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

[patrickBOOTH]

Kiwi is fine, it certainly doesn't have alcohol in it. Melatonin does have silicone in it, which many folks shy away from because it builds up and needs to be removed with a stripper.

 

[Munky]

Move on. Nothing to see here.

 

[mirios]

Kiwi is fine, it certainly doesn't have alcohol in it. Melatonin does have silicone in it, which many folks shy away from because it builds up and needs to be removed with a stripper.

What do you recommend in using? If not melatonin, what else?

 

[rbhan12]

^^Meltonian, not the sleep-related hormone melatonin!

Folks on here swear by Saphir for their creams, waxes, and other leather care products. Pretty hard to go wrong with Saphir.

Also, I just purchased some Bick4 leather conditioner...time to see if it lives up to the love!

 

[Does Not Matter]

I just bought a pair of used Allen Edmond Park Avenues in shell cordovan on eBay. I received them, but am now troubled by what seem to be indents on the cap toe. I was wondering if anyone could identify what these are from and if the cap toe can be restored. The left shoe also seems to have a residue of some kind, maybe wax build up. I love these shoes, but if they can't be restored I will have to return them.


Thanks,
Zach

 

[rbhan12]

I don't think that's an indent, it looks like the creasing of the shoe. You can see it on the right shoe as well, though to a lesser degree. The shoes were probably a bad fit for the original owner, and thus has the awkward creasing into the cap toe. Probably can't be restored, but I certainly wouldn't call the item defective or valid for return...you just happened to buy a used pair of shoes with bad creasing.

 

[Does Not Matter]

The creasing is not what I am talking about. This is a better picture. Any ideas?

 

[garland]

The creasing is not what I am talking about. This is a better picture. Any ideas?

I would try a deer bone, personally. Or just enjoy them. With time and TLC, they'll become your own and who knows, you might even grow to like the character that your shoes have? idk. Thats how I always approach shell at least. Understandable if you don't feel the same way.

 

[patrickBOOTH]



What do you recommend in using? If not melatonin, what else?

Lexol, or Bick4.

The creasing is not what I am talking about. This is a better picture. Any ideas?

Enough wax polish and some bulling will cover that up where it isn't noticeable at an arm's length.

 

[mirios]

^^Meltonian, not the sleep-related hormone melatonin!

Folks on here swear by Saphir for their creams, waxes, and other leather care products. Pretty hard to go wrong with Saphir.

Also, I just purchased some Bick4 leather conditioner...time to see if it lives up to the love!

Haha, yea i meant to put melatonian***

Ah ok I will try saphir then. I do use Bick4 so I can support it and say it does a fantastic job!

 

[mirios]

Lexol, or Bick4.
Enough wax polish and some bulling will cover that up where it isn't noticeable at an arm's length.

Lexol sells polishes as well?

So saphir vs meltonian you would vote saphir too? Does meltonian have alcohol in it?

 

[rbhan12]

The creasing is not what I am talking about. This is a better picture. Any ideas?

LOL and here I thought you didn't know what creases were...didn't zoom on the photo, apologies!

 

[patrickBOOTH]

No, lexol is a conditioner, they don't sell polish. For polish use regular kiwi, saphir, lincoln, or any of those. Meltonian has silicone in it, which I said people shy away from.

The J&M salesperson didn't know what he's talking about. All shoe polishes have some sort of solvent in them, alcohol isn't a factor and it isn't in any shoe polish to my knowledge.

 

[mirios]

No, lexol is a conditioner, they don't sell polish. For polish use regular kiwi, saphir, lincoln, or any of those. Meltonian has silicone in it, which I said people shy away from.

The J&M salesperson didn't know what he's talking about. All shoe polishes have some sort of solvent in them, alcohol isn't a factor and it isn't in any shoe polish to my knowledge.

Outside man I greatly appreciate your help! One last question if you don't mind: What does silicone do to a shoe? Just curious...

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Silicone itself isn't bad. I mean, it is completely inert. It is used in the human body in the form of implants (some more fun than others). The fact remains that silicones like to stick around, are very occlusive, and generally need some sort of solvent to remove. So continued use of silicones in shoe polishes will cause a buildup, which can have many harmful effects on leather in the long run.