Shoe Care: Polish/Cream in Brogue Holes?

[Morgan]

When applying polish or cream to your brogued shoes, how do you prevent the product from filling up the holes punched in the leather? I've used a Q-tip, broken in half, to ream out the larger holes but the smaller ones are basically spackled. Any tips or tricks for either preventing this or aiding cleanup are appreciated.

 

[chobochobo]

I've used an old toothbrush

 

[dexsteel]

toothpick?

 

[Eustace Tilley]

Toothpick works well.

 

[Pedantic Turkey]

Compressed air? Heh.

 

[JLibourel]

I've never worried too much about the small holes. I find the probe on a pipe tool (for pipe smokers) to be ideal for cleaning polish out of broguing large and small.

 

[DocHolliday]

I like using bamboo skewers, the kind you can buy for a buck or two for a hundred. One end is pointed like a toothpick, which is good for the small holes, and the other end is cut flat, which is perfect for the large holes.

Plus, they're good for skewing.

 

[ajs317]

Even more annoying is when there's stitching, like on a captoe. On my tan ones, the stiching sometimes ends up orange because of the tan polish. I've just taken to avoiding putting polish on the stitching directly.

 

[grimslade]

I fill every hole with wax and then carefully melt it out after polishing.

 

[Nashville]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

I like using bamboo skewers, the kind you can buy for a buck or two for a hundred. One end is pointed like a toothpick, which is good for the small holes, and the other end is cut flat, which is perfect for the large holes.

Plus, they're good for skewing.

Great idea!!

 

[bydandie]

I have the opposite question, is there anything wrong with not applying polish to the holes? The reason is ask is that the larger holes are exposing a proportion of leather that will never get the same amount of cream and polish that the rest of the leather gets. Obviously, we all wish to keep the holes empty, but it's something I've wondered.

 

[LeJouvre]

I have the opposite question, is there anything wrong with not applying polish to the holes? The reason is ask is that the larger holes are exposing a proportion of leather that will never get the same amount of cream and polish that the rest of the leather gets. Obviously, we all wish to keep the holes empty, but it's something I've wondered.

If you use a good quality product, this should not really becoem a problem, except if you are using too much product.

In the event that the punching does become clogged, you should simply brush the excess off before the product dries, or, you could use a toothpick CAREFULLY and remove the excess.

Whether the leather in the punching should be avoided? No, your entire shoe needs care, especially areas which are stitched and those which are subject to strain, like holes along the punching detail. You don't want those to become weak and begin to crack.

 

[Gdot]

I run an old toothbrush or stiff artist's brush over any accumlation while the cream is still wet.

When I'm applying a conditioner I actually use the brush to apply extra conditioner to the seams and holes as I want to be extra sure all of these places are nurished and protected (especially the stitching).

 

[MyOtherLife]

Applying polish or leather conditioner very sparingly to begin with will minimize this concern to the point where a good brushing is all they will need.
I am in the process of restoring an old pair of captoe brogues and am using an appropriately sized drill bit to very carefully give each hole a crisp edge. I do not recommend this to anyone else but it does work by very gently twisting the bit between your fingers maybe 2 or 3 rotations does the job. Do this one at your own peril.

 

[Gdot]

oh - so you mean I'm not supposed to use the drill? just the drill bit?