Leather on van Bommel dress shoes discolored

[samthegreat4]

Hello Gentlemen,

I bought a pair of van Bommel dress shoes a week ago.
Just today I think I spilled some toothpaste/water on one of the shoes and after I tried to clean it off by rubbing the spot with a, cold water damped, towel the spot turned out lighter/discolored. Is it fixable?



Also, there seems to be a stain on the side of the right shoe, any ideas on what it is and how to fix it?



Thanks in advance for your time gents!

Cheers,

Sam

 

[samthegreat4]

Anyone?

 

[DWFII]

"Is it fixable?" Short of re-dying and refinishing the shoes...no. Toothpaste contains micro-abrasives and water will lift any finish/dye that is water soluble or not very deep (the two go hand in hand).

So...you've stripped both dye and finish. Chances of finding a dye that match es the original is slim to none. Dying both a darker colour may be your only option.

 

[samthegreat4]

"Is it fixable?" Short of re-dying and refinishing the shoes...no. Toothpaste contains micro-abrasives and water will lift any finish/dye that is water soluble or not very deep (the two go hand in hand).

So...you've stripped both dye and finish. Chances of finding a dye that match es the original is slim to none. Dying both a darker colour may be your only option.

Thanks for the reply.
I guess I'll just have to leave it at this then. Ain't that bad I'd say, right? Gives the shoe some character. Oh well.

 

[samthegreat4]

Also DWFII, what about that dark colored spot in the other picture?

 

[DWFII]



Also DWFII, what about that dark colored spot in the other picture? 

You know, I'm guessing with all of this. It is an informed guess...one based on many years of first hand experience...but a guess nonetheless. I wasn't there when you cleaned them and photos are a poor substitute for actually being able to inspect the surface of the leather first hand.


I don't know what the dark spot is unless you scrubbed in that area as well. At first glance, it looks to me as if the finish, even the grain itself, has been removed or damaged and the underlying is absorbing oils or waxes faster than the surrounding leather. the outlines of the tongue suggest that the leather was scrubbed so vigorously enough that the high spots were scoured.

I'm sorry for you but those spots aren't going away anytime soon either. Again...what if you had them dyed a couple of shades darker? Would you rather live with a hodge-podge of mottling colours or a darker shoe?

 

[samthegreat4]

You know, I'm guessing with all of this. It is an informed guess...one based on many years of first hand experience...but a guess nonetheless. I wasn't there when you cleaned them and photos are a poor substitute for actually being able to inspect the surface of the leather first hand.


I don't know what the dark spot is unless you scrubbed in that area as well. At first glance, it looks to me as if the finish, even the grain itself, has been removed or damaged and the underlying is absorbing oils or waxes faster than the surrounding leather. the outlines of the tongue suggest that the leather was scrubbed so vigorously enough that the high spots were scoured.

I'm sorry for you but those spots aren't going away anytime soon either. Again...what if you had them dyed a couple of shades darker? Would you rather live with a hodge-podge of mottling colours or a darker shoe?

Thanks again. I don't remember scrubbing the tongue vigorously (I did scrub the toecap vigorously though, and that's indeed the cause of the brightening on the toe).
To answer your question: I would rather live with a darker shoe than with the discoloration on the toecap and the dark/oily/greasy spot of undetermined nature on the tongue.

Im curious if the local cobbler offers dyeing and how much that's gonna cost.

 

[DWFII]



Thanks again. I don't remember scrubbing the tongue vigorously (I did scrub the toecap vigorously though, and that's indeed the cause of the brightening on the toe). 
To answer your question: I would rather live with a darker shoe than with the discoloration on the toecap and the dark/oily/greasy spot of undetermined nature on the tongue. 

 
Im curious if the local cobbler offers dyeing and how much that's gonna cost.

While dying a light, honey coloured shoe a dark brown is usually safe, dying "after-the-fact," esp. if it's only a shade or two, is somewhat inexact. Ask to see some examples of the cobbler's dyework before you commit. And make sure that the cobbler intends to remove the finish and waxes already present before he starts dying.

 

[samthegreat4]

While dying a light, honey coloured shoe a dark brown is usually safe, dying "after-the-fact," esp. if it's only a shade or two, is somewhat inexact. Ask to see some examples of the cobbler's dyework before you commit. And make sure that the cobbler intends to remove the finish and waxes already present before he starts dying.

Sorry, what do you mean by ''dying after-the-fact''?
And does stripping the color of the shoe by using an acetone/bleach treatment qualify as ''removing the finish and waxes already present''?

I'm trying to get as much stuff straight as I can as I'm getting ready to go to the local cobbler in my town.

 

[DWFII]



Sorry, what do you mean by ''dying after-the-fact''?

The shoes are already made so the leather cannot be immersed in dye. As a consequence the dye may "strike" unevenly.

And does stripping the color of the shoe by using an acetone/bleach treatment qualify as ''removing the finish and waxes already present''? 

Yes, although I would avoid bleaches. Acetone is the way to go if your cobbler doesn't have access to dedicated finish strippers.

 

[samthegreat4]

The shoes are already made so the leather cannot be immersed in dye. As a consequence the dye may "strike" unevenly.
Yes, although I would avoid bleaches. Acetone is the way to go if your cobbler doesn't have access to dedicated finish strippers.

So, I've just come back from the cobbler. It appears to be that he won the prize for ''best cobler of the year 2013'' in my country.
He told me he'll take care of the faded spots by recoloring it, and he furthermore said that if he wouldn't be able to find a matching color he'd make a custom mix for this color. I asked him whether he thought it was necessary to redye the shoes, but he responded by saying that it would be a shame to do that to such nice shoes.

So, I'm happy.

 

[DWFII]



So, I've just come back from the cobbler. It appears to be that he won the prize for ''best cobler of the year 2013'' in my country. 
He told me he'll take care of the faded spots by recoloring it, and he furthermore said that if he wouldn't be able to find a matching color he'd make a custom mix for this color. I asked him whether he thought it was necessary to redye the shoes, but he responded by saying that it would be a shame to do that to such nice shoes.

So, I'm happy.

Please post photos of the results.

 

[samthegreat4]

Please post photos of the results.

I will. They would be done by friday they told me.
I trust his craftsmanship.

 

[samthegreat4]

Please post photos of the results.

Here goes!

 

[DWFII]



Here goes!

Not quite the same but close enough for government work. What about that spot up on the facings?