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

[dddrees]

Let's say additional color is not needed and spit shine is not desired.

Is shoe cream or paste really necessary or can one get away with using saphir renovateur in most cases?

 

[stevent]

So my cordovan boots got soaked through the sole / welt with fruit punch and is pretty soaked what can I do to limit damage other than air drying out. Boots were were essentially sitting below and uncapped bottle so liquid dropped over shoe then created a puddle in the tote bag. Normally I would never put my shoes with anything liquid but my girlfriend felt the need to bring 25 outfits for a 3 day trip and hence no space to put anything of mine in my own duffle

 

[Crat]



Crat, do you use a low adhesive (low tack) tape to mask off the shoe, or just nerves of steel? I realize that anything other than low tack might pull the finish off.

I also realize that it's dyeing not dying. But if I get it wrong, I'll have to throw myself upon my own shoehorn (genuine horn by the way).

I'm also wondering what you say to a postman who has permanently dyed black hands, and ain't smiling.

Lear

Death by real horn would be the SF way to go. Make sure not to spill any blood on your shoes though, it makes nasty stains : )

I don't use any tape. Even as an alcoholic my hands are steady enough not to muck it up. So if I can do it, you can.
Anyway, even if you get some dye on the upper it will be mendable.
My sandpapering project (somewhere on the forum) was the only thing that really tested my nerves up till now, as far as shoes are concerned.

 

[SHS]



Let's say additional color is not needed and spit shine is not desired.

Is shoe cream or paste really necessary or can one get away with using saphir renovateur in most cases?

For the shoes I don't feel a need to shine - mostly boots - I just use dubbin.

 

[glenjay]



Let's say additional color is not needed and spit shine is not desired.

Is shoe cream or paste really necessary or can one get away with using saphir renovateur in most cases?

I would probably go with a neutral cream polish.

 

[dddrees]

I would probably go with a neutral cream polish.

What would the neutral cream polish contain or add that the saphir renovateur wasn't already be providing?

 

[silentfox74]

What would the neutral cream polish contain or add that the saphir renovateur wasn't already be providing?

There is no difference. It is a matter of cost. A jar of Reno is $18-$23 depending on where you buy it. A jar of shoe cream, depending on brand, can range from $6 to $18. The brand of cream i.e. Woly, Meltonian, Saphir, Kiwi, bugol, etc is also dependant on how much you are willing to spend, or what is available locally.

 

[dddrees]

There is no difference. It is a matter of cost. A jar of Reno is $18-$23 depending on where you buy it. A jar of shoe cream, depending on brand, can range from $6 to $18. The brand of cream i.e. Woly, Meltonian, Saphir, Kiwi, bugol, etc is also dependant on how much you are willing to spend, or what is available locally.

Although I used Reno in the original question, I guess someone could use another less costlier brand of conditioner and cleaner instead then.

 

[glenjay]



Although I used Reno in the original question, I guess someone could use another less costlier brand of conditioner and cleaner instead then.

So, your question is really what is the downside of replacing shoe polish with cleaner/conditioner in your shoe care regiment, if color and high shine is not desired or required.

According to Saphir you should: "Use the Saphir Renovateur either as the base coat of a polish in order to provide gentle cleaning and deep conditioning or between shines as a 'touch up.' ".

Cleaner/conditioners will have a higher solvent ratio that shoe polish, and/or an additional cleaning agent added. Cleaner/conditioners will also have a lower wax ratio than polish.

The additional wax in the polish will offer more protection to the leather that the cleaner/conditioner alone.

You could certainly replace polish with conditioner/cleaner without major ramifications, but I would probably use each product as it was designed to be used.

 

[Rchrdvn]

Can anyone tell me what kind of leather these Maliseets are and what products I should use for longevity/conditioning/treating?

http://www.quoddy.com/copy-of-sale-mens-holiday-maliseet-2/

I understand LP should, generally, only be used for pull-up leather, so I should probably avoid using LP right?

 

[dddrees]

So, your question is really what is the downside of replacing shoe polish with cleaner/conditioner in your shoe care regiment, if color and high shine is not desired or required.

According to Saphir you should: "Use the Saphir Renovateur either as the base coat of a polish in order to provide gentle cleaning and deep conditioning or between shines as a 'touch up.' ".

Cleaner/conditioners will have a higher solvent ratio that shoe polish, and/or an additional cleaning agent added. Cleaner/conditioners will also have a lower wax ratio than polish.

The additional wax in the polish will offer more protection to the leather that the cleaner/conditioner alone.

You could certainly replace polish with conditioner/cleaner without major ramifications, but I would probably use each product as it was designed to be used.

Makes sense, thanks.

 

[Chicagobred]

I recently refurbished my Alden reverse chamois ptb. I'm very happy with the refurb, butfor the white thread that was used to restitch the shoes. I think the white thread is kind of jarring against the brown leather and brown sole. Is there anything that I can do to dye the thread to make it blend in more? I've attached a picture at the bottom with how the shoe looked originally. Thanks!

 

[NOBD]

Just let them darken through wear?

 

[jerrybrowne]

snoseal the welt.

 

[alco]

Had some stains on my tan wholecuts which I tried to remove with some Renomat but to no avail. Should I keep applying or use something stronger?

Here is a pic: