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

[patrickBOOTH]

I know it, thank you!

 

[SHS]

Bump

Thank you for this thread. I have spent hours reading it, and found many pieces of good advice. I would also like more opinions on this question:

Quote:
Originally Posted by SpooPoker

Im sure this has been covered, but in light of the new PSA I posted in the cool shoes thread for the cheap Saphir, can someone post a step by step on how to apply it properly? The three products I have in rotation will be :
1. Saphir Renovateur (not on the PSA)
2. Saphir Pate de Luxe
3. Saphir Creme
I have never been the best polisher, I usually pay the shine guys to do it. But if you had these 3 products at your disposal, what would be the steps you would take? Thanks in advance dudes.

I am more interested in caring for the leather than making a mirror. How often do you polish? How often do you use cream, wax and renovateur? Do you use both cream and renovateur? Do you apply renovateur with cloth? Thank you.

SHS

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Didn't you see my response?

Over the years I have done a lot of different things in order to protect and shine my shoes. Some of those things was rather complex in order to keep my leather shoes supple and maintain a brilliant shine. Using much of Lear's (not the ugly one) advice I used to maintain a mirror shine on the top caps and heel quarters, however as my collection has expanded my time for the obsessive art has greatly diminished. I have begun using a ritual that I feel is pretty foolproof, yet yeilds an excellent result.


I start, by just buffing the shoe to get the dust off with an old cotton tee shirt and I Saphir Renovateur, the whole damn thing. I let it sit a few minutes and then I lightly buff with the cotton shirt again. I then use Saphir wax on the toe in repeated small swirls and work back towards the vamp. Doing this puts most of the wax on the toe and only the remnants end up on the vamp. This is crucial so you don't get build up in the creases. I am also aware of some people saying that wax polish dries out leather, but with Saphir I have found that it doesn't ever really dry out like kiwi and some others do, it stays gunky and maliable. I then add some wax to the heel counters and work towards the center of the shoe once again. After the whole shoe has this thin layer of wax let it dry and buff fast, yet lightly with a horsehair brush. Many people stop here, however I feel in order to bring out a really nice glow and remove excess wax it is a good idea to let the shoe dry with its shine for a bit, say 10 minutes, then apply another light coat of Saphir Renovateur, let sit and buff with the same horsehair brush in the same manner. For some reason this last application of renovateur seems to bring out a better glow then if you hadn't used it. I think the renovateur really smoothes out the finish and helps the wax penetrate into the pores more. Anyway, I feel that this ritual is a great alternative to the labor intensive and highly sought after mirror shine.


This finish I feel lasts a long time as well. After each wearing I just give the shoes a good brush with the horsehair and they clean up very well. Every now and again a light coat on renovateur seems to bring out the shine and nourish the leather. It also helps to gradually pick up the old polish while conditioning as to not create any build-up. If I do this I will apply the renovateur right as I take off my shoes and put in the trees. Since the leather is still warm from my feet the reno penetrates better and picks up some of the loosened polish.


Just thought that I would share. Best of luck.

 

[SHS]

Yes, thank you. I just thought that it would be nice with more opinions and input.

SHS

 

[SHS]

I have also read good things on Lexol from DWFII:

"Sri, I use Lexol ph (in the orange bottle) for cleaning. Lexol in the brown bottle for conditioning and Lexol NF (a highly homogenized but pure neetsfoot oil) for periodic conditioning of insoles. I have no affiliation with Lexol. I mentioned this in another thread but strange as it may seem "no more tears" ph-balanced baby shampoo will also work. Tearless onions have no effect."

I am interested in preserving and condition the uppers as best as possible. Also, I think that I read something about applying renovateur with the finger. Can anyone confirm this, or reveal another method? Thanks.

SHS

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Lexol is also great. Supposedly synthetic sperm whale oil. I find that it takes off a lot of finish when using it and it takes a long time to dry. The only downside with it I feel is that you have to do more work to polish after using it.

 

[Winston S.]

I apply reno with my fingers too. It does make sense that if you apply by cloth or brush some of it may get soaked up by the applicator.

 

[Gdot]



I apply reno with my fingers too. It does make sense that if you apply by cloth or brush some of it may get soaked up by the applicator.

EWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!

Just kidding - quite a few people say they use their fingers. I just use a small piece of cotton rag (old t shirt). I'd say in any case all agree that it is best rubbed gently into the leather. Not applied with a brush.

I think this is true of pretty much all leather care products - with the exception of using a brush to get into the seam at the welt.

How many people condition the soles? And are there any special treatments for Oakbark tanned soles?

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Applying reno with your fingers it spreads easier and further, however I feel that applying it with just a piece of cotton is best because the cotton helps pick up excess polish on the shoe. Using your fingers it just smears it all around.

 

[SHS]

Thank you all for your advice. I will immediately order some renovateur. I'm not sure about the finger-applying though.

EWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!
Just kidding - quite a few people say they use their fingers. I just use a small piece of cotton rag (old t shirt). I'd say in any case all agree that it is best rubbed gently into the leather. Not applied with a brush.
I think this is true of pretty much all leather care products - with the exception of using a brush to get into the seam at the welt.
How many people condition the soles? And are there any special treatments for Oakbark tanned soles?

I have recently begun to condition my soles with this:

http://grunwald-true-style.com/Shoe-Care/Oil-for-Leather-Soles.html

It will supposedly double the life of your soles.

 

[randomkoreandude]

whats the best way to treat and help repair cuts in chromexcel leather?

 

[JChance]

Hi all,

I just got a pair of suede+leather shoes from PS, but no idea how to take care of the combo of both leather+suede on one pair of shoes. Please advise!!

Pics:

 

[Naka]



Hi all,

I just got a pair of suede+leather shoes from PS, but no idea how to take care of the combo of both leather+suede on one pair of shoes. Please advise!!

Pics:

Suede protector spray for the suede, and a wax or cream polish for the calf depending on what kind of shine you want. Maybe cover the calf up with newspaper or something when spraying with the suede protector.

 

[Rambo]

Need some opinions on keeping Chromeexcel leather shiny and scratch free. I just ordered a new pair of Alden 405's and a pair of Wolverine 1000mile boots. My old pairs look absolutely awful after just a few months. I wear them so much that I really need to build up a bulletproof coating. Suggestions?

 

[Naka]

After weeks and weeks of working on them every other day or so, my boots are finally starting to take a candy-coat shine.