HiI got some Saphir products and shined my shoes "properly" for the 1st time.
Not sure if I was doing it correctly. I've watched Prestons and Kirbys Youtube tutorials.
I polished a cheap pair of black casual brogues. Didn't go for a completely mirror shine. The thing that stopped me to keep on shining was that my shoulder started to hurt with all the circular rubbing motion.
I used Renomat, Renovateur, Black Pommadier, Neutral MDO wax. Maybe i had to put in extra effort as i used Renomat to strip off old wax ?
Also how do i know many layers Renovateur and Pommadier i need to apply ?
I posted here earlier, there is, for me, something cathartic about cleaning my shoes... This said, I am far from an expert, I have however learned a bit watching a lot of videos asking questions and I have come here to learn and to share...
A few things. Don't overdo the Renomat part. It strips the finish of your shoes, removing to a good extent polish, wax and pigments ... It is for removing things not for cleaning per se... You do it once in a wjile if your shoes has built=up of wax or polish but not something to do regularly.
My routine for cleaning has come to be:
- Lexol Leather Cleaner. It seems to be more gentle than Saddle Soap. In my estimation a good, mild, innocuous leather cleaner. If something is recommended by Nick Horween, VP of Horween Corp, maker of the best Shell Cordovan in the World…
- Then I apply the conditioner. On black shoes or Cordovan, I go with Lexol leather conditioner, again if Nick says so .. then … It does darken the Leather a bit but if its black, it doesn’t matter ?
- For lighter shoes Bick #4
- Then I apply Saphir BDC Cream of a color that goes with the shoe, lighter if possible.
- Then finish it with Collonil 1909 Creme Deluxe. This one is in my opinion the best. After brushing you are left with a supple and shiny leather. The combination of a Saphir BDC polish followed by Neutral Collonil 1909 Crème Deluxe is IMO superb. The Collonil product is not that well known but deserves to be. As a finishing cream for hydrating and shining among the best around.
Apply 4 to 5 thin layers of Wax Polish, say 2 minutes between the applications, really thin layers, not polish. I use Saphir Amiral Gloss for black shoes and a Kiwi for Brown shoes.
Drop one or two drops (small drop) of water on the toe… Start the circular motions. No pressure, light touch. A dab of wax, no water, circular motions then one small drop of water, circular motions, a dab of wax, circular motion, a drop of water no water, circular motions .. a dab of wax, a dab and a drop, circular motion, very light touch, repeating, don’t apply any force, you are barely touching it, not rubbing it. The idea is to create heat through friction, the heat helps crystallizing the wax to create the glaze. In about 5 to 10 minutes of this drab and drop, dab and drop…you should see a decent glaze... You can go on for longer, I stopped then ... With Saphir Amiral Gloss, a very good to excellent glaze. I managed to get 3 shoes with glazed toes
Getting to the level of YouTube videos will take practice… I am far from there
It is important to understand that when it comes to glazing, the polish/wax is at best 15%, the rest is technique. Those who have the knowledge and experience will get that glaze with any wax, even Kiwi, although one gets there more quickly by using something like the Saphir Admiral Gloss or better…