***The official Alden thread *** Share enthusiasm, reviews, sizing, advice, and photos.

[Ahab]



Another question for you Alden experts. I stopped by Haberdash last weekend during my latest trip to Chicago and I picked up an Alden Shoe brush. After i got home i put it to good use on a pair of my shell LHS, but it seems like it dulled the leather instead of giving it a good polish. I panicked and switch back to this Red Wing shoe brush i've been using and it did the trick.

Is there some type of break in period? Do i need to clean the brush?

I do not have an answer to your question but this is interesting. Keep us updated.

 

[Thor]

exerted a little elbow grease this weekend...made a difference but could be time for a recrafting...

elapsed time- 45 minutes:

 

[Numbernine]



I saw some guy once in a youtube video refer to it as the final step when polishing shoes.  He also said that it acts as a sealant to make the leather more resistant to dust and dirt.


Doesn't it rain year 'round anyway?

actually in coastal california no you can pretty much pull the roof off in may and youll be ok till sept even oct

 

[El Argentino]



exerted a little elbow grease this weekend...made a difference but could be time for a recrafting...

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

elapsed time- 45 minutes:

A+ Post.

 

[Ahab]



exerted a little elbow grease this weekend...made a difference but could be time for a recrafting...

elapsed time- 45 minutes:

Great pics! Hey, a little more info on those? I notice no speed hooks, what is the sole? Also are the uppers the standard Indy leather?

 

[david3558]



Great pics! Hey, a little more info on those? I notice no speed hooks, what is the sole? Also are the uppers the standard Indy leather?

If I'm not mistaken it looks like he had his speed hooks swapped out for eyelets, the positioning of them gives it away IMO.

 

[mediahound]

anyone have experience with adding dye to shell?

while this is too much products for shell cordovan (probably a good treatment for leather though), the part where he adds dye is interesting;

 

[Thor]



If I'm not mistaken it looks like he had his speed hooks swapped out for eyelets, the positioning of them gives it away IMO.

You are correct Sir!

The original speed hook ripped apart from the leather about a week after I got them and Alden swapped them out...

These are JGilbert #8 Indy on commando...although they (soles) are well worn and desperately need to be replaced.

 

[david3558]



anyone have experience with adding dye to shell? while this is too much products for shell cordovan (probably a good treatment for leather though), the part where he adds dye is interesting;

Would not recommend it unless you're set on keeping the color a certain way as to avoid patina - my friend dyed his natural cordovan by applying layers of dye to the wallet.

 

[Ahab]



anyone have experience with adding dye to shell? while this is too much products for shell cordovan (probably a good treatment for leather though), the part where he adds dye is interesting;

Shoe cream has leather dye.

 

[david3558]



You are correct Sir!

The original speed hook ripped apart from the leather about a week after I got them and Alden swapped them out...

These are JGilbert #8 Indy on commando...although they (soles) are well worn and desperately need to be replaced.

Thought so

I had thoughts of doing the same as the speedhooks are not the sturdiest things - my last 2 pairs of Indy's had a lot of play in them - but I was pretty abusive haha

Would you mind showing what the bottoms look like? I'm curious to see how the commando looks after they're beat!

 

[Papa Doble]



Joining Uncle Mac with Whickey LHS and Argyle OTC

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Awesome. Whiskey LHS is on my list.

 

[mediahound]

Shoe cream has leather dye.

i guess that's why it is not recommended for shell (just wax polish) since it could potentially change the color. seems one could use that to their advantage however if you want to make it darker.

 

[Ahab]



i guess that's why it is not recommended for shell (just wax polish) since it could potentially change the color. seems one could use that to their advantage however if you want to make it darker. 

When I was in the Army (and for a while shortly after) I would use leather dye when I shined my boots/shoes on occasion. They sold it in the PX and if you got a deep gash or cut it was the best solution. Clean the boot, apply leather dye and wait for it to dry then buff. This in itself would give a pretty good shine and leather dye covers up all mistakes. I would then use shoe cream to help fill in the cut, scrap or gash. Then finish it off with wax polish. At the PX they only had black leather dye of course. Black has to be the easiest shoe color to get back to looking good.

Now I only use various creams, and have used it on cordovan. I once scraped the toe box of a Darlton wingtip to bare leather. I was pissed but I took some brown leather cream and applied it to both shoes and it covered up the scrape pretty well. For a while I could see where the scrape was because it was darker. Now after some many wears, shines and polished I do not think I can tell.

I think this guy in the video went a little overboard but he does mention that the dye brings back the color and keeps them looking good longer.

Paste wax also has some dye in it too which is why it is nice to use some black paste wax on #8 every six months or so to get some nice contrast.

 

[Ahab]



If I'm not mistaken it looks like he had his speed hooks swapped out for eyelets, the positioning of them gives it away IMO.

Nice catch!