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

[joachim92]

I'd say you'd be fine with the creams as they don't raise as high of a shine as the hard wax polishes. Saphir and, or GlenKaren creams would both be good choices. Make sure you don't wear them every day, use cedar shoe trees and if they get wet or you walk in wet grounds leave them with shoe trees in on their sides so the soles can dry out. I'd get a brush too and brush them to keep dirt from accumulating and raising the leather fibers after wearing.

Thanks! I was gonna get a brush (this one) to remove the renovateur / cream (I'm basing this on this guide), will get a second one to remove the dirt. Will also look out for some shoe trees.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Brushes aren't used for removing cream they are used to raise a slight sine and brush off small dust and dirt particles. It also spreads around the oils and waxes on the surface and lifts the microfibers of the leather.

 

[traverscao]

That's the basic thought from people, that brushes were design to remove the product. I don't know about removal, but I know that over time brushes accumulate a lot of polishes.

 

[traverscao]

"Hang on, Voltaire..."

Totally agree. Wholecuts can look super formal or casual (Norvegese stitching like the Bonafé pairs posted in that thread).

Curious if a black shell wholecut is worth it over calf for a formal shoe. I feel like the blooming would be an eyesore for a formal shoe, needing constant upkeep.

With wholecuts, though, I guess it's all about which last you want it on for the occasion.

In order to prevent blooming, make sure you condition shell with sufficient amount of oils and creams, and give it a ton of brushing. Neglecting oil content in shell cordovan caused the leather to push the stationary waxes and tallows impregnated during hot stuffing process.

Wholecut shoes in Navy blue shell cordovan is my new target. As of construction - either you punch medallion on the toe, or else Norvegese wouldn't make it less formal, IMO.

 

[patrickBOOTH]



In order to prevent blooming, make sure you condition shell with sufficient amount of oils and creams, and give it a ton of brushing. Neglecting oil content in shell cordovan caused the leather to push the stationary waxes and tallows impregnated during hot stuffing process. 

Wholecut shoes in Navy blue shell cordovan is my new target. As of construction - either you punch medallion on the toe, or else Norvegese wouldn't make it less formal, IMO.

I heavily disagree with your care for shell using grease and oil and such. That's ridiculous. Bloom is just a part of shell, if you don't like it don't buy shell. No leather required being smothered in grease.

 

[traverscao]

I heavily disagree with your care for shell using grease and oil and such. That's ridiculous. Bloom is just a part of shell, if you don't like it don't buy shell. No leather required being smothered in grease.

No no no, not smothering it, and I bet I'm the only crazy asshole who grease my shell here. I mean, give it a coat of cream per maintenance.

Besides, regarding grease, I wouldn't smother my shell neither. Just a light coat across with my finger, and rub it in really good on.

Crazy how I've never got blooming on shell. Guess I was just lucky.

Guys who use Pecard's leather dressing would get bloom as well, Pat, not just shell. I know it is ordinary amongst leather.

 

[traverscao]

Besides, Pat, I guess daily brushing could prevent a lot of those blooming, perhaps?

 

[Journeyman]

Does anyone know where I can buy Saphir Médaille d'Or shoe bags in London

I need about 30 of them...

You can buy them from Valmour, in France:

http://www.valmour.com/cleaning-products/cotton-bag-saphir-medaille-dor,63

I've bought a couple of boxes of Saphir products from them before and they've been easy to deal with and have given me very good service.

The bags are 6 euros a pair, which I think is about GBP4.50 at the current exchange rate.

 

[chogall]

With the exchange rate strongly favoring dollars there's no reason to buy from US venders.

 

[traverscao]

With the exchange rate strongly favoring dollars there's no reason to buy from US venders.

Should one be concerned of shipping charges, though?

 

[mimo]

Wholecut shoes in Navy blue shell cordovan is my new target.

Carmina have one on the Rain last, as a standard model.

 

[traverscao]

Thanks mimo, but not my style.

 

[mry8s]

So I guess my question was buried in the Dublin comments, but I'm still curious what basic cleaning and conditioning products you'd all recommend.

I'm looking for "good enough", not trying to squeeze out the last 1%.

Right now I'm pondering Lexol cleaner and conditioner or maybe Glenkaren non toxic cleaner.

I really have no idea what to look for in a conditioner.

 

[DWFII]



So I guess my question was buried in the Dublin comments, but I'm still curious what basic cleaning and conditioning products you'd all recommend.

I'm looking for "good enough", not trying to squeeze out the last 1%.

Right now I'm pondering Lexol cleaner and conditioner or maybe Glenkaren non toxic cleaner.

I really have no idea what to look for in a conditioner.

Lexol-ph cleaner is a pretty fair product, IMO. When I came up, the common wisdom (among shoemakers) was that any ph-balanced soap was good.Tallow or glycerine based saddle soaps, not so good. Many of us even used Johnson & Johnson's "No More Tears" baby shampoo before the Lexol-ph gained notoriety. It worked well.

As for conditioners...my current go to product is Bick4.

 

[traverscao]

So I guess my question was buried in the Dublin comments, but I'm still curious what basic cleaning and conditioning products you'd all recommend.

I'm looking for "good enough", not trying to squeeze out the last 1%.

Right now I'm pondering Lexol cleaner and conditioner or maybe Glenkaren non toxic cleaner.

I really have no idea what to look for in a conditioner.

Unless really necessary, don't always use a cleaning product. A dampen cloth can remove most dirts and dusts, while heavier concentrated products can use a dauber and running water.

As of myself, I use raw oils, but unless you have a good experience with raw oils, always go for stuffs like Lexol and Bick series instead.