Chips
Distinguished Member
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- May 5, 2008
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I spent a lot of time searching thru these threads before posting my inquiry. I rarely post, because my questions are usually answered just by digging thru the previous threads. I read everything here about cordovan shoes, and the care they might require, but I'm still wondering if there is something to this idea I have.
Living in the San Francisco Bay area, my apartment never gets much higher than 67 degrees. I'm wondering if the cooler climate makes the oils or waxes that are impregnated into cordovan, become less "willing" to be massaged out and shined up. I will post two pics of my Aldens' Cordovan Wingtips, and compare them to my brown calf Plain Toes. My brown plain toes have a depth and warmth to the finish, whereas my cordovans look like dull, hard plastic.
I have only worn the cordovans 6 times now. I would love to get them to polish up and give me a deep shine, but it's just not happening. Last night I put a very, very thin coat of paste wax on, and buffed them with my horsehair brush, then shined with a microfiber cloth. When I was done, they looked good from about an arms length away, but closer inspection showed that the thin coating of wax just sat on the surface and looked "filmy".
So I ended up sitting there rubbing like hell with the cloth, till I built up enough friction and warmth in order to clean off the wax, and I think, maybe warm up some of the deeply impregnated oils or waxes etc, that are in the cordovan originally. Only then did they look any better.
I can't help but think that in a warmer climate I would be able to create, maintain and SEE a better shine since it might help to liberate some of those conditioners in the material. In the picture of the cordovan pair, you can see the scuffs on the right heel that I've tried and tried, but failed to remove since the wax ends up being removed anyway. The cordovans look better in the photos then they do in hand. I cant help but think that they look too plastic-like and dull.
Living in the San Francisco Bay area, my apartment never gets much higher than 67 degrees. I'm wondering if the cooler climate makes the oils or waxes that are impregnated into cordovan, become less "willing" to be massaged out and shined up. I will post two pics of my Aldens' Cordovan Wingtips, and compare them to my brown calf Plain Toes. My brown plain toes have a depth and warmth to the finish, whereas my cordovans look like dull, hard plastic.
I have only worn the cordovans 6 times now. I would love to get them to polish up and give me a deep shine, but it's just not happening. Last night I put a very, very thin coat of paste wax on, and buffed them with my horsehair brush, then shined with a microfiber cloth. When I was done, they looked good from about an arms length away, but closer inspection showed that the thin coating of wax just sat on the surface and looked "filmy".
So I ended up sitting there rubbing like hell with the cloth, till I built up enough friction and warmth in order to clean off the wax, and I think, maybe warm up some of the deeply impregnated oils or waxes etc, that are in the cordovan originally. Only then did they look any better.
I can't help but think that in a warmer climate I would be able to create, maintain and SEE a better shine since it might help to liberate some of those conditioners in the material. In the picture of the cordovan pair, you can see the scuffs on the right heel that I've tried and tried, but failed to remove since the wax ends up being removed anyway. The cordovans look better in the photos then they do in hand. I cant help but think that they look too plastic-like and dull.

