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

[Munky]

(A table. Brushes, lotions, waxes, are on it. Munky looks at them and speaks to himself)
"How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of shoe care!"

Friends, shoemakers, cobblers
Give me your brushes.
I come to bury them, not to use them.

 

[Luigi_M]

Munky says brushes are useless
And Munky is an honourable man

 

[Munky]

The shoes men wear live after them
The wax is oft interred with their bones.
So let it be with brushes.

 

[Luigi_M]

@Munky ... we managed to introduce, in a shoe care thread, a guy who was named "omnium mulierum vir et omnium virorum mulier" ... There's enough to get both banned!
Yours (in academic dissent about brushes), Luigi

 

[Munky]

@Munky ... we managed to introduce, in a shoe care thread, a guy who was named "omnium mulierum vir et omnium virorum mulier" ... There's enough to get both banned!
Yours (in academic dissent about brushes), Luigi

Fortunately, I don't remember him! We survive to fight another day. Hope you are all well and enjoying life. Yours, Munky.

 

[ctofashion]

Just picked up this pair of calfskin leather sneakers from Kiton.

SHOES CALFSKIN

These trainers in rubberised calfskin leather have been made entirely by hand. The black sole is flexible and extra-light, while the rubberised logo label adds a sportier edge. All Kiton pieces are made from meticulously selected hides and assembledby expert craftsmen in our atelier in Naples...

us.kiton.com

Anything I should be doing to maintain them in the best shape possible?

 

[Mercurio]

View attachment 1620942
Just picked up this pair of calfskin leather sneakers from Kiton.

SHOES CALFSKIN

These trainers in rubberised calfskin leather have been made entirely by hand. The black sole is flexible and extra-light, while the rubberised logo label adds a sportier edge. All Kiton pieces are made from meticulously selected hides and assembledby expert craftsmen in our atelier in Naples...

us.kiton.com

Anything I should be doing to maintain them in the best shape possible?

I would use Saphir Super Invulmer Spray to protect them:

Super Invulner Spray is a highly-concentrated water repellent containing fluoridated resin. It protects against rain, snow, dirt, grease, food and drink stains. Formulated without silicone, it contains a non-aggressive and non-greasy solvent to avoid damaging or discolouring fragile surfaces. It is suitable for use on the most expensive and delicate materials such as nappa and silk.

Super Invulner Spray can be used on all types of leather including smooth, nappa, box calf (calf skin), veal, suede and nubuck. It is also suitable for cotton, silk and TEX materials.

Super Invulner

Super Invulner protects and waterproofs the most delicate leather products. It offers superior resistance to water, snow, stains, dirt and grease.

saphir.com

 

[VeritasAequitas]

What product should I use to remove old wax and polish before conditioning and adding new wax and polish?

 

[JFWR]

What product should I use to remove old wax and polish before conditioning and adding new wax and polish?

You really don't need to do this most of the time.

The gentlest remover of old polish is neutral wax used as a rubbing agent.

 

[VeritasAequitas]

You really don't need to do this most of the time.

The gentlest remover of old polish is neutral wax used as a rubbing agent.

Two questions: How do you use neutral wax as a rubbing agent? And, will conditioner be able to penetrate older layers of wax without using something to remove it?

 

[JFWR]

Two questions: How do you use neutral wax as a rubbing agent? And, will conditioner be able to penetrate older layers of wax without using something to remove it?

Put it on wet and rub it in to rub off old wax and pigment. Basically, don't let it dry or gently buff it like polishing, but use it like you would be cleaning something with it.

Yes.

 

[Felixdsm]

Hello to everyone,
I recently purchased a pair of used Loake Chesters and I believe I ruined them in an attempt of shoe maintenance.

I just wanted to clean off a big dark spot on the vamp but as I went along I accidentally pulled off more and more of the shoe‘s finish.

Now there‘s a big "blank" spot with no finish which turns dark every time I put any moisture or cream on it. I must have ruined the uppers by using too much acetone.

My idea was to now re-dye the shoe and cover up my mistake but I believe the leather is too damaged for a good looking finish to be applied...

Is anybody able to help out with some advice on what I could try to save these?

Cheers!

 

[konoyaro]

Speaking of German shoe brushes -

If you live in the US are are interested in picking up some shoe brushes (and polish) by Siegol, you can now order from Revito Shoes. Orders over $50 ship free.

If you're unfamiliar with Siegol, @shoegazing posted an article with a brief history a few years back. You can read it here.

I am unaffiliated with any of the above parties but have just placed an order so we'll see how it goes.

 

[JFWR]

Hello to everyone,
I recently purchased a pair of used Loake Chesters and I believe I ruined them in an attempt of shoe maintenance.

I just wanted to clean off a big dark spot on the vamp but as I went along I accidentally pulled off more and more of the shoe‘s finish.

Now there‘s a big "blank" spot with no finish which turns dark every time I put any moisture or cream on it. I must have ruined the uppers by using too much acetone.

My idea was to now re-dye the shoe and cover up my mistake but I believe the leather is too damaged for a good looking finish to be applied...

Is anybody able to help out with some advice on what I could try to save these?

Cheers!

You can redye the shoes without trouble at all. You didn't physically corrode the leather, but stripped the dye off it.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Hello to everyone,
I recently purchased a pair of used Loake Chesters and I believe I ruined them in an attempt of shoe maintenance.

I just wanted to clean off a big dark spot on the vamp but as I went along I accidentally pulled off more and more of the shoe‘s finish.

Now there‘s a big "blank" spot with no finish which turns dark every time I put any moisture or cream on it. I must have ruined the uppers by using too much acetone.

My idea was to now re-dye the shoe and cover up my mistake but I believe the leather is too damaged for a good looking finish to be applied...

Is anybody able to help out with some advice on what I could try to save these?

Cheers!

Which product did you use to clean the shoe? Tried using some high pigment creams yet? Dye would be the last option I would think