dry shoes can just make matters worse, imo.

True.

It's actually not wax that I usually use, but dubbin 90% of the time.

I only put wax on my shoes when I need them to be shiny.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Dubbin is good stuff. What brand do you use?

 

[fritzl]



Interesting. Do your shoes often arrive in poor condition?

just great. i'm luvin it.

 

[fritzl]



True.
I

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

t's actually not wax that I usually use, but dubbin 90% of the time.
I only put wax on my shoes when I need them to be shiny.

lol wut

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Fritzl, don't you use dubbin?

 

[Crat]



Hello Gents,
How would you care for a brand new pair of calf Carmina leather shoes before you wear these outside.
I got horsehair brushes, Saphir Reno, wax and cream.
thanks

Just wear them as they are. The leather will 'open up' with use and will then absorb care products better. It is not necessary to treat new shoes before wearing unless they have been stored in the shop for years before the sale and the leather has dried up a bit.

 

[fritzl]



Fritzl, don't you use dubbin?

mebbe, i dunno what it is. i can tell you that i have no strict regiment. but, today i used gutra on several pairs, which have been in storage for an unknown time after i wiped them with a wet cloth and a brushing with a pig bristle(hard) brush.

 

[fritzl]



Just wear them as they are. The leather will 'open up' with use and will then absorb care products better. It is not necessary to treat new shoes before wearing unless they have been stored in the shop for years before the sale and the leather has dried up a bit.

you talk to a beginner and think he can follow you. congrats. no pun intended.

 

[hendrix]



Dubbin is good stuff. What brand do you use?

I used to make my own, but now I buy the Bee kind shoe polish/protector because it's just easier.

I also used to use it on the soles of my shoes but now I make my own sole oil.

 

[Crat]



you talk to a beginner and think he can follow you. congrats. no pun intended.

Suggestions such as "Just wear them as they are" and "It's not necessary to treat new shoes before wearing" aren't that difficult to follow are they?

 

[patrickBOOTH]



mebbe, i dunno what it is. i can tell you that i have no strict regiment. but, today i used gutra on several pairs, which have been in storage for an unknown time after i wiped them with a wet cloth and a brushing with a pig bristle(hard) brush.

I can't find Gutra anywhere in the States.

 

[hendrix]



lol wut

By wax I mean shoe polish.

It probably doesn't matter in the long run, just that the distinguishing characteristic of a shoe polish for me is that it contains something that evaporates readily to leave a quick shine - i.e. naptha or turpentine.

I don't need this shine and I don't need the pigment, so I just use dubbin instead.

Unless I need a shine.

I can't find Gutra anywhere in the States.

Just use any shoe grease. I think there's one called Huberd's IIRC. You can also make your own using beeswax and/or lanolin.