Picked up a pair of AE for BB 5th Ave.'s this past weekend, that I ordered from store during the 30% off earlier this month. Found the sole edge was a little rough to touch ( like sand paper ), but all of them were. I always wax this area along with the shoe for a nice gloss finish, and like it to be smooth to get a good finish. So I figured WTF, at 30% + a $25 coupon, I can fix it, by sanding smooth and reapplying dressing.
Stopped by an AE store on way home and picked up a bottle of dressing, checking that it is same as used in factory, plus looked at their black 5th's, same slight roughness. Before sanding smooth, I wanted to rub over w/ solvent to slightly thin thickness of dressing, as not to clog sand paper too much. First tried Naphtha ( stronger paint thinner ), no good. Then reading bottle { water soluble, { like Acrylic Latex house paint } bingo , Lacquer thinner. Worked like a charm. Water soluble would also account for lifting of fibers in leather and roughness.
1st pic --- Sanded over worst areas w/ 150 grit, then whole thing w/ 220 -- Masking tape is just to protect shoe while sanding, as had to kiss top of edge.
2nd pic -- First applied a couple light coats of black NGR Dye that I had on hand ( from ebonizing wood years ago ), to give some depth and penetration of color.
3rd pic. -- Applied 2 light coats of dressing, rubbing over lightly between coats w/ a gray Scotchbrite pad. When cured, first coat of wax on entire shoe. " note" -- used a small pc. of painters rag ( like T shirt material ), folded to a 1" x 2" pc. to applly, as I thought applicator on bottle was BS, so I removed it, poured a little bit in small vessel and used cloth to apply.
4th pic. -- Second coat of wax on entire shoe / sole edge / heal. Done
Stopped by an AE store on way home and picked up a bottle of dressing, checking that it is same as used in factory, plus looked at their black 5th's, same slight roughness. Before sanding smooth, I wanted to rub over w/ solvent to slightly thin thickness of dressing, as not to clog sand paper too much. First tried Naphtha ( stronger paint thinner ), no good. Then reading bottle { water soluble, { like Acrylic Latex house paint } bingo , Lacquer thinner. Worked like a charm. Water soluble would also account for lifting of fibers in leather and roughness.
1st pic --- Sanded over worst areas w/ 150 grit, then whole thing w/ 220 -- Masking tape is just to protect shoe while sanding, as had to kiss top of edge.
2nd pic -- First applied a couple light coats of black NGR Dye that I had on hand ( from ebonizing wood years ago ), to give some depth and penetration of color.
3rd pic. -- Applied 2 light coats of dressing, rubbing over lightly between coats w/ a gray Scotchbrite pad. When cured, first coat of wax on entire shoe. " note" -- used a small pc. of painters rag ( like T shirt material ), folded to a 1" x 2" pc. to applly, as I thought applicator on bottle was BS, so I removed it, poured a little bit in small vessel and used cloth to apply.
4th pic. -- Second coat of wax on entire shoe / sole edge / heal. Done
