scuffed cordovan-colored shoes = shoe dye?

[billyhoyle]

i have a pair of cordovan colored calfskin J&M shoes that have a very noticeable red scuff mark.

a week ago i took them to a shoe repair store and they used a shoe dye spray in a can. this temporarily did the trick but i'm a clumsy walker and the red mark is back in full effect.

can i use this spray dye myself or will i end up ruining the shoes? these aren't my favorite pair, but i'd rather not trash them since they are my only pair of cordovan colored shoes.

 

[grimslade]

What is the source of the scuff mark? Do you have pictures?

 

[well-kept]

By "cordovan-colored J&Ms" I'm assuming you're describing that signature color effect of theirs, a very dark almost-black over red. If so, this is what happens to them. It's how they're made. Enjoy them.

 

[billyhoyle]

It says that they have "veal" uppers, if that helps and by scuff marks i mean that there are red "scratch" marks.

here is the shoe:

 

[Jovan]

I see no picture or link.

 

[billyhoyle]

sorry, im at work and can't post my actual shoe. picture this one with a few red scratch marks near the front.

anyone have experience with spray dyes?

 

[lawyerdad]

No experience with spray dyes, but they sound pretty bad. Are they true scratches (i.e., a visible phyiscal disruption of the leather) or just scuffs? Have to tried polishing over them?

 

[billyhoyle]

yep. polishing does nothing. took them to a shoe repair store and the guy used spray dye but it doesn't last. if it made the shoes look distinguished i wouldnt care, but imo, it just makes these particular shoes look cheap (not real cordovan).

 

[Concordia]

How about some Meltonian shoe cream? They make a Merlot or some such that might fill the bill. I had a beat-up pair of Wildsmith loafers in Burgundy (fairly red) that I coated with that stuff-- scratches and scuffs gone, and the whole thing is a nice dark cordovan color now.

 

[Charley]

I like the "looks" of that shoe pictured. It is impossible to evaluate the leather finish from the picture. J&M does have a finish in a corrected grain leather where the color nearest the leather is a rather bright red. then that is covered by another coat of color in a very darK burgandy or cordovan. When the top layer wears or scuffs the shoe is left with a red mark. It does have an interesting apperaance when new in that it is almost like a form of antiquing as the color seems to change a bit with the lighting. But the problem is the same as all corrected grain shoes in that the somewhat plastic finish is almost impossible to maintain when it scratches just a bit. If these are the corrected grain leather shoes, the shoe dye will not adhere to the finish or penetrate the finish.

My suggestion is that you just expect to regularly polish the shoes with a deep cordovan polish. Probably will be necessary for every three or four wearings. Use thin coats each time and brush well. Keep the excessive red covered, in other words.

 

[billyhoyle]

i guess i'll have to make due. unfortunately, polishing them does not camouflage the red marks. the meltonian cream might help. i'll pick some up tomorrow.

 

[grimslade]

What about using edge dressing? (Warning: untested idea. Just a thought. Not liable for damage, etc.)

 

[gj555]

I have a pair of corrected grain shoes in a burgandy color and and black polish seems to help hide the scuffs. A light coat of black wax looks nice on cordovan and may hide the scuff.

 

[grimslade]

Can I just take this opportunity to point out that the word is BURGUNDY, with two Us and no As?

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.