What's the magic elixir for a nice patina? ...

[cmeisenzahl]

Regular polish, a little brushing, time, maybe a touch of sun?

My 8 month old AE Strands in dark brown are starting to take on a nice color that I like. I polished them yesterday using the official AE polish, followed by buffing w/ an old t-shirt and some brush work. ;-)

 

[Manton]

Age.

 

[Ataturk]

Beating them up a little helps, too.

 

[Cary Grant]

Originally Posted by Manton

Age.

QFT

 

[Crane's]

Time+Use+Regular Care/Maintenance=Good Patina

 

[romafan]

Ever see a pair of 'distressed' jeans? Now compare to a well-worn pair of Levis....

 

[Film Noir Buff]

eBay

 

[a-rock]

- First you want to wet sand down the tip of the shoe with a fine grit sandpaper, at least 150 grit.
- I like to start with spraying a very light coat of green touchup to give that elegant, almost bronze-like aged base for the patina.
- Let dry for at least 1 hr.
- Re-sand so the new paint is level with the original color. Also creates a nice blending. Polishing compound if you have it also works.
- Buff with 100% cotton towel. Do not use paper towels.
- Wipe dry and apply second coat of light brown or other color of your choosing.
- Repeat the prior drying, sanding as with the first coat.
- Apply layer of clear coat, let dry, and rebuff.
- I like to finish a few days later with Meguirs Scratch-X 2.0. It will blend out any swirl marks from the sanding and also brings back the shine.
- Buff again
- Do not wax or wash the shoe for at least one month.

By the way, this process also works for fixing paint chips on your car.

 

[cmeisenzahl]

LOL, thanks, I'll get on it tonight!

Originally Posted by a-rock

- First you want to wet sand down the tip of the shoe with a fine grit sandpaper, at least 150 grit.
- I like to start with spraying a very light coat of green touchup to give that elegant, almost bronze-like aged base for the patina.
- Let dry for at least 1 hr.
- Re-sand so the new paint is level with the original color. Also creates a nice blending. Polishing compound if you have it also works.
- Buff with 100% cotton towel. Do not use paper towels.
- Wipe dry and apply second coat of light brown or other color of your choosing.
- Repeat the prior drying, sanding as with the first coat.
- Apply layer of clear coat, let dry, and rebuff.
- I like to finish a few days later with Meguirs Scratch-X 2.0. It will blend out any swirl marks from the sanding and also brings back the shine.
- Buff again
- Do not wax or wash the shoe for at least one month.

By the way, this process also works for fixing paint chips on your car.

 

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by a-rock

By the way, this process also works for fixing paint chips on your car.
It would be awesome to get a nice faux toe patina on the hood of a car.

 

[I. Gentantithesis]

A fortnights burial in free range cattle manure, preferably Charolais, expedites the patination process and antiques footwear hardwear. Prior stuffing with lavender sachets may obviate the otherwise requisite fresh cedar shoe trees post patination. Trumper's Lime shampoo with soft bristle toothbrush, rinse, repeat. Dry naturally - shoes may require extended airing in a remote outbuilding. Have you a folly? Polish, buff, Bob's yer uncle.

 

[a-rock]

Seriously question - does using a different color from the original help in developing a patina? For ex, if you use AE's walnut polish on a AE walnut shoe, won't it forever look like it did when new?

 

[Gus]

Regular use of a good cream polish in a near match color.

 

[I. Gentantithesis]

Faux patina, the old money cracked shoe look, is achieved by:

1)Placing a pair of tan hued shoes in a/an public launderette clothes dryer, with a length of logging chain or other agent of physical distress, sans heat for an appropriate period to acheive that lived-in for 30 years by grandepater panache. Go ahead, splurge on an hour.

1a)You are then at liberty to entertain the hoi polloi with witty repartee during the process. Seldom are they graced with a raconteur in their midst- noblesse oblige.

2)This is followed by daubbing and swirling chestnut coloured shoe dye on the leather. If you've charmed chums in the interim, remain in the launderette. They'll be entertained and it will keep them out of mischief on the streets.

3)Wax with clear carnauba and buff with a cashmere muffler, then one of mumsy's sable muffs.

The resulting effect should be that of burled Circassian walnut, such as the toe below.

(Should you feel ill at ease mingling amongst sturdy yeoman stock, assign this mind numbing chore to your gentleman's gentleman or another domestic. You've loftier pursuits, no doubt.)

 

[Gutman]

Originally Posted by cmeisenzahl

Regular polish, a little brushing, time, maybe a touch of sun?

My 8 month old AE Strands in dark brown are starting to take on a nice color that I like. I polished them yesterday using the official AE polish, followed by buffing w/ an old t-shirt and some brush work. ;-)

Patina comes with time. However, a well-cared for shoe looks good at any age. Assuming a non-porous leather, I like to polish in a much darker colour a couple of times to increase the definition of the shoe. For dark brown try a black polish - It will darken the creased areas and edges of the seams, around the inside of punched holes etc without altering the basic colour of the shoe. Then use a polish just one shade darker than the shoe for regular polishing.