RM Williams Boots - Everything You Wanted to Know

Originally Posted by amce

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Yes, it was Kiwi. I was shocked to say the least. I've used Kiwi all my life. No mention of alcohol is made on the tin. Just "a unique blend of natural waxes and genuine vegetable turpentine". Furthermore it is said to nourish the leather.

RM's tin gives no clues as to the contents. But they recommend it in conjunction with their leather conditioner to help preserve and nourish the leather. Kevin at the Prospect shop stressed that the polish was just that: polish. Not a nourisher.

Both brands contain 50 ml. RM's cost AUD 9.95 minus about 10% sales tax refund at the airport. Bootsonline charge AUD 8.00, shipping not included. I can get Kiwi for about AUD 7.00 here in Sweden. Have no idea what the RM products cost here as I live a long way from a retailer.

Leather conditioner ("that contains a special mix of natural Australian ingredients. Includes beeswax and lanolin..."), 500 ml, cost AUD 19.95 minus 10%.

You live and learn.


Cheers

This is a bit worrying to me as like you, I've used Kiwi for years (well forever). However, I can find solace in the fact that I've only polished my black & chestnut RMW's once each with Kiwi.

I just may pick up some of the RMW polish and leather conditioner to be safe.

My photography "skills" don't do them justice but for what it's worth: On parade: from left to right 2xCC chestnut, CC mock croc, CC black, MTO Craftsman with screwed leather sole. All of these on the B543 last. Finally the B555 Macquaries with leather sole. All have been conditioned or re-conditioned but not yet polished. The Comfort Craftsman Mock Croc The Macquarie B555 in chestnut Toe comparison: Mock croc B543, MTO Craftsman screwed sole and Macquarie B555 leather sole Cheers

Great stuff, thanks for sharing amce!

On the subject of polishes, the saddle dressing is to be used on the rougher leathers (vesta, scout), such as on the yard boot, gammon and stockyard. The polish is for the yearling, veal and 'roo, and the conditioner (which is another product), can be used on either. Hope this helps.

Nice collection amce. I did get up to six paris myself at one stage but now I'm down to four. Interestingly I recently picked up a pair of Polo Redding II (which are chelsea boots made by C&J to handgrade standard), and I have to say I much prefer my RMW Craftsmen and Turnout. These really are excellent boots at a great price.

Originally Posted by Tidybeard

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On the subject of polishes, the saddle dressing is to be used on the rougher leathers (vesta, scout), such as on the yard boot, gammon and stockyard. The polish is for the yearling, veal and 'roo, and the conditioner (which is another product), can be used on either. Hope this helps.

Nice collection amce. I did get up to six paris myself at one stage but now I'm down to four. Interestingly I recently picked up a pair of Polo Redding II (which are chelsea boots made by C&J to handgrade standard), and I have to say I much prefer my RMW Craftsmen and Turnout. These really are excellent boots at a great price.

Thank you. This is about as big as it gets. Will now endeavour to keep all of these alive and kicking for the next 10 - 20 years! I have access to a RMW trained and authorised cobbler here in Sweden. Between the two of us we should be able to do it.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Tidybeard

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On the subject of polishes, the saddle dressing is to be used on the rougher leathers (vesta, scout), such as on the yard boot, gammon and stockyard. The polish is for the yearling, veal and 'roo, and the conditioner (which is another product), can be used on either. Hope this helps.

Thanks for clearing that up. How often wold you recommend using the leather conditioner and how often do you polish your boots?

No problem. I find that I use the saddle dressing on the yard boots every couple of weeks or so (probably not necessary but it does tidy them up and I wear them a lot), I polish the turnout/craftsmen after every 6 wears or so and conditioner on all of them 2-3 times a year. They all seem to be holding up pretty well.

Hope this helps,

TB

Great photos, amce, lovely collection. Thanks so much for sharing.

amce, love the Macquarie. Very sleek look. I just may have to add a pair to the rotation, thanks for the pics.

love the mock crock, is it yearling with the stamp of mock crock? awesome though.
love the round toes also

Originally Posted by Wrigglez

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love the mock crock, is it yearling with the stamp of mock crock? awesome though. love the round toes also
Sorry but I'm not sure what leather they use. It is stamped. Anyone out there in the know? Out of the box I thought that they were a little too "glossy". They came with a 50 ml jar of neutral conditioner/polish. After a couple of polishes they now have a deeper, more subtle, shine. They look absolutely marvellous together with Levi's (501's of course). Cheers

Didn't want to start a new thread just for this ... had my MTO Craftsman, Chestnut (french calf/yearling) since December ... conditioned/polished a few times ... last night decided to leave conditioner on overnight (first time I tried this, as I was told the leather needs to 'absorb' the conditioner) ...

... anyway, woke up to find that I somehow managed to get conditioner onto the elastic (i.e. non leather) portions of the shoe! And now, needless to say - the elastic looks ugly: mixture of brown/black 'stains' ... and to make things worse, I can't seem to achieve the high shine so many say are possible with the french calf leather! Thoughts???

Originally Posted by Presto87

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Didn't want to start a new thread just for this ... had my MTO Craftsman, Chestnut (french calf/yearling) since December ... conditioned/polished a few times ... last night decided to leave conditioner on overnight (first time I tried this, as I was told the leather needs to 'absorb' the conditioner) ...

... anyway, woke up to find that I somehow managed to get conditioner onto the elastic (i.e. non leather) portions of the shoe! And now, needless to say - the elastic looks ugly: mixture of brown/black 'stains' ... and to make things worse, I can't seem to achieve the high shine so many say are possible with the french calf leather! Thoughts???

I would probably take it by a cobbler and see what they think, they would know best I think.

^^^^^^^
i have also got conditioner on the elastics (the edges) it usualy drys off or goes away but my shoes are black so i dont know. ultimatily the elastics can be replaced by RMW if it is that bad but generaly you pants cover that part of the boot anyway. as for the shine. you wont get a high shine from conditioner and it also depends what degree of shine you want.
to get a nice shine, buy some RMW shoe polish as we have learned it does not contain alcohol, and wipe it over the entire shoe with a clean rag or tooth brush. leave it there for a while (an hour or so until it has dried) then buff off with a buff brush fast and and i bit of pressure also. afterwards go over with a cloth wrapped aroung a finger and very quickily rub all over (the faster, the more friction is generated thus a better shine) if you want a mirror shine then search 'bull shine' or 'bulling' on SF, i've never done it so i cant really comment.

regards

Originally Posted by Presto87

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... anyway, woke up to find that I somehow managed to get conditioner onto the elastic (i.e. non leather) portions of the shoe! And now, needless to say - the elastic looks ugly: mixture of brown/black 'stains' ... and to make things worse, I can't seem to achieve the high shine so many say are possible with the french calf leather! Thoughts???

I tend to be very careful when applying conditioner or polish around the elastics. Even so I've managed to get a few spots on them but they are hardly noticeable. Managed to scrap off a conditioner spot with my fingernail. Polish spots brushed off with time.

About the shine: I've achieved a really nice one on my black French Calf Craftsman by the same method Wrigglez describes. When applying the polish (RMW's now days!) I put a small amount on the cloth and then dip it in water. Rub it in, wait about an hour then buff with a soft cloth and finally with a nylon stocking.

Cheers