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

[glenjay]



i ahve a problem where my shoe trees seem to be too small (in terms of their thickness, i guess) so there is not really much support to keep the vamp tight (?) not sure if i'm describing properly, but if anyone understands what i mean, is there anything i can do to remedy this issue? 

If the trees are the recommended size for the shoe, then I would suggest adding an inexpensive rubber insole insert (the kind you can buy off the rack at almost any store) and use them with the trees to push the trees up against the vamp. You may need to be careful when doing this with split toed shoe trees as you could force a crease in the vamp over time.

Another option, if you are using solid toed shoe trees, is to use a tongue pad (can be bought online or at a shoe repair store). A tongue pad is a soft rectangular pad with a peel off sticky side you would normally stick to the underside of the tongue of your shoe to make it fit better with a low instep. But you could stick the tongue pad to the top of the shoe tree instead to achieve the tighter tree fit you are looking for.

 

[Lucifigus]

Thanks very much. If nobody else says anything soon, I'll give it a shot.
Is there a place online that ships to Canada where I could buy all of these items?

Some Lexol products are available at Amazon.ca. The Safir products are available from a few sources that will ship to Canada. Do an internet search to display a couple suppliers - Safir products are expensive. It's a bit disappointing in a country with conditions that are hard on good leather footwear, we seem to have a dearth of good products to care for our shoes and boots.

Lucifigus

 

[darbebo]

Please! Can anyone please help me? Novice question about NAPPA leather

I am getting a pair of black bruno magli Nappa leather shoe "Raging" and I want to know if my steps below are correct since i believe this is not normal calfskin leather. So i want to make sure the steps i am taking caters to this kind of leather

1. Get a damp (not too damp) paper towel and wipe down dirt on the shoe
2. Apply some Leather Honey with Detailer's Choice Polishing Cloth . The leather honey is put on generously all over the shoe in circular motion. No need for a cleaner because i already wipe it down with the damp paper towel as far as i know
3. Go do something else for a 30 mins???? while the leather sucks up the Leather Honey
4. Wipe down with a dry cloth/undershirt, I will now have well-conditioned and clean leather, but unpolished
5. Apply Meltonian Shoe Cream Polish (this is not wax right?) to the nappa leather shoe using a Shoe Dauber Brush in a circular motion. Leave the polish on for ONE min after they the polish has been applied, I was told you don't want to leave polish on too long.
6. Wipe off all excess with a clean undershirt (or do i need a "stencil dauber"
7. Use this Shoe Brush and buff my shoes to a perfect shine
8. get a drop or 2 of water onto a clean cloth and wipe the shoe (alt. to a spit shine) once overall
9. Use the shoe brush to buff it some more
9. apply edge/sole dressing


Is this correct for Nappa leather care??

Please help!

 

[SHS]



Thanks very much. If nobody else says anything soon, I'll give it a shot.
Is there a place online that ships to Canada where I could buy all of these items?

Here I guess:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=lexol

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=596192

 

[SHS]

Oh, and this one:

http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ias=aps&field-keywords=lexol&rh=i:aps,k:lexol

 

[archangle13]

This is my first time shining my shoes. Is this how it's supposed to look like?

Do you polish (not shine) the rest of the shoe besides the toe cap? How many layers of polish do you use for that? I'm afraid that if I polish the rest of the shoe, the leather will crack over time.

 

[grendel]

This is my first time shining my shoes. Is this how it's supposed to look like?

Do you polish (not shine) the rest of the shoe besides the toe cap? How many layers of polish do you use for that? I'm afraid that if I polish the rest of the shoe, the leather will crack over time.

I only use cream polish on the rest of the shoe besides the toe and heel. You can get a little more shine on the vamp without risking cracking with some good brushing and buffing after a coat of cream or renovateur, but they look good already unless you want to go for the way of the mirror.

 

[Karembeu]

I only use cream polish on the rest of the shoe besides the toe and heel. You can get a little more shine on the vamp without risking cracking with some good brushing and buffing after a coat of cream or renovateur, but they look good already unless you want to go for the way of the mirror.

Newb question...but why would there be risk of cracking? I thought conditioning and polishing helped the shoes to not crack?

 

[archangle13]

I only use cream polish on the rest of the shoe besides the toe and heel. You can get a little more shine on the vamp without risking cracking with some good brushing and buffing after a coat of cream or renovateur, but they look good already unless you want to go for the way of the mirror.

Buffing only refers to the use of a cloth right? Is there a difference in result between using a brush or a cloth?

I have seen plain toe cap mirrors before, but how exactly will a mirrored perforated toe cap look like? Any links or pics?

 

[grendel]

Buffing only refers to the use of a cloth right? Is there a difference in result between using a brush or a cloth?

I have seen plain toe cap mirrors before, but how exactly will a mirrored perforated toe cap look like? Any links or pics?

Yes, buffing with a cloth. I usually use a cut up old undershirt. The shine with be better with a cloth, but the brushing evens it out first and gets into the brogues, etc.

Check the pics in this thread. I've posted one at least and others have.

 

[chogall]

This is my first time shining my shoes. Is this how it's supposed to look like?

Do you polish (not shine) the rest of the shoe besides the toe cap? How many layers of polish do you use for that? I'm afraid that if I polish the rest of the shoe, the leather will crack over time.

Looking good. Polish the heel counters. Can also try a layer or two light color/neutral wax on top of the existing shine to give it a bit more depth.

 

[Lear]



This is my first time shining my shoes. Is this how it's supposed to look like?

Do you polish (not shine) the rest of the shoe besides the toe cap? How many layers of polish do you use for that? I'm afraid that if I polish the rest of the shoe, the leather will crack over time.

Looks nice. You can either keep as is, or if you're one of those strange obsessive types, add more product + elbow + finger grease + time. But do you really want to do that? What you have is an easily maintainable shoe. A practical shine. If you're a young happening dude, with things to do, places to go, just stick to what you have. I have yet to find a woman who climaxes at the sight of a highly polished toecap. I've tried... my God I've tried

Lear

 

[cbfn]

I'm sorry Lear, but you have misunderstood the reason why the mirror toe is desired; talking to a woman wearing a skirt? Slide your foot slowly forwards and look down.

 

[archangle13]

Quote:

Looks nice. You can either keep as is, or if you're one of those strange obsessive types, add more product + elbow + finger grease + time. But do you really want to do that? What you have is an easily maintainable shoe. A practical shine. If you're a young happening dude, with things to do, places to go, just stick to what you have. I have yet to find a woman who climaxes at the sight of a highly polished toecap. I've tried... my God I've tried

Lear

The difference between what I have now and a mirror shine is simply more layers of polish? Man... how many layers does it take??


Quote:

Looking good. Polish the heel counters. Can also try a layer or two light color/neutral wax on top of the existing shine to give it a bit more depth.

Light colour as in tan or light brown? Is there a problem with using Saphir for the black, and Kiwi for the neutral/light polish?

 

[archangle13]

I'm sorry Lear, but you have misunderstood the reason why the mirror toe is desired; talking to a woman wearing a skirt? Slide your foot slowly forwards and look down.

+10

Except I don't ever do that. I swear.