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

[shoewizz]

Thank you. Your link is to the exact shoe trees I was talking about. (Curiously some have the plaque and some don't.) The quality of the cedar is higher than AE or JAB. Very smooth; sanded; stronger aroma; absence of chips, cracks, holes, and other imperfections that characterize the lower grade of trees.

I have always suspected that certainly re-brands, like Nordstrom Rack, have some sort of contract with Woodlore to get lower quality pieces for a better price. I have seen people complain that the basic trees they get from Nordstrom Rack / Jos A Bank have come with large cracks in them.


Quote:
Great price. @Chawk806 this is basically the best price you will find for these. Definitely better than what you will find in-store.

 

[starro]

Just throwing it out there, does anyone have a good idea on "filling out" the heels on the AE type shoe trees? I am stuck with a few pairs like those and I want to make their heels the round "Ultra" shapes that can actually fill the shoe. IMO that's their only functional disadvantage relative to the Ultra split toe.

As more shoe tree trivia come to me, do not buy shoe trees from Nordstrom Rack. I have a pair, and they have very bad quaity: bad springs, mishapen "horizontal" plates that can cause problems, etc.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

As long as it is unfinished wood and fills out the ball/vamp area that is all you need.

 

[masernaut]

Thank you for that bit of intel on the "twin turbo". I've seen that configuration, they seem always to be priced slightly above the split toe, so I never tried them. Do they even use springs?

I own a few of the twin-turbo shoe trees. There is a spring in there, although I find it not as strong as the basic model. The drawback of twin-turbo models is that they don't fit "perfectly." I find the front part too big for some shoes so it doesn't fill the toe area.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

You don't have to fill in the toe or heel area. You just have to fill out the vamp.

 

[Munky]

It's worth noting that spit toe trees are often adjustable, via screws at the sides. These can make a lot of difference in terms of fit. Forever yours, Munky.

 

[Chawk806]



I have always suspected that certainly re-brands, like Nordstrom Rack, have some sort of contract with Woodlore to get lower quality pieces for a better price. I have seen people complain that the basic trees they get from Nordstrom Rack / Jos A Bank have come with large cracks in them.



Great price. @Chawk806 this is basically the best price you will find for these. Definitely better than what you will find in-store.

Awesome. I'll be online today. Thanks guys

 

[Chawk806]



Thank you. Your link is to the exact shoe trees I was talking about. (Curiously some have the plaque and some don't.) The quality of the cedar is higher than AE or JAB. Very smooth; sanded; stronger aroma; absence of chips, cracks, holes, and other imperfections that characterize the lower grade of trees.

Thank you for that bit of intel on the "twin turbo". I've seen that configuration, they seem always to be priced slightly above the split toe, so I never tried them. Do they even use springs?

I'm not sure the Meermin is necessarily an upgrade. One, it's 2x the price of the Cedar Elements, and I highly doubt it's 2x more effective. And two I would argue that a two-piece toe makes for a better fitting non-lasted tree than a solid piece. Also keep in mind the difference between cedar and beech.

FYI,
the split toe Cedar Elements are $30 for 2 pairs: https://www.amazon.com/Cedar-Elements-Split-Toe-Trees-Large/dp/B00LV3QE96/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485399571&sr=8-3&keywords=cedar+elements+shoe+tree
the twin tubes are $36 for 2 pairs: https://www.amazon.com/Cedar-Elements-Twin-Tube-Trees/dp/B00LV4HIV8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1485399571&sr=8-5&keywords=cedar+elements+shoe+tree

Allen Edmonds has a lifetime guarantee on their shoe trees, if that means anything to you. If any break on you, you can exchange in store any time.

Hey I checked the two links at Amazon this morning and they are both very nice. Just need to decide on the size large or XL? My shoes range from a size 11 to size 12. All fit me te same. Would XL be best to ensure a tight fit? Different trees for boots?

 

[MansardRoof]

Is there anyone besides Abbeyhorn that makes deer polishing bones?

 

[Betelgeuse]

That's very interesting. A good read. Looks like I've made a good choice switching away from split-toe shoe trees.

Me too. I'm slowly switching to the shoe tree that really helps to flatten the shoe sole.

 

[Betelgeuse]

Question. I was watching a video of a Japanese guy and he uses quite a lot of different brushes. But there is one which he uses at the end of the whole process that has some white hairs, I think I saw in a part of the video that is a swine brush. He uses a touch of water and brush the shoe.

My question is... which brushes do you use? I usually stay with horse hair but then I finish the shoe, I don't brush it cause the hair leaves the mirror shine like some twirls in the shoe.

 

[starro]

Hey I checked the two links at Amazon this morning and they are both very nice. Just need to decide on the size large or XL? My shoes range from a size 11 to size 12. All fit me te same. Would XL be best to ensure a tight fit? Different trees for boots?

They should have a reference chart that links shoe size to tree size. Does it put you in the L or XL range? If you are between the two ranges, I'd try both. Both are likely to fit your shoes, some a little better than others, so it would really help if you have both sizes to try. For reference, I am 8.5D, but can go +/- half size. Both the M and the S fit well. Bottom line: if you are between sizes, get both for the versatility.

 

[Chawk806]



They should have a reference chart that links shoe size to tree size. Does it put you in the L or XL range? If you are between the two ranges, I'd try both. Both are likely to fit your shoes, some a little better than others, so it would really help if you have both sizes to try. For reference, I am 8.5D, but can go +/- half size. Both the M and the S fit well. Bottom line: if you are between sizes, get both for the versatility.

Thsnks Starro. I'll place the order today. Awesome

 

[narcosis219]



Question. I was watching a video of a Japanese guy and he uses quite a lot of different brushes. But there is one which he uses at the end of the whole process that has some white hairs, I think I saw in a part of the video that is a swine brush. He uses a touch of water and brush the shoe. 

My question is... which brushes do you use? I usually stay with horse hair but then I finish the shoe, I don't brush it cause the hair leaves the mirror shine like some twirls in the shoe.

I believe the Japanese scene uses goat hair brushes with drops of water for post mirror shine brushing. Never tried it myself

 

[Munky]

I believe the Japanese scene uses goat hair brushes with drops of water for post mirror shine brushing. Never tried it myself

I use brushes made of hair from a unicorn's neck and drops of angel sweat to bring up a shine. Sincerely yours, M.