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Patina.

elgreco

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Recently, I realized that the obsessiveness about shoe care that SF has imparted upon me has resulted in the development of a rather nice patina on a pair of C&J Drummonds that I own. Provided for your benefit, (large) before and after pictures of the shoes:

October 2009, roughly around the time of purchase:

5411882047_c81368c821_b.jpg


February 2011, after a cleaning with saddle soap and maintenance with Renovateur:

5412493072_2143c3f507_b.jpg


Typically, these shoes have been conditioned with Crema Nubiana, and polished with dark brown Saphir Medaille d'Or whenever I have a moment and they are looking dull. Recently, seeing how my supply of Nubiana has run out and no one in the U.S. seems to carry it anymore, I've switched over to Saphir Renovateur and couldn't be happier about the switch. I think the difference between Crema Nubiana and Renovateur is marked.

Please post up similar photo series of your shoes if you have them.
 

Mr. Moo

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Looking good. Not sure about saddle soap... what is the point? (no snark, just not sure) Timely thread... I cleaned these up tonight using Renovateur, a horsehair brush and polishing cloth.
263j3f8.jpg
iei2a8.jpg
 

elgreco

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Originally Posted by Mr. Moo
Not sure about saddle soap... what is the point? (no snark, just not sure)

Only because there is a lot of salt on the ground here in DC on account of the winter weather we've been having. I got a little nervous about any damage, so I decided to give them a once-over with saddle soap to remove any damaging junk and then get in there with the Renovateur for the conditioning. Think of it as a shampoo + conditioner regimen.
 

meister

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Originally Posted by elgreco
Recently, I realized that the obsessiveness about shoe care that SF has imparted upon me has resulted in the development of a rather nice patina on a pair of C&J Drummonds that I own. Provided for your benefit, (large) before and after pictures of the shoes:

October 2009, roughly around the time of purchase:

5411882047_c81368c821_b.jpg


February 2011, after a cleaning with saddle soap and maintenance with Renovateur:

5412493072_2143c3f507_b.jpg


Typically, these shoes have been conditioned with Crema Nubiana, and polished with dark brown Saphir Medaille d'Or whenever I have a moment and they are looking dull. Recently, seeing how my supply of Nubiana has run out and no one in the U.S. seems to carry it anymore, I've switched over to Saphir Renovateur and couldn't be happier about the switch. I think the difference between Crema Nubiana and Renovateur is marked.

Please post up similar photo series of your shoes if you have them.


Why did you use a brutal product like saddle soap? It has acted like a metho washdown.
 

elgreco

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Originally Posted by meister
Why did you use a brutal product like saddle soap? It has acted like a metho washdown.

What SHOULD I use then?
 

patrickBOOTH

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Originally Posted by elgreco
What SHOULD I use then?

Just reno. Saddle Soap is too harsh for fine leathers. It dries them out. It should only be used on leathers like saddles, or things that aren't meant to be shined up and flexing and such. Even then it is questionable. it does dry the hell out of the leather though. Reno is really all you need. Once in a while if there is too much wax build-up you can gently rub a little bit of alcohol, or deglazer on them and then re build a finish with creams and some wax.
 

patrickBOOTH

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Originally Posted by Mr. Moo
Looking good. Not sure about saddle soap... what is the point? (no snark, just not sure)

Timely thread... I cleaned these up tonight using Renovateur, a horsehair brush and polishing cloth.

263j3f8.jpg


iei2a8.jpg


This is quite nice. Do you use black polish?
 

elgreco

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Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH
Just reno. Saddle Soap is too harsh for fine leathers. It dries them out. It should only be used on leathers like saddles, or things that aren't meant to be shined up and flexing and such. Even then it is questionable. it does dry the hell out of the leather though. Reno is really all you need. Once in a while if there is too much wax build-up you can gently rub a little bit of alcohol, or deglazer on them and then re build a finish with creams and some wax.

Okay, this is very helpful (as opposed to the above comment).

Can you recommend a deglazer? I've been looking for one since I feel like my monks have a bit too much buildup and could use a "fresh" start, so to speak.
 

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