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

[lysandar]

Thanks Gdot - I'll be sure to clock in a tin with my next saphir run

 

[fritzl]



What do those steel plates do to wooden floors?
I've used the plastic plates. Not the classiest but safe for my floors.

wtf

 

[fritzl]



Thanks Fritzl.

you're very welcome.

 

[fritzl]



point taken,to be on the safe I even called them and have email that it is safe to use on leather surfaces, including fine uppers. I just choose not to do it.

no problem.

 

[loigander]

Hint on cleaning suede shoes.

I was brushing a pair of tan moccasines the other day, getting ready for warmer weather. Was not quite happy, even though there were no spots or anything left, the colour still looked a bit dull.

Decided to fire up the old Dyson, put on furniture brush and went on to vacuum the shoes. The difference was amazingly clear. Then vacuumed old lady's light grey moccasines, that literally changed colour before my eyes. There seem to be a lot of dust in the leather, that is not leaving with just brushing.

Afterwards, Collonil Nano spray on, and we are ready.

Try it, you might like it.

 

[Spinning]

Thanks for that!

 

[knezz]



wtf

Thanks fritzl


"What does those steel plates do to wooden floors?"

Anyone else?

 

[SHS]



I use leatherique Rejuvinator followed by their cleanser primarily because I buy their big bottles to use in my cars. 10+ years and the car seats look like new...
I also use some shoe cream on the soles when in the mood, makes me feel good

Does your car have oak bark tanned leather tires?

 

[sstomcat]



Does your car have oak bark tanned leather tires?

funny right?

 

[Gdot]

Anybody have any recommendations for a good glue to hold together a split rubber sole?

I'm sure the local cobbler would have something but they are a good distance from me and I'm looking for something that I can pick up at Home Depot or the Hardware store.

My 30 year old sperry suede loafers have finally started to fall apart.

 

[joiji]

Anybody have any recommendations for a good glue to hold together a split rubber sole?
I'm sure the local cobbler would have something but they are a good distance from me and I'm looking for something that I can pick up at Home Depot or the Hardware store.
My 30 year old sperry suede loafers have finally started to fall apart.

Contact adhesive. If you can find it, Sikaflex make a great product.

Open the split up, paint the adhesive inside, leave it open for ~2 minutes, clamp closed (or use something heavy ontop to hold it closed.). Should seal it up nicely.

 

[Gdot]

Since I had mentioned last week that I had recently been applying olive green shoe cream to my 'beechnut' colored C&J Mertons I thought I'd post a pic of them.

I used an artist's brush to HEAVILY apply the green cream to all stitching and the edges of all leather on the strap and into the opening in the strap. Let sit for three to five minutes and then brush buffed the whole shoe. I repeated three times and then followed with two coats of Saphir Neutral wax. This is the result.

 

[Northampton Novice]

G, what are we looking for in the photos?...hints of olive/green in the stitching?

They must be v.subtle. I imagine the neutral wax removed some of the green in any case.

 

[Gdot]

NorthHampton -

The green more or less shows up as the darkening at the stitching and along the edges of the leather. It mostly just looks dark and rich - not so much green until you get a very close look at the stitching.

A similar effect could be had by using navy blue or even black. It's just that green seems to react particularly nice with this medium brown.

I think the thing most guys could gain from this is that you can be pretty adventurous with colored creams - as the color they impart is generally very subtle.

And you are correct, applying the nuetral wax over the top does indeed lift and further redistribute the cream polish underneath.

 

[Northampton Novice]



And you are correct, applying the nuetral wax over the top does indeed lift and further redistribute the cream polish underneath.

Of course.

May I ask were you using a Saphir MDO green, because they are actually very strongly pigmented & 3 heavy coats would most likely stain the shoe more starkly. Whereas other brands like Kiwi cream contain far less pigment & would impart subtler notes only.